Responsibility for towing and storage costs after an accident depends on who caused the accident and the type of insurance they carry. If it’s unclear who caused it, you may need to use your insurance coverage until the issue gets resolved. Unfortunately, most people fail to consider these extra costs until they face them.
If you want to learn more about protecting your rights after a crash in Georgia, including who should pay for towing and storage costs in your specific case, seek help from an experienced car accident lawyer.
Who Pays for Towing and Storage If You Are Not At Fault for the Accident?
If your vehicle sustains significant damage, you may have to get it towed and stored while the insurance company processes your claim. Towing and storage costs can add up. Unfortunately, they may be far from the only expenses you face.
So, who pays for towing or storage if you didn’t cause the accident? The other driver’s insurance company will typically cover the cost of towing and storing your vehicle. If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, your auto insurance policy may cover these costs regardless of who was at fault. If your auto insurance company won’t cover the costs, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the at-fault driver for the compensation you are due.
Who Pays for Towing and Storage If You Are the One At Fault for the Accident?
If you’re at fault for the accident, your auto insurance will likely pay for towing and storage, depending on your policy. Comprehensive and collision coverage may cover these expenses, but liability coverage will not.
You should inform your insurance company promptly after the accident. You should be ready to provide key details about towing and storage so they can cover the cost right away, rather than you paying out of pocket and waiting to be reimbursed.
Who Pays for Towing and Storage When Fault Cannot Be Determined for the Accident?
Sometimes, the fault in an auto accident isn’t immediately apparent. Even when it seems relatively clear, insurance companies may dispute liability to avoid paying you. While this process unfolds, you must cover the towing and storage fees alone.
You could go through your insurance to pay the costs upfront, and the auto insurer can recover that money from the at-fault driver’s insurance once fault becomes clear. It’s essential to keep every receipt and invoice during this time so your car accident attorney can calculate your full compensation later.
How Do I Know If My Car Insurance Will Cover Towing?
Read your policy or contact your insurance agent to learn whether you have towing and labor coverage or roadside assistance. These add-ons usually cover towing after an accident or breakdown up to a specific dollar limit.
Types of coverage that may help cover your costs include:
- Collision coverage – If you caused the accident, your collision coverage may pay for towing and repairs to your vehicle.
- Uninsured motorist coverage – If the other driver doesn’t have insurance, your uninsured motorist coverage (UM) may cover towing and repair costs. However, this type of coverage is not mandatory, so you may not have it in your policy.
- Underinsured motorist coverage – If the other driver has insurance, but the full cost of the damage they caused exceeds their policy limits, you may be able to bridge the gap with underinsured motorist coverage (UIM). However, like uninsured motorist coverage, this coverage is not required in Georgia, so not every policy contains this coverage.
If you’re unsure what your policy covers, you can contact your insurer and ask them the following:
- Does my policy include towing and storage reimbursement?
- What limits or deductibles apply?
- Do I pay upfront and seek reimbursement, or do you cover towing costs directly?
Typically, insurance companies try to avoid paying claims. So, you should exercise caution whenever speaking to them. Your safest option is to let an experienced car accident attorney talk to them.
Does Georgia Have Laws Regarding Towing Charges?
Georgia law regulates towing and storage practices to prevent unfair towing fees and storage facility charges. Towing companies must provide notice of all fees, including storage lot costs, and they cannot overcharge for short towing jobs or basic services.
If you needed your car towed from an accident scene, you can expect the following from the towing company:
- Clear disclosure – Tow truck operators must provide written notice of all towing and storage fees before you pay. Be sure to collect this notice and file it safely away for when you pursue your car accident claim.
- Fair pricing – Fees must remain reasonable and consistent with local rates. Excessive or inflated charges may violate state regulations and give you grounds for dispute.
- Timely notice – Companies must notify you and law enforcement of your vehicle’s location within one business day.
- Access to property – Towing companies cannot restrict access to possessions left in your vehicle. So you can retrieve them from your car even when they are in storage.
Do I Have to Be Present for My Car to Be Towed After an Accident?
No, you do not have to be present. Police often call a towing service to quickly remove the damaged vehicle from the accident scene for safety, or when it is a totaled vehicle you cannot operate. If you require medical care or must leave the scene for any other reason, responding officers can authorize the towing.
Be sure to write down the towing company’s name, address, and phone number. You can provide this information to your insurance company to avoid paying for towing and storage up front.
Contact a Georgia Car Accident Attorney
Towing and storage costs may seem like minor details after a crash, but they can grow quickly and add to financial distress. The experienced car accident attorneys at Spiva Law Group have recovered over $500 million in settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. We can lead you through seeking full compensation and holding the at-fault party accountable. Contact us today for your free consultation.
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