If you were in a car accident in Boynton Beach, Florida, you might have had your car towed in the past. Not only are car accidents a lengthy and confusing process to begin with, but they can also become more confusing when your vehicle is transported to an unknown location.
The questions of “Where do I pick my car up?” “Why was it towed?” or, “Will I have to pay the towing and storage fees?” all come to light. The right person to ask is your Boynton Beach Car Accident Lawyer.
We understand how confusing this process is, and we want to help, especially when this scenario arises. Here’s everything you need to know about having your car towed, stored in another location, and what to do regarding paying fees.
What Does It Mean to Have a Vehicle Stored After a Car Accident?
Sometimes, depending on the condition of the accident and vehicle, the police may order a tow truck for you. Having a vehicle towed and stored means your car is being transported to another location that you will later have to pick up.
When your car is initially towed, it will remain at the towing location until it is moved and stored in another location. Typically, cars remain in the initial location for no more than 20 days before moving.
The towing company will keep your vehicle in their tow yard until your insurance informs them where to move the vehicle. While your tow driver will inform you to take it to a repair shop, your insurance adjuster will want to inspect the vehicle before it’s repaired to look at the damage. This will help determine how much you may deserve in compensation.
Why Are Vehicles Towed and Stored?
If you are involved in a bad wreck and your car is unable to start or move, then you will likely have it towed. However, if there are minimal damages and the vehicle is drivable, you can drive away from the scene and take your car home.
Undriveable cars are towed after an accident to move them out of the road since the driver is either too injured to drive the car or the car cannot move due to extreme damage. The police will call a tow truck on your behalf if you are too injured to call.
If you are able to do so, there are a few steps you should take before your car is picked up by the tow truck. Although your insurance adjuster will inspect the vehicle themselves, you should also take photos of the scene of the accident and your car to have as evidence.
The photos you can take can be reviewed by your attorney to help negotiate a higher settlement with your insurance adjuster, and as evidence for your lawsuit (if your case is eligible for one).
You should also remove any valuables you may have because it may take a while for you to have access to your vehicle again. If you were alone in the car and are being transported to the hospital, ask a friend or relative to pick items up for you, if possible.
Lastly, you should collect the following information from your tow truck driver:
- The location your vehicle is being towed to
- How much the tow will cost
- If there are any additional fees you will be responsible for
- Cost of storage at their towing facility
- The documentation or receipt for the tow
Who Handles Towing & Storage Payments in A Car Accident?
Typically, the at-fault driver will pay for the towing and storage fees with additional help from an insurance provider if the coverage includes it. You should save all receipts if you pay out of pocket for storage fees and the at-fault driver has insurance. Their insurance company should cover the bill, and you should be reimbursed after you send in the collected receipts.
If the accident was your fault, then there are a few decisions you will need to make quickly. The first is to double-check with your insurance provider to see if your collision coverage or towing and storage fee coverage will cover the bill.
If you do not have this coverage, you will need to quickly retrieve your car from the towing or storage lot. Fees can add up quickly the longer your car sits at the lot and most of the time, storage fees start at a couple of hundred dollars per day.
The towing company or storage lot will then sell your car through a public sale after a certain amount of time. Before this happens, they will send you notice before your vehicle is sold. What they make from the sale will then go to cover your storage fees that were never paid.
What If Insurance or the At-Fault Driver Doesn’t Cover Fees?
You may ask, “What happens if the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance?”
If you have uninsured motorist coverage, this will likely help to cover the fees associated with the towing and storage. If you do not have this type of coverage but have collision coverage, you can use that coverage as well.
Florida has a requirement for all drivers to carry a minimum of $10,000 in personal injury protection and property damage liability, but these coverages will not handle towing and storage fees since they are geared towards covering medical costs and the other driver’s costs if the accident is your fault.
If you would like to have collision coverage or uninsured motorist coverage, this is a separate add-on you will need to have. Florida is a big state, and Boynton Beach is not slowing down anytime soon as it is ranked sixth for having the most uninsured motorists. You never know who you may end up in a wreck with.
Problems With Your Car Accident? We Can Help
Don’t let the confusion and stress of car accidents keep you up at night. Allow the trusted professionals of Frankl Kominsky Injury Lawyers assist you with your towing and storage questions and car accident claim.
For the past 40 years, we have been assisting residents in Boynton Beach, Florida, and other areas with their car accident claims (by appointment only). Our expert knowledge has given us the leverage our clients can benefit from when we help them seek the extra compensation they deserve.
If you would like to speak to one of our trusted attorneys, simply set up a time to come in for a free consultation where you will meet with one of our esteemed attorneys.
You can schedule this appointment by calling (561) 800-8000 or filling out our online case evaluation form, so we can get to know more about your situation.
Once we have your contact information, we will inform you on what to bring to your initial consultation. One of our attorneys can then thoroughly look over all the evidence to know how to best guide you moving forward.
Don’t let any more time in the 2 years you have pass you by. Call our firm today.