A DRIVER asked for more money after her vehicle was damaged when it fell from a tow truck.
Brandi Tudor, a former Dodge Ram driver, said she needed to replace the entire vehicle after it fell off the tow truck bed.
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“It was pure panic,” Tudor said of the 2004 Ram falling off the tow truck in 2021, according to the Sacramento-based CBS affiliate KOVR.
“I’m thinking, ‘Oh my God, my husband’s truck!’
The Ram was placed on the tow truck after the car failed to start.
The tow truck operator managed to get back to Tudor’s home – but the pickup truck fell out of the bed and into the garage.
Security cameras installed in the family’s home captured the tow truck crash.
The crash caused between $5,500 and $13,000 in damage, AAA estimated in accounts for Tudor.
A new bumper and several components on the underside of the truck needed to be replaced.
The towing company admitted to KOVR that the damage was their responsibility.
But the company only sent Tudor $1,500.
“They’re acting like we’re trying to take a free truck from them,” Tudor told the station.
“We just want our truck the way it was before it was towed.”
AAA said it is not responsible for damages caused by third-party companies, such as a towing operator.
However, the company will send cash payments if there is a dispute over damages.
The company decided to offer a $13,000 check to Tudor to help pay for the damage to the truck.
She rejected the check because parts for her nearly 17-year-old car were no longer available.
What to do if your car is towed
Unfairly or not, recovering a towed vehicle can be a hassle.
If your vehicle is towed after parking in a “No Parking” zone or other legitimate reason, there are some steps you can take to get it back.
Steps to follow when your car is towed:
- Try to find out why your car was towed. Haven’t you seen a “No Parking” sign? Did you miss your car payment? Have you returned to a lot where there were unpaid citations? Finding the reason may narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
- Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some type of contact information via a posted or mailed sign.
- Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but these times will be posted on the website or may be provided by a representative.
- Pay the fees. Be careful to be as quick as possible as some towing yards may charge per day storage fees.
If you believe your vehicle was improperly towed, you can dispute the action by following these steps:
- Be quick – many states have a small window of time in which it is acceptable to file a claim against a company that improperly towed your vehicle.
- Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements, if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
- Familiarize yourself with local laws, as laws for towing companies vary by state.
- Try talking to the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight and the matter can be resolved quickly.
- Contact your local Justice of the Peace as they may have more information or resources to help. They are often used for towing cases.
- Speak to a lawyer. Many lawyers offer free consultations and, depending on the case, it may be worth calling on a lawyer.
Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak law firm
Tudor said it would take $20,000 to replace the truck with the correct parts.
“I really shouldn’t have to pay,” she said.
“I wasn’t the one who damaged the vehicle.”
At the time, the pickup was worth between $7,000 and $12,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Tudor said he has hired lawyers to help recover more money.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
