Towing Issues: Towing scam, honda crv, private citizen

Question
Hi,

STATE OF NEW YORK
Six months ago, I was in a five car accident caused by a government vehicle taking a red light. They towed my car to a location and because I didn’t have the funds, I was unable to pay to get the car out. Everyone else’s car was towed to the same location. But since I didn’t have full coverage and am in a legal battle with the company….my car is the only one that remains.

The person who towed the car told my husband that we could probably work something out with the owner by giving him the title of the vehicle so he could sell the parts (my car is a 98 Honda CRV).

When I spoke to the owner, he said that they do not do that.

Weeks turned into months and now the total is 3, 700. I recently called the owner and he told me that I could give the title to the vehicle and that would settle the outstanding balance. I spoke to my lawyer before I went and she asked me if they were going to give me any money back because the car is still worth more than 4,000. When my husband asked him, he stated that he could give $50 bucks…if that.

However, I think he realized that we are in the process of a lawsuit (and possibly coming into some money) he changed his mind when we got there.

When we got there, he said that he’d only take off $300 and work something out with us after the lawsuit was settled to pay the remaining 3,400. I couldn’t believe it because my car is worth faaar more than $300. Plus, I told him that he could still sell all the parts because only the front is really damaged. He said that if I sell, I could get about $1500-2,000 because I’m a private citizen selling it vs. a towing company….but he’d probably have to scrap it.

I told him that that was not what we discussed and he said…”well, that’s what he meant.” He then said that he could have helped me out had I called him sooner. I told him that I did and in the beginning he told me that he was a towing company and that’s all he did.
So I find it crazy that he is now asking me for the title as part of my payment….something I had offered to do from the very beginning!

Everyone including my lawyer thinks that that is ludicrous! My lawyer suggests that I find a place that is willing to buy the car as it.


Pleaaaaaaaaaaase help me and give me some much needed advice. I’d sooo appreciate it.  

Answer
This is a big problem with accidents and law suits....

Things get dragged out and all the while the vehicles sit and collect storage fees in addition to the original towing fees...

First of all, your insurance company should be battling for you, even if you did not have full coverage (which is your choice there)

But this question also is one where I can not really provide much of an answer and the reason is that it involves lawsuits and as such the lawyers are best to answer this...

But you might try adding the vehicle towing and storage fees to the claim and see what happens there...

Have the lawyer do what he can as that is the best method to use. After all those high priced people are supposed to work for you.