After a collision, you make one towing decision under stress that affects everything after it: where your car goes. You have the right to choose your own tow operator and destination in most situations — do not assume the first truck that arrives at the scene is your only option.
A professional accident-recovery operator loads a damaged vehicle without worsening the damage, documents its condition with photos, clears debris, and delivers it to the body shop you choose — not a storage yard charging $50–$100 per day while your claim is processed.
Your rights at an accident scene
Unless police order an immediate removal for safety, you generally choose who tows your car and where it goes. If a truck arrives that you did not call — a practice known as "wreck chasing" — you may decline it. Ask any operator for their name, company, rates, and destination in writing before they hook up.
Avoiding storage-fee traps
The most expensive mistake after a crash is letting your car sit in a tow yard. Daily storage fees accumulate whether or not your claim is moving. Direct the tow to your chosen body shop or home immediately; if it must be stored, get the daily rate in writing and notify your insurer the same day.
What's Included
- Police-scene coordination and traffic-safe loading
- Debris cleanup at the scene
- Photo documentation for your insurance claim
- Delivery to the body shop of YOUR choice