Know your options after an accident Canada
Know your options after an accident
Jul. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM ROBERT MCMILLAN I frequently hear stories from motorists who don't know their rights and end up making bad decisions after an accident. This column is not meant as a criticism against any of the individuals or businesses that motorists encounter after an accident such as collision repair shops, insurance companies or tow truck drivers. But there are occasions when unsuspecting drivers wind up in difficult positions. All drivers should be aware of their rights in the event that they find themselves in an accident. Here's a story of a true incident that happened last February. Jake had a minor auto accident on a busy highway in the GTA. Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. A tow truck driver arrived on the scene within minutes. After determining that nobody was injured or required medical attention, the tow truck driver asked Jake where he wanted his vehicle towed. Jake said that it didn't matter. He signed a consent form that permitted the tow truck operator to transfer his car to a collision repair facility for repairs, and Jake's car was whisked away. In this instance, the tow truck driver acted responsibly and entirely within the law by providing a service that Jake had requested. Later that day, after talking with his insurance agent, Jake decided to have his car moved to his local new-car dealership. He had a relationship with his dealer and he felt comfortable with the quality of repairs and service that they would provide. As Jake soon discovered, there was a problem. When Jake informed the repair shop that he wanted his car transferred to his local dealership, he was presented with an invoice for towing, administration and storage fees. The bill came to $1,482. And no repairs were made! Jake was outraged and argued that these charges were unfair. But he had signed a consent form without knowing the ramifications of his actions. This reduced his options considerably. He had no choice but to pay the bill in full to have his car released. This kind of situation happens all too frequently in the GTA. If Jake had known his rights and his options before the accident, he could have avoided a costly and frustrating ordeal. When people are involved in auto accidents, emotions often run high. Drivers get upset and make irrational decisions that they may come to regret. But understanding their rights and obligations, and doing some homework, motorists can take control of their situations and make sensible decisions. In Jake's case, even if he didn't know where the repairs would be done, he could have advised the tow truck driver to take his car to an auto repair facility that he trusted - at least until he decided which course of action he wanted to take. If you're undecided, you have the right to have your vehicle sent to a Collision Reporting Centre, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are three such centres in the GTA. When your vehicle is at the reporting centre, you are allowed 24 hours' free storage, which allows you time to contact your insurance company and make arrangements to have your vehicle fixed. Most motorists who drive newer cars probably have some form of roadside assistance, which will provide a towing service to the nearest dealer for your vehicle's nameplate. Or motorists may be members of the Canadian Automobile Association, which provides free towing service. For those who don't have assistance plans, there are a number of things you should determine, at the scene, before making a decision. These include: Find out from the tow truck driver how much the tow will cost. Find out if there are any other charges. If you have to sign anything, make sure you're only consenting to towing the vehicle. Don't sign anything that allows a company to "tear down" or repair your vehicle. Find out if the tow truck has a municipal licence registration number (on its side). If a tow truck driver recommends a repair facility without first being asked, that could be deemed illegal under some municipal codes. Some operators may do this because they are paid a commission by the garage. If you don't know whether your insurance policy provides for towing, you should. Most drivers have probably never read their policies, but you need to know the conditions and declarations specified in them. When choosing a garage, your insurance company may recommend a facility that it knows. But if you prefer to use your local dealership, then the decision is yours to make. Insurance companies may also try to tell you that some of your repairs may not be covered, if you don't use one of their recommended repair shops. That's nothing more than a pressure tactic; don't be swayed or intimidated by it. Being involved in an auto accident is never a fun experience. It's upsetting, emotionally draining and time-consuming. Don't make things worse by being unprepared. The bottom line with accidents is this: Know your rights and options ahead of time and take control of your situation. Here are the Collision Reporting Centres in the GTA: North Collision Reporting Centre, 113 Toryork Dr., 416-745-1600 East Collision Reporting Centre, 39 Howden Rd., 416-701-1600 West Collision Reporting Centre, 855 Oxford St., 416-252-1200 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert McMillan, president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers Association, is a new-car dealer in the GTA. This column represents the views of TADA. Email: or visit http://www.tada.ca. |
Know your options after an accident Canada
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...d=970599119419 wrote: > Know your options after an accident > Jul. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM > ROBERT MCMILLAN > > > I frequently hear stories from motorists who don't know their rights > and end up making bad decisions after an accident. > > This column is not meant as a criticism against any of the individuals > or businesses that motorists encounter after an accident such as > collision repair shops, insurance companies or tow truck drivers. > > > But there are occasions when unsuspecting drivers wind up in difficult > positions. All drivers should be aware of their rights in the event > that they find themselves in an accident. > > Here's a story of a true incident that happened last February. > > Jake had a minor auto accident on a busy highway in the GTA. > Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. > > A tow truck driver arrived on the scene within minutes. After > determining that nobody was injured or required medical attention, the > tow truck driver asked Jake where he wanted his vehicle towed. > > Jake said that it didn't matter. He signed a consent form that > permitted the tow truck operator to transfer his car to a collision > repair facility for repairs, and Jake's car was whisked away. > > In this instance, the tow truck driver acted responsibly and entirely > within the law by providing a service that Jake had requested. > > Later that day, after talking with his insurance agent, Jake decided to > have his car moved to his local new-car dealership. He had a > relationship with his dealer and he felt comfortable with the quality > of repairs and service that they would provide. > > As Jake soon discovered, there was a problem. When Jake informed the > repair shop that he wanted his car transferred to his local dealership, > he was presented with an invoice for towing, administration and storage > fees. > > The bill came to $1,482. And no repairs were made! > > Jake was outraged and argued that these charges were unfair. But he had > signed a consent form without knowing the ramifications of his actions. > This reduced his options considerably. He had no choice but to pay the > bill in full to have his car released. > > This kind of situation happens all too frequently in the GTA. If Jake > had known his rights and his options before the accident, he could have > avoided a costly and frustrating ordeal. > > When people are involved in auto accidents, emotions often run high. > Drivers get upset and make irrational decisions that they may come to > regret. > > But understanding their rights and obligations, and doing some > homework, motorists can take control of their situations and make > sensible decisions. > > In Jake's case, even if he didn't know where the repairs would be done, > he could have advised the tow truck driver to take his car to an auto > repair facility that he trusted - at least until he decided which > course of action he wanted to take. > > If you're undecided, you have the right to have your vehicle sent to a > Collision Reporting Centre, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a > week. > > There are three such centres in the GTA. > > When your vehicle is at the reporting centre, you are allowed 24 hours' > free storage, which allows you time to contact your insurance company > and make arrangements to have your vehicle fixed. > > Most motorists who drive newer cars probably have some form of roadside > assistance, which will provide a towing service to the nearest dealer > for your vehicle's nameplate. > > Or motorists may be members of the Canadian Automobile Association, > which provides free towing service. > > For those who don't have assistance plans, there are a number of things > you should determine, at the scene, before making a decision. These > include: > > Find out from the tow truck driver how much the tow will cost. > > Find out if there are any other charges. > > If you have to sign anything, make sure you're only consenting to > towing the vehicle. > > Don't sign anything that allows a company to "tear down" or repair your > vehicle. > > Find out if the tow truck has a municipal licence registration number > (on its side). > > If a tow truck driver recommends a repair facility without first being > asked, that could be deemed illegal under some municipal codes. Some > operators may do this because they are paid a commission by the garage. > > If you don't know whether your insurance policy provides for towing, > you should. > > Most drivers have probably never read their policies, but you need to > know the conditions and declarations specified in them. > > When choosing a garage, your insurance company may recommend a facility > that it knows. But if you prefer to use your local dealership, then the > decision is yours to make. > > Insurance companies may also try to tell you that some of your repairs > may not be covered, if you don't use one of their recommended repair > shops. That's nothing more than a pressure tactic; don't be swayed or > intimidated by it. > > Being involved in an auto accident is never a fun experience. It's > upsetting, emotionally draining and time-consuming. Don't make things > worse by being unprepared. > > The bottom line with accidents is this: Know your rights and options > ahead of time and take control of your situation. > > Here are the Collision Reporting Centres in the GTA: > > North Collision Reporting Centre, 113 Toryork Dr., 416-745-1600 > > East Collision Reporting Centre, 39 Howden Rd., 416-701-1600 > > West Collision Reporting Centre, 855 Oxford St., 416-252-1200 > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Robert McMillan, president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers > Association, is a > > new-car dealer in the GTA. This column > > represents the views of TADA. Email: > > or visit http://www.tada.ca. |
Know your options after an accident Canada
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Uzytkownik > napisal w wiadomosci oups.com... > Know your options after an accident > Jul. 8, 2006. 01:00 AM > ROBERT MCMILLAN > > > I frequently hear stories from motorists who don't know their rights > and end up making bad decisions after an accident. > > This column is not meant as a criticism against any of the individuals > or businesses that motorists encounter after an accident such as > collision repair shops, insurance companies or tow truck drivers. > > > But there are occasions when unsuspecting drivers wind up in difficult > positions. All drivers should be aware of their rights in the event > that they find themselves in an accident. > > Here's a story of a true incident that happened last February. > > Jake had a minor auto accident on a busy highway in the GTA. > Fortunately, nobody was seriously injured. > > A tow truck driver arrived on the scene within minutes. After > determining that nobody was injured or required medical attention, the > tow truck driver asked Jake where he wanted his vehicle towed. > > Jake said that it didn't matter. He signed a consent form that > permitted the tow truck operator to transfer his car to a collision > repair facility for repairs, and Jake's car was whisked away. > > In this instance, the tow truck driver acted responsibly and entirely > within the law by providing a service that Jake had requested. > > Later that day, after talking with his insurance agent, Jake decided to > have his car moved to his local new-car dealership. He had a > relationship with his dealer and he felt comfortable with the quality > of repairs and service that they would provide. > > As Jake soon discovered, there was a problem. When Jake informed the > repair shop that he wanted his car transferred to his local dealership, > he was presented with an invoice for towing, administration and storage > fees. > > The bill came to $1,482. And no repairs were made! > > Jake was outraged and argued that these charges were unfair. But he had > signed a consent form without knowing the ramifications of his actions. > This reduced his options considerably. He had no choice but to pay the > bill in full to have his car released. > > This kind of situation happens all too frequently in the GTA. If Jake > had known his rights and his options before the accident, he could have > avoided a costly and frustrating ordeal. > > When people are involved in auto accidents, emotions often run high. > Drivers get upset and make irrational decisions that they may come to > regret. > > But understanding their rights and obligations, and doing some > homework, motorists can take control of their situations and make > sensible decisions. > > In Jake's case, even if he didn't know where the repairs would be done, > he could have advised the tow truck driver to take his car to an auto > repair facility that he trusted - at least until he decided which > course of action he wanted to take. > > If you're undecided, you have the right to have your vehicle sent to a > Collision Reporting Centre, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a > week. > > There are three such centres in the GTA. > > When your vehicle is at the reporting centre, you are allowed 24 hours' > free storage, which allows you time to contact your insurance company > and make arrangements to have your vehicle fixed. > > Most motorists who drive newer cars probably have some form of roadside > assistance, which will provide a towing service to the nearest dealer > for your vehicle's nameplate. > > Or motorists may be members of the Canadian Automobile Association, > which provides free towing service. > > For those who don't have assistance plans, there are a number of things > you should determine, at the scene, before making a decision. These > include: > > Find out from the tow truck driver how much the tow will cost. > > Find out if there are any other charges. > > If you have to sign anything, make sure you're only consenting to > towing the vehicle. > > Don't sign anything that allows a company to "tear down" or repair your > vehicle. > > Find out if the tow truck has a municipal licence registration number > (on its side). > > If a tow truck driver recommends a repair facility without first being > asked, that could be deemed illegal under some municipal codes. Some > operators may do this because they are paid a commission by the garage. > > If you don't know whether your insurance policy provides for towing, > you should. > > Most drivers have probably never read their policies, but you need to > know the conditions and declarations specified in them. > > When choosing a garage, your insurance company may recommend a facility > that it knows. But if you prefer to use your local dealership, then the > decision is yours to make. > > Insurance companies may also try to tell you that some of your repairs > may not be covered, if you don't use one of their recommended repair > shops. That's nothing more than a pressure tactic; don't be swayed or > intimidated by it. > > Being involved in an auto accident is never a fun experience. It's > upsetting, emotionally draining and time-consuming. Don't make things > worse by being unprepared. > > The bottom line with accidents is this: Know your rights and options > ahead of time and take control of your situation. > > Here are the Collision Reporting Centres in the GTA: > > North Collision Reporting Centre, 113 Toryork Dr., 416-745-1600 > > East Collision Reporting Centre, 39 Howden Rd., 416-701-1600 > > West Collision Reporting Centre, 855 Oxford St., 416-252-1200 > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------ > Robert McMillan, president of the Toronto Automobile Dealers > Association, is a > > new-car dealer in the GTA. This column > > represents the views of TADA. Email: > > or visit http://www.tada.ca. > |
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