Being involved in an accident can be a confusing and frightening time. Not only are you in shock, but you must also make decisions regarding your safety, well-being, and damaged car. Would it be better to try to drive it home or to a shop? Do you need to call a tow truck, or should the police take it? Your car may not be drivable after an accident and must be removed from the scene to clear the roads. The police can call a tow truck for you, or you can do it yourself. Otherwise, you can drive it from the scene if the police have determined that it is safe to continue operating. If you have been involved in a car accident and your car has sustained some damage, here are a few things you should keep in mind:

Once Your Car Is Towed, Where Will It Go?

Any time there is a motor vehicle accident, the cars must be carefully stored and preserved until the crash report and insurance investigations are finished. This allows the necessary parties to assess damages for insurance claims and determine fault. Each driver’s insurance company will complete an independent damage assessment of all cars.+   Cars that cannot be driven from the scene are towed to an impound lot, collision center, mechanic’s shop, tow lot, or your home. If the car doesn’t go straight to your home, there is a high chance that it will be subjected to growing daily storage fees anywhere else. You may not move, repair, or alter your vehicle any more than needed while waiting for all assessments to be completed. If your car is a total loss after the investigation is completed, then the insurance company may have it picked up. However, if it can be repaired, the car may be brought to an auto body shop or collision center.

Am I Responsible for Towing My Car After an Accident?

In most circumstances, yes. If your car is not safe to drive, it should be brought to an impound lot, collision center, or auto body shop – even your driveway if that’s what you want. Not taking responsibility for your car by towing it and leaving it at the scene will result in the police towing it for you. You will then be responsible for paying storage fees, towing fees, and any other fees. Your car insurance may cover towing and storage, depending on the policy that you have. You may have to pay out-of-pocket for towing and storage initially, even if you were not at fault for the accident. If you were not responsible for the accident, the other driver’s insurance company would likely be responsible for paying this. If your vehicle was put into a storage lot, you should try to get it back as soon as possible. According to mitigation of damages, you should use reasonable diligence to minimize or avoid injury, which also extends to not leaving your car and stacking up storage fees for longer than necessary. Otherwise, you may be stuck having to pay Keep in mind that you should always wait for the police to arrive before having your car towed. They will need to see your vehicle and how damaged it is to report it. Once your car has been towed, you may not have access to it for days, so always grab valuables and essential papers before it is towed. If there were any injuries in the accident, try to take care of them before anything else if you can. However, here are a few steps you can take:

Determine What Your Insurance Covers

You should know if you have roadside assistance and how much it will cover, hopefully before you are in an accident. For example, collision insurance may cover towing whether or not it’s your fault. However, your insurance provider may prefer to use their own towing company, so establishing this is necessary.

See if You Can Call Your Own Towing Company

If you can, try to call your towing service. Your insurance provider may have their preferred towing service, and they will let you know. Be aware that tow truck scammers will try to take advantage of vulnerable drivers, so try to be discerning when choosing a company. For example, if they ask for your credit card number over the phone, that may be a red flag. Also, tow truck drivers that show up on the scene without being called may be trying to take advantage of you and inflate their prices.

Understand What Your Rights Are When Your Car Is Towed

In Florida, many tow truck services charge a base fee of $50 for towing up to 10 miles. Prices can vary, so check with the company first. There are laws for towing and storage. Your car accident attorney can help you understand what you should expect. If your car has been towed, you still have the right to access it, but you may have to pay storage fees. You will not be able to remove your car from storage until these fees are paid, but you should still be able to access it and get your belongings from inside it. It is within your best interest to remove your car from storage as soon as you can. You cannot procrastinate under the mitigation of damages rule and leave the car in storage for days or weeks. Each day you leave your car is another day’s worth of fees that you will have to pay. You should get it as quickly as you can, or else the insurance company will not spend beyond what they think is a reasonable amount of time. Plus, if you leave your car for an unreasonable amount of time, your vehicle may even be auctioned off.

Contact an Attorney After a Car Accident

Accidents can be overwhelming and confusing, and trying to fight insurance companies isn’t any easier. From figuring out where to tow your car and store it to negotiating a settlement that you are entitled to, a Florida personal injury attorney can help make things a little less stressful for you. If your car got towed after an accident, contact us right away to know your rights and what your next steps should be.