Accident recovery is the work of clearing a vehicle from a collision scene and getting it to wherever it needs to go next. KLN Towing Service provides accident recovery for drivers in and around Lawrenceville, GA.
A collision is an unusually stressful thing to deal with, and the towing part of it is rarely what anyone wants to think about. Our aim is to make that one part straightforward.
Call 911 first
Before anything else: if anyone is injured, if a vehicle is on fire or leaking fuel, if the road is blocked, or if there is any immediate danger, call 911.
Emergency services take priority at any collision scene, and police, fire and medical response come before towing. Call us once the scene is safe and you know your vehicle needs moving.
At the scene
If you are able to, a few things are worth doing while you wait. None of them should come before your own safety.
- Move to a safe place away from traffic
- Turn on hazard lights if the vehicle can be reached safely
- Exchange names, contact details, insurance and license plate numbers with the other driver
- Photograph the vehicles, their positions, and the wider scene
- Get the police report or incident number if officers attend
- Note the names and contact details of any witnesses
Deciding where the vehicle goes
This is the question that most often catches people out at the roadside, so it is worth thinking about before the truck arrives.
Your vehicle can usually go to a repair shop of your choosing, to your home, or to another address you nominate. You are generally entitled to choose the shop rather than accepting whichever one is suggested to you. If your insurer is involved, calling them from the scene can help, since some policies specify arrangements.
Where police have ordered a vehicle removed, or the vehicle is being held as part of an investigation, that takes precedence over your preference.
Take your belongings before it is towed
Once your vehicle leaves the scene, getting back into it can take days and may involve fees. Take what you need before it goes.
- Registration and proof of insurance
- Wallet, phone, keys, medication, glasses
- Anything in the trunk, glovebox and door pockets
- Child seats — these usually need replacing after a collision anyway
- Garage remotes, toll transponders and parking permits
- Chargers, sunglasses and anything else you would miss
How the vehicle is moved
A vehicle damaged in a collision often cannot roll, steer or be shifted into neutral, and may have suspension or wheel damage that rules out a conventional tow.
Flatbed transport is frequently the right method in these cases, because the vehicle is carried on a deck with all four wheels off the ground rather than rolling on damaged components. KLN Towing Service provides flatbed towing, and we will tell you what your vehicle needs when we see it.