Towing Issues: Front end damage Mercedes S430, mercedes s430, low profile tires

Question
Richmond, Virginia Mercedes s430 AMG sport package low profile tires and AMG spoilers---- In Error the finance company ordered tow for repo.  In middle night tow company came picked up and towed my car to there tow yard.  Finance company told me to go pick up car no charge was picked up in error.  Now that being said,  I went to the tow company to get my car and when I got there notice my car front end was sitting extremely low.  I  had to wait for the finance company to send release of vehicle no charge. I went inside the yard to my vehicle and inspected the car.  Front bumper was about an inch from the ground.  Front bumper was damaged front grill missing out of lower bumper, tow cover was missing and bumper was badly damaged on bottom.  Ask the tow company, they denied the damage and said was prior damage.  The admitted that they towed the vehicle from behind and towed roughly 25 miles.  I took several pictures of car in lot with damage and car sitting extremely low in front.  Called my insurance and they sent tow truck to pick up and take to shop.  Tow company released the car and I listed the damages on their sheet of release.  My insurance tow came with flat bed and started the car to move so could be put on flatbed.  When they started the car after a few minutes the front air ride started lifting the car, they moved the car and pulled onto flatbed.  Repo tow company denied damage and stated prior damage.  Car was taken to body shop to ensure car drivable,  after shop looked at car said car should be drivable.  Damage to car was front bumper, grill under front fender plastic damaged,  front tires had cuts on inside tread.  I purchased new front tires and cuts were showing metal,  and had estimate for rest of damage was $2800.  I have also been told from repair shop front air shocks are leaking air.  I have never had any issues with front, car never dropped to ground (front air shocks are like $3000) and I have witnesses that car front was not damage prior to tow.  Other tow companies have stated car should have been flatbed  towed not pulled from behind,  My owners manual recommends flatbed tow or could cause damage being towed any other way.    I am suing the tow company small claims,  I am trying to find any other cases or any tow documentation that states this type of damage from towing these type of vehicle from rear could be caused from way vehicle was towed.  Sorry for long question, just wanted to give as much detail,  Thank you for your help.

Answer
First of all, I am sorry to hear about the mistake that happened and caused the whole incident.


Now as to towing there are several different methods to tow the vehicle with out causing damages...

http://www.towspec.com/vehent/vehview.aspx?ID=2017

That link is just one online source for information about that vehicle and towing.

Now I have to say that flatbed towing is not the answer to the whole issue of towing. Flatbeds can and do cause damage also... Plus a flatbed will need the vehicle to roll in order to be loaded onto the bed of the truck...

Lifting by a sling or wheel lift actually does not mean it can not be damaged but it also has its issues to be concerned about.


Now as to the damages, I would say that when it was towed it was towed rear up, and as such with the "vehicle modifications" (low profile tires and spoilers) that the chances for damages are greatly increased...(do you have trouble getting in and out of driveways and over speed bumps?)


Ok now back to the damages, I noticed that you say you listed the damages on the Repo company paperwork and they are denying the claims and saying prior damages... I would hope that if that was the case for them, that there are pictures of your vehicle with that damage visible from BEFORE they towed it with something that is easy to determine where it was...

Now I understand you are suing the tow company, but I do have to say that it might be good idea to involve your auto insurance company with this issue... Sure it might affect your rates, but they have a lot more legal options and people that would be able to handle it for you.


As to the information you want to find for the court case all I can say is that you will have to dig and find lots of sources for information. The more information you have then it will go better for you...

As to finding issues on prior cases of damage happening from towing, I would be hard pressed to find this kind of information and that is one reason I suggested your insurance company. They might of lots of this kind of information available for them.

But in my mind I have to say I see the chances for damages and how they could be caused. But I also know that when doing a repo there is usually a clause in the contract (orders) which states get it any way they can... And some places do not care if they damage it, as they got the vehicle which was the job they were hired to do...

I also hope that you have contacted the finance company about the damages as they need to know about it and the way that the company treated "THEIR VEHICLE" (remember it was theirs at the time of repo).