Three Reasons to Call a Tow Truck Company After an Accident
If you are involved in an auto accident and your vehicle sustains damage, you may be tempted to try to drive it home or to the nearest garage. However, before you do so, you should think carefully about the possible impact this could have on your safety or your ability to make a compensation or insurance claim. Below is a guide to 3 reasons you should consider calling a tow truck rather than trying to drive a damaged car.
The car may be unsafe
After a collision, you may inspect your car and judge it to have only superficial damage. However, while it may look as if your vehicle has only sustained a bit of smashed up bodywork, underneath the bonnet and panels serious and unseen damage could have occurred. If internal fluid lines have ruptured, this could create a fire hazard, and the loss of hydraulic fluid could cause your steering or braking systems to fail. Having your vehicle towed away will help to protect you and other road users.
You may increase the amount of damage
If you decide to drive your vehicle after an accident, you may cause further mechanical damage to vital systems such as the wheels, the transmission or the suspension. The increased level of damage will mean that it will cost more to repair the car. Also, your insurance company may well have questions to ask about why you decided to drive a damaged car, and in extreme cases, they could cancel your policy without paying for the repair of the car.
Black box data could be compromised
Many modern cars are now fitted with black boxes which record basic data about the car's speed and the input of controls such as acceleration and braking. This information is often used by accident investigators and insurance companies when they are deciding who was at fault during the accident. If you drive your car after the accident, you could compromise the existing data, making it difficult for the insurance company to present it as evidence during your claim.
Towing services are staffed by highly skilled staff who are available 24 hours a day. A tow truck driver will quickly locate your vehicle, carry out any actions to make it safe and then tow the car to the nearest auto repair shop. They will also be able to arrange alternative transport to your destination. If you would like to find out more about the services on offer, you should contact a tow truck company today.
