Car Totaled In Florida Accident, What Do I Do? Lawyer shares
South Florida Car Accident Lawyer Explains What to do After Your Car is Totaled in a Florida Car Crash
When you are involved in a South Florida car accident case, one of the main goals is to minimize your expenses from the accident. One of the expenses that can be avoided is a tow yard fee. If your car was totaled in the accident and was taken to a Florida tow yard from the scene of the crash, it’s possible to avoid the tow fee.
The tow yard fees vary depending on the company, but it is usually a specific rate per day that your car is in their tow lot. With all the commotion that follows a car accident in South Florida, it’s often easy for the tow yard rates to add up and to lose track of how many days your car has been at the tow lot.
We have seen clients accidentally forget about their cars being at the tow yard because of all the other things they are worried about, and then they are stuck having to pay back the tow yard from a portion of their settlement money after we get a great resolution to their injury case.
The first priority after a car accident is of course seeking medical treatment and making sure you are getting the treatment and care you need. Once your immediate medical needs are taken care of, it’s important to find another place for your car other than the tow yard.
How do I get my car out of a Tow Yard after a Florida Car Accident?
Your first option is to file a claim with your car insurance company.
When you file an insurance claim, one of two things will happen. They will send a car insurance agent (an adjuster) to the tow yard to access the damages your vehicle suffered in the accident, and then insurance will arrange for your car to be towed to a repair shop. Or, your car will be towed to your insurance company’s nearest location.
Your collision coverage should cover the damages to your car from the accident, or your insurance company will reach out to the at-fault driver’s insurance company for repayment.
If you choose to file a property damage suit, however, it does not have anything to do with your personal injury case from the car accident. If going through your car insurance is not an option right away, try having your car towed to your home or the home of a trusted relative or friend in the meantime to avoid incurring high costs for storing your car.
There is also an option for you to take on the scene of the crash, if you’re able.
If you are capable of communicating with the Florida tow truck driver at the accident scene, you can ask them to tow your car to a specific location. You can ask for your car to be towed to a repair shop, your insurance company’s parking lot, or another safe and reliable place.
In that case, you will be responsible for the towing fee, however, it could save you money in the long run since you won’t have to pay a daily storage fee – whether in cash or from your settlement funds – if it’s taken to the tow yard.
Was Your Car Totaled in a Car Crash? Were You Injured In A Florida Car Accident?
If you’ve been hurt in a Flroida car accident you need to speak with an experienced Florida car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Coral Springs law office directly at (954) 755- 7803 to schedule your free consultation. We proudly serve Florida residents including all of Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, Palm Beach County, and all points in between.