Owner of CT tow truck company arrested for allegedly failing to provide workers’ compensation

Justin Muszynski, Hartford CourantHartford Courant

The owner of a Danbury tow truck company faces charges for allegedly failing to provide the required workers’ compensation insurance for his employees.

Rahamat Hydar, 55, of Danbury was arrested Tuesday by inspectors from the Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, according to the Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice. He faces charges of criminal liability and noncompliance with insurance requirements.

DCJ officials said Hydar is the owner of Meagan’s Auto, Truck & Equipment Specialist, LLC, which is commonly referred to as just Meagan’s Auto. Citing the arrest warrant affidavit supporting the charges, DCJ officials said Hydar failed to carry workers’ compensation insurance coverage for his workers.

Information found through the database of the National Council on Compensation Insurance revealed that Meagan’s Auto has previously maintained workers’ compensation insurance policies that have been canceled and renewed multiple times for either nonpayment of the premium for the policy, a failure to comply with terms and conditions, or the result of a failed audit, officials said.

In November of 2023, an employee of Meagan’s Auto was involved in a serious work-related accident while assisting a customer at a tow truck scene, according to officials. At the time, there was no workers’ compensation insurance policy in effect to cover the employee.

According to the DCJ, state law requires businesses to demonstrate to the Workers’ Compensation Commission “their solvency and financial ability to compensate injured employees or beneficiaries.”

“Otherwise, the business must carry workers’ compensation insurance to cover the full liability,” DCJ officials wrote in a statement.