On average, there are 16,438 car accidents every day in the United States. Whether you’re in a fender bender, head on collision or you get side swiped, the chances are you’ll be calling a towing company soon after.
Once you’ve made sure that everyone is safe, filed a claim with your insurance company and notified the authorities, you can call Absolute Collision for towing services, as well as for collision, body and bumper repairs. After you’ve made the call and are waiting on your tow truck to arrive, here are a few things you can do to prepare.
- Take pictures
Taking pictures of your car is always a good idea after you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident. This will give you time stamped proof of the condition of your car from the time the tow truck arrived to the time it is returned back to you. It is not uncommon for cars to be dented and dinged while being loaded onto the tow truck and if the tow truck has to come to a sudden stop, there’s a risk for more damage. Insurance companies may need photographic evidence of your car before and after being towed, and like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
- Remove your valuables
Removing everything of value from your car is a standard safety practice. This ensures that nothing is lost or damaged while it is in the shop and you’ll have access to important documents you may need, like your car registration, insurance information, drivers license and more. Most towing companies have a disclaimer that they are not responsible for any lost or damaged items, so it’s better to be safe than sorry and take everything with you.
- Roll Up The Windows
It may sound unimportant but rolling up all the windows ensures that no dust or debris enters the car during transport. You’ll be glad you took this small step later on when you’re not cleaning dirt out from the back of your car.
- Release the Emergency Break
We can guarantee that your car won’t go anywhere while it’s being towed, and although you may think the emergency break needs to be engaged, it does not. It’s important that you disengage the emergency break so no matter if the car is being towed using the traditional method with two wheels on the road or if it is being towed via a flatbed, no further damage will be caused. Most tow truck operators are trained to check and ask about this before loading the vehicle, but it’s a good precaution to take before the tow truck arrives.
- Make Arrangements for Pick Up
If you are not working with a 24/7 towing company, you may need to make arrangements for your car to be picked up while you’re not there. Be sure to work out the details of where you’ll leave a key, when you can expect it to be picked up and what to expect next with the towing company.
If you find yourself on the side of the road in Forest City or Shelby North Carolina waiting on a towing company, make sure to go through these 5 steps before the tow truck gets there. This will ensure that your car is safe and ready to be taken to the auto body repair experts at Absolute Collision.