You may end up finding your car inoperable, so you might have to call a tow truck. Of course, if you have been in an accident and your car has suffered damage, you don’t expect additional damage to be caused by the tow truck.
If your car has a mechanical problem, you don’t expect having it towed to cause any body damage. If your vehicle suffered a damaged hood from a tow truck, you can pursue a property damage claim against the towing company to have them cover the costs of your repairs.
Gathering Supporting Evidence
You will need to do everything that you can to preserve evidence. If you are having a car towed, you should carefully inspect the vehicle for damage. Even if you have been in a crash, take note of any damage caused in the accident.
Use your smartphone to photograph any damage. If you can at all, you should videotape your car being hooked up to the tow truck or being pulled onto the rollback. This might catch any incidents that cause a damaged hood.
When your car reaches its destination, be sure to check it over again. If you find additional damage, notify the tow truck operator. In this case, be sure to show the tow truck driver the hood and let him or her the car was inspected for damage prior to towing and that damage didn’t exist.
Sometimes the tow truck driver may be honest and acknowledge that there was an incident and they caused the damage. In that case, having your damaged hood from a tow truck fixed will be much simpler.
The Demand Letter to the Towing Company
You will need to send the demand letter to the tow truck operator and their insurance company. This lets them know that you want to be reimbursed for the damages that your vehicle sustained.
You will need to include the date, time, and location of the incident. The name of the tow truck driver. Where your car was picked up and where it was being towed, and any other details about how your car’s hood was damaged.
Have a written repair estimate, photos of the damages, witness statements, and other supporting documentation included with the letter. You will need to prove that the tow truck caused the damaged hood, and you will need to show the value of your claim. Set the dollar amount that you want them to give you to cover your damages, and then they will negotiate a settlement if they take responsibility.
Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer
Because personal injury lawyers handle property damage claims on a contingency basis, you will not have to pay anything out-of-pocket. Instead, your lawyer will paid only after you get a settlement or a judgement for the damaged hood from the tow truck. You do have a short time limit to pursue a claim, so get your Free Case Evaluation today before time runs out.
