When your car gets involved in a collision, you can’t drive it safely anymore. There is a huge chance that your car needs to be towed and repaired to the shop of your choice. Don’t risk driving it because you can get involved in a more fatal accident.
However, before you get your car towed, you must know about your rights plus what you should look for when those responsible for towing your vehicle arrives. Although most of the tow truck drivers are professionals, there are still some who take advantage of the situation.
When your head isn’t straight, some can try to get you to agree to something you shouldn’t. In order to avoid that, here are some of the most important things that you should do.
Call Your Insurance Provider
Whether the accident happened in the middle of the day or in the middle of the night, the first one you should call is your insurance provider. They can help you by telling you what next steps to take. They can also advise you on the reasonable towing rates.
In some cases, they can further help you by asking someone to pick up your vehicle and bring it to their preferred shop. In case you really can’t get hold of your insurer, you can decide to have your car towed. Just make sure to do the other things below.
Check Whether You Really Need A Tow
Collisions can be shocking and nerve wracking. Your instinct could be to call a tow truck and immediately have your vehicle towed. However, there are some instances that the car can still be driven after the collision.
Assess your vehicle as to whether it can still be safely driven or not. Figure out if there are any fluid leaks. Take a look at your headlights and taillights and make sure they are properly working. Also check your mirrors and try out your steering and braking. Additionally, see if your hood can still be closed securely.
You can also check if airbags have been deployed. If they are, then you better not drive your car anymore. If there are police officers in the scene, you could also ask their help in determining if your car is well enough to drive.
Without any leaks, working lights, steering and braking plus a hood that still can be closed securely, you can presume that it is still safe to drive. However, don’t just bring it home. Instead, bring it to the shop to have it fully checked.
Prepare Your Car
When you’ve made the call to the towing company, you need to prepare your car before they move it. One of the things you should do to prepare is to take photos of the damage. Make it detailed. Also get some shots of the collision scene. It is also best to take photos of the inside of your vehicle. Additionally, all valuables should be removed from your car.
Check The Tow Truck Driver’s Credentials
Once the tow truck driver arrives at the scene, make sure that they are really the ones you called for. There are some tow truck drivers that stay on the road then drive straight to the collision site just to try and get unsuspecting car owners. If they seem too quick to get to where you are, then you should confirm with the company you called to prevent getting scammed.
Decide Where The Vehicle Goes
Unless the police instruct where the car should be brought, you should be the one to decide which shop it goes to. You can also have it driven to the repair facility preferred by your insurance company. Don’t let the tow truck driver decide where to take your car.
Ask For Paper Work
Make sure you don’t sign a blank contract or work order. Before you sign anything, make sure that all the things you have to pay are itemized. Also check that the paperwork specifies where your vehicle should go. Lastly, don’t forget to check the quoted cost and make sure it is reasonable before agreeing with them. Keep this paperwork for future reference.
