Protecting Evidence After an Auto Wreck: 3 Ways a Tow Company Can Help
If you are involved in an auto accident, the tow truck company which arrives will do much more than just rescue you and your family from the side of the road. When dealing with accident scenes, tow truck operators are specially trained to preserve and protect any evidence which could help in later court cases or compensation claims. Below is a guide to 3 ways in which a tow truck company preserves evidence at the scene of an auto accident.
Protecting the interior of the car
When a tow truck operative is positioning your car so it can be loaded onto the back of their truck, they will make sure that none of the controls in the car are touched. If an indicator lever is in the signal left position, that lever will be left where it is. If the vehicle is in a certain gear, the tow truck driver will leave it in that gear. This is important because when the authorities later examine the vehicle, they will make a note of the location of the various controls and will present this as evidence. If you claim you signalled to turn left while in 2nd gear but the car is delivered to the police garage with the indicator lever in the central position and the gear stick in 4th gear, this could cause a lot of problems and confusion.
Collection of roadside debris
If any debris has been created as a result of the wreckage, it is the tow truck operator's job to clear this. The contractors will carefully collect this and place it in plastic bags so that it is protected and can later be used as evidence of the collision. Debris generated by a vehicle crash can often play a vital role in determining the speed and direction of each car involved.
Preventing access to the wreck
Once the car has been towed to a safe location, the tow truck company can keep it in their secure garage area. This will help to protect any evidence which is yet to be photographed or collected. Doing so prevents the other party involved in the crash or an insurance company from claiming the car was tampered with once it has been recovered from the scene of the accident.
If you would like further information about how a towing company can help you after an auto crash, you should contact a tow truck operator today.