A Tow Truck Broke My Car And I Need Advice

"787becauseRacecar" (carbonarrow) 01/24/2014 at 08:24 • Filed to: None

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When you call a tow truck, you expect a professional, courteous driver who puts you at ease and promises to get your car where you need, safely. The last thing you expect is to shed tears over the car that you bought for college and so scrupulously maintained for the last 4 years. Even if it's a 2000 Honda Accord LX. Even though it is an automatic with FWD.

On my way back from the Detroit Auto Show this past Monday, I got a call from my mom saying she was stranded in a friends car due to a flat tire. I decided that since it was on my way home, I would be a good son and rescue my mom, her friend and my elderly grandmother. When I arrived at the scene, a police car was blocking the lane where the stranded car was and I pulled in front. I left my car running, and walked back to speak with the police officer. After a ten minute discussion, where the officer had told me a tow truck was on its way, I started back to my car to back it up for my grandmother.

Here's where the trouble starts: with headlights, heater fan, and radio all on, my car's ignition died. My brother didn't notice since the heater fan was still blowing. At this point, my car will not start at all. No matter what I try, no luck. Okay, no worries, a tow truck is coming, he can give me a jump right? Wrong . The truck's jumper system is not working. The police officer asks if the tow operator can pull my car across the street to a gas station. I am told it will cost me $25, do I agree to this? No problem. My uncle arrives and picks up all the passengers except me and my brother.

The tow operator lifts the other car onto the flatbed, tells me and my brother to get in the truck and hooks my Honda up to the back with the front lifted. Note here that as soon as I agreed to the $25 charge, I had it on good faith that the tow operator would get my car to the gas station safely. We drove to the gas station and the driver starts to back the car into a parking spot. THUD, THUD, THUD. "I wonder what's going on with your car?" he asks me. We both get out and lo and behold, the left half of my bumper is hanging off and completely split at the bottom. He says to me "Your hand brake was on. You should have left it off on an automatic or at least told me. Nothing I can do. I am not responsible." Then he starts to unload the car as fast as possible. Needless to say, I am furious. "Shouldn't you have checked that the brake was off when you put the damn thing into neutral? You basically dragged my car on its new tires (2 months) over 100 feet" I say heatedly. He replies back "Your car is FWD, so I didn't put into Neutral" and shrugs. At this point, I am furious. I should have called the police again, but my mom came out and started asking me questions and in my fury I was blinded and made the mistake of not calling. I told him to give me his insurance info, and he tells me that since he is not responsible, he won't do that, and to add insult to injury, he offered waive the $25 fee. Oh no, I want proof of this transaction and make him charge my credit card (proof of time and date) and get a receipt. I informed him that I would contact his manager in the morning and he took off before I could finish asking him questions. Again, I should have called the police, but mom was pestering me about details. I tucked the bumper in to the cranny of the hole, got a jump from my uncle and drove home. The next day, I called the manager who also insisted that they were not responsible for any damage but would need to see my car. I set up a date for Saturday (due to classes and work). As this is my first time dealing with car damage and liabilities, I ask you guys for help.

Should I take my insurance rep with me on Saturday to the tow facility and should I also maybe take a police officer? What else should I have done or do to prepare for the meeting?

CalzoneGolem > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:30

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When you call a tow truck, you expect a professional, courteous driver who puts you at ease...

FWIW I never expect this.

787becauseRacecar > CalzoneGolem 01/24/2014 at 08:32

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This was my first time calling a tow truck, so I guess now I know not to expect professionalism.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:32

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I'd say that's the truck driver's fault, he should know how to do his fucking job. But, I'm not sure.

thebigbossyboss > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:42

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I would say take an insurance rep definitely.

I offer my condolences. It matters not that your car has a 4 speed auto, the tow truck driver should have engaged his brain.

STREPITUS > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:42

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My uncle arrives and picks up all the passengers except me and my brother.

Couldn't your uncle bring jumper cables? Even if he didn't have any, a set a AutoZone costs less than $25, and is generally a good thing to have.

ColoradoTaco > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:43

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You should expect it as you felt. Anyone worth their salt in any profession should take pride in what they do. If i can get my lowered car towed several times without damage than a stock car should be no issue at all. Keep pressing the issue with the shop

DetroitMuscle > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:43

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Can't blame you for feeling violated by all this,I would too.But now,the damage is done and calling the insurance company or police is futile,they don't care.

Why not try to step back and cool off.Since they offered to meet up,listen to what they then offer and take it from there.

The Dummy Gummy > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:52

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With out a police report, there is a good chance they can deny they did it and get away with it.

I hope you can get it fixed on their dime and not yours. I would call the gas station and see if you can get a copy of the surveillance.

timateo81 > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:53

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FWIW, this is not a difficult fix. My last car was a '98 accord sedan (same body style as you 2000). I had to replace a headlamp unit that was cracked, and to access all of the fasteners you have to completely remove the front bumper. It took me about 30 minutes tops. Didn't even need to look on the webs for a tutorial-it was pretty cut & dry

If you have no luck with insurance and/or the tow company, you can do this fix yourself. you might not even need to buy new fasteners. but maybe you will.

crown victor victoria > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 08:58

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I don't think he gets to decide if he is at fault or not, and it's super shady that he would not release the insurance info to you. He was involved in an incident that caused damage to your car...call the cops and your insurance and put pressure on him.

Sounds to me like he tried to make $25 off the books and skipped all the necessary paperwork and tried to cover his ass by saying the fault was yours and bugging out before anything could be done.

787becauseRacecar > timateo81 01/24/2014 at 09:02

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That's at least somewhat comforting. Thanks.

787becauseRacecar > STREPITUS 01/24/2014 at 09:04

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I have jumper cables, but the police officer deemed it a risk to have my uncle turn his car around to jump my car as the tow truck was on its way.

787becauseRacecar > The Dummy Gummy 01/24/2014 at 09:04

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Good idea, will do.

Guy Meurice > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 09:08

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100% the truck driver's fault.

No questions asked. They're just trying to weasel out of it because they think they can.

d1ck > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 09:14

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The fact that he admitted to not checking your handbrake is perfect. It's his job to make sure that your car is ready to tow.

787becauseRacecar > d1ck 01/24/2014 at 09:18

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It's not just that. He also told me he didn't even put in it in neutral. Thankfully my car is FWD.

STREPITUS > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 09:21

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Fair enough I suppose. Thats why everyone needs a Miata.

Just pull up to the back and you're good to go.

JEM > CalzoneGolem 01/24/2014 at 09:21

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Exactly. When I need a tow truck, I flat out assume the person driving it is an ex-con, delinquent dad, who's just been up for 72 hours on a meth binge.

Anything better than that and I'm pleasantly surprised.

CalzoneGolem > JEM 01/24/2014 at 09:25

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Exactly.

787becauseRacecar > STREPITUS 01/24/2014 at 09:28

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Damn, the answer really is Miata.

KB Garage > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 09:39

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Start by calling the tow company first. A little patience (and calmness) may come in handy. If they refuse to help, then contact your insurance company.

Most times if the repairs are cheap enough, they won't pursue litigation and will just fix the car since it's the cheaper option for them.

I'm speaking as someone who was involved in a hit and run and even provided the make, model, and license plate number of the vehicle that hit me. They just fixed my truck and told me if I wanted to pursue the matter in civil court, I could. But really, it wasn't worth my time and the truck was fixed anyway. Just remember, in some cases, filing a claim on your insurance has the potential to increase rates.

Meatcoma > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 09:58

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I'd still call and make a police report, also may be able to get the policeman that was helping your mother to collaborate that he asked the tow driver to move your car and that the driver did move it.

No one can stop Mr. Entropy > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 10:04

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Definitely call your insurance agent, and speak to him personally. If you have a good relationship with him, you can get off-the-record advice before anything official happens.

Cut contact with that tow facility. No visit, no call, no nothing. All communication goes through your insurance agent's office. This is their job, it's what you pay them to do, and they're better at it than you'll ever be.

efme > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 10:08

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he said not his fault cuz he knew it was his fault. he hooks it up to move it.. not you.

787becauseRacecar > No one can stop Mr. Entropy 01/24/2014 at 10:17

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This is what I plan to do. When I did call the tow company, they were very rude to me. I'll have AAA deal with them.

787becauseRacecar > Meatcoma 01/24/2014 at 10:18

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That's not a bad idea, I'll try to contact the PO.

erikgrad > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 10:36

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So...did the car's bumper slap against his tow equipment while it was hopping on the pavement? Why he didn't stop immediately, pull back onto the shoulder if possible is beyond my understanding. If you don't get positive resolution on it this Saturday, and things don't look favorable to get resolution, I think the next step is social media action, perhaps...?

What towing company? I live in Metro Detroit, and I sure don't want to be using them...

787becauseRacecar > erikgrad 01/24/2014 at 10:48

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I don't know if it would be wise to mention the company's name yet, but the bumper was hit as the driver backed the car into a parking space at the gas station. The wheels locked since the parking brake was on and the truck backed into it.

erikgrad > 787becauseRacecar 01/24/2014 at 11:44

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On the towing company's side of it, really sucks to give a $25 tow and then have to make a claim on it - which is why you never do a $25 tow in the first place. It doesn't excuse the stupidity on the part of the tow driver. It would be nice if the the towing company could get a local collision shop, some of which they probably know well, to replace the clips on that bumper and get it back into place, if nothing else. It doesn't fix the crack in it, but maybe they could get a bumper too. Here is an Accord (same color I think?) being parted out locally on Craigslist: http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/pts/428486…

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > erikgrad 01/24/2014 at 13:05

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I bet the tow driver was hoping for $25 cash so he wouldn't even have to tell the company about a secondary tow and he could pocket it.

PLEASE eventually tell us the company.

Fellow Metro-Detroiter here. Don't want the same experience. Only tow truck I've dealt with was over the top about safety, tie downs, e brakes, and gear placement.

787becauseRacecar > erikgrad 01/24/2014 at 16:11

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Thanks for the link. If all doesn't go well, That will be the route to take.

TwoFortified > JEM 01/24/2014 at 19:07

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Irritatingly, that seems to be exactly what I get every time.

TwoFortified > STREPITUS 01/24/2014 at 19:09

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Wait...did/do Miatas come stock with the battery in the trunk?

SteyrTMP > STREPITUS 01/25/2014 at 13:39

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The Mini Cooper S also has the battery in the back.

As does the Seven GTR.