In a car accident where the car is a total loss, who is liable for towing and storage?
Oct 27th, 2009 by AutoInsGuy
Where Beer asked:
After a recent accident, an insurance company is telling me I am responsible for the storage and towing fee’s even though they totalled my car. The towing company and the salvage yard is demanding over a thousand bucks. The accident wasn’t my fault and i’m forced to shell out more money to get a reliable car. Is the insurance company jerking me around or do they really have no liability beyond the value of the car? I am in Pennsylvania.
Kelly
You need to look over your policy with a representative if you can. Even though an accident may be someone else’s fault you can still get stuck with the storage fees since that really isn’t part of the accident. Usually, the coverage only covers costs of repairs. My mother in law had the same thing happen.. she got hit on the side with 3 kids in the car and she was still charged for storage.
It is usual the guy who did it has to pay in your case you shouldn’t have to pay. Maybe the insurance company thinks it is your fault
When I wrecked my truck. I had to pay for the towing. When they totaled out my truck, and issued the insurance check, they reimbursed me for the towing. I didn’t have to pay storage, because the insurance company is supposed to take possession of the truck immediately before a payout can be made to me. If you are keeping the truck, even though they totaled it out, and your taking an adjusted payout, then you will be liable for the towing and storage.
they are resposible for recovery & storage theyl do anything to save money “soon want the premeum tho “
I work for a major insurance company. This is absolutely wrong. You were just minding your own business and were hit – they should take care of the cost of the tow and the storage fees – as long as you mitigated your damages. (That means you knew your vehicle was incurring storage fees while you were waiting for their liability decision. It was your responsibility to move your vehicle to a safe, storage free location in the meantime). So, basically, they should owe you for the towing 100% and a reasonable amount of storage.
What can you do if they don’t? If you haven’t already accepted their total loss offer, offer of a rental car, etc. – go thru your OWN insurance company, and THEY will deal w/ the at fault person’s insurance company on your behalf. That’s what you pay for. And no – this shouldn’t make your rates go up since you were not at fault and they will subrogate the other insurance company for the amout paid out.
Hope you’re okay!
Since when do you pay a storage fee for a totaled car? I’ve never heard of that. Your insurance should pay for towing though unless it is lower than your deductible.
why would you want to store a junk surely the pictures and the police reports would be sufficient to show the vehcile was a total write off maybe this is something that the uk leads on not many either that or you car insurance company is crap