Accident Recovery in Jackson, TN

Accident recovery on a heavy truck is not just a tow. It is a scene that has to be made safe, documented, uprighted or lifted, cleared and moved, often with police directing traffic and an insurer waiting on photos. We handle accident recovery in Jackson and across Madison County for semis, box trucks, buses, dump trucks and equipment.

What the scene looks like

A rollover on an I-40 ramp. A jackknifed trailer across a lane on the US 45 Bypass. A dump truck on its side at a county road intersection. Each scene has its own hazards: fuel and fluid leaks, spilled cargo, leaning loads and live traffic. The first step is to stay clear until police and fire say the scene is safe to approach.

Equipment for wrecks

Heavy recovery uses boom wreckers, underlifts, winch lines, air cushions and, for large rollovers, a rotator. A rotator is a heavy wrecker with a boom that swivels, which lets one machine upright a truck and lift it without dragging. Not every job needs one. If yours does, the dispatcher will say so and give an honest arrival estimate.

Working with police

On the interstate and the highways, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and local police control the scene. They decide when the wrecker can enter, where to stage and how to close lanes. We follow their direction. Police may also ask for a particular move to reopen lanes quickly.

Call (731) 202-9868

Cargo and hazmat

A crash with spilled cargo takes more than a wrecker. Tell us what the trailer carries. If it is hazmat or a placarded load, say so right away so that the proper responders are involved. Loads that shift can make a recovery dangerous, so the plan has to account for them.

Weather and the Jackson climate

Jackson's humid subtropical climate means about 57 inches of precipitation a year, and storms can be sudden. On May 1, 2010, a severe thunderstorm put 13 inches of rain on the city in a short period. Wet pavement, standing water and high wind are common backdrops to crash calls here.

Insurance and documentation

Insurers and fleets need to know what was done and when. We take photos of the unit as found, record the time on scene, and itemize the invoice by hook-up, mileage, hourly recovery and storage if any. Give us the claim number and adjuster's name if you have them.

What to have ready when you call

• Exact location. Interstate or highway, direction of travel, exit or mile marker, and the nearest cross road.
• The unit. Tractor-trailer, straight truck, bus, RV, dump truck or equipment, and the weight class.
• Loaded or empty. What the cargo is, and whether any of it is hazmat.
• What happened. Mechanical failure, flat tires, a slide-off, a rollover or a crash.
• Who is paying. The driver, a fleet, an insurer or a broker, and a claim or PO number if you have one.