Being involved in a car accident is stressful enough. If you or someone else is injured and needs to be taken to hospital, it can make the situation even more overwhelming, especially if your vehicle is badly damaged and needs to be removed from the scene.
At Ballina Tow Trucks, we understand that accident towing often happens at a difficult time. You may not be able to stay with your vehicle, speak to the tow truck operator, or decide where the vehicle should go straight away. The good news is that there is a process in place to help make sure your vehicle is moved safely and can be located afterwards.
Below, we explain what generally happens when a vehicle is towed after an accident, especially if the driver or occupants are taken to hospital.
Safety Comes First
After any accident, the first priority is always people, not vehicles.
If someone is injured, emergency services should be contacted immediately. Police, ambulance and other emergency responders may attend the scene depending on the seriousness of the accident, whether traffic is affected, or whether there are safety hazards on the road.
If you are taken to hospital, your vehicle may need to be towed without you being there. This is common after more serious accidents, and the tow truck operator, police, emergency services or another authorised person may help arrange for the vehicle to be moved.
Why the Vehicle Needs to Be Towed
After an accident, a vehicle may need to be towed for several reasons. It may be too damaged to drive, blocking traffic, leaking fluids, creating a safety risk, or located somewhere unsafe such as a busy road, highway shoulder or intersection.
Even if the damage looks minor, a vehicle may not be safe to drive. Problems with steering, brakes, tyres, suspension, airbags, lights or leaking fluids can make driving dangerous after a collision.
Towing the vehicle helps clear the scene, protect other road users and ensure the vehicle is transported somewhere safe.
Where Is the Vehicle Taken?
Where the vehicle is taken can depend on the situation, the owner’s instructions, insurance arrangements, police direction, or what is practical at the time.
A vehicle towed after an accident may be taken to:
- A repairer or panel beater
- A mechanic
- A holding yard or secure storage location
- Your home
- A nominated destination
- A location requested by your insurer, where applicable
If you are unable to provide instructions at the scene because you have been taken to hospital, the vehicle may be taken to a safe holding location until you, a family member, your insurer or another authorised person can make further arrangements.
How Do You Find Out Where Your Vehicle Is?
If you were taken to hospital and do not know where your vehicle has been towed, there are a few steps you can take once you are safe and able to make calls.
You may be able to contact:
- The police station involved, if police attended the accident
- Your insurer, if a claim has been started
- A family member or passenger who remained at the scene
- The towing company, if you know who attended
- The repairer or holding yard, if details were provided
If Ballina Tow Trucks has attended the accident, we can help confirm towing details and provide practical information about where the vehicle was taken, where appropriate.
Can a Family Member Arrange the Tow?
In many cases, a family member, friend or authorised person may help coordinate towing if the driver is injured, shaken or taken to hospital.
They may be able to provide the tow truck operator with important details such as the vehicle owner’s name, preferred repairer, insurance details, contact number or where the vehicle should be taken.
If you are calling on behalf of someone involved in an accident, it helps to have as much information as possible, including the vehicle location, registration, make and model, and the preferred destination.
What If the Vehicle Is Badly Damaged?
If a vehicle is badly damaged, it may require careful handling before it can be moved. Accident-damaged vehicles may have broken wheels, damaged steering, deployed airbags, leaking fluids, panel damage or parts that make loading and transport more complex.
This is why accident towing should be handled by experienced operators with the right equipment and knowledge. The goal is to move the vehicle safely while reducing further damage where possible.
Should You Contact Your Insurance Company?
If your vehicle has been involved in an accident, it is usually a good idea to contact your insurer as soon as practical.
Your insurer may advise you on claim requirements, preferred repairers, assessment processes and what information they need about the tow. They may also ask where the vehicle has been taken and request photos, reports or other documentation.
If you are unsure what to do, focus first on your safety and medical care. Insurance and vehicle arrangements can usually be handled once the immediate situation is under control.
What Information Helps After an Accident Tow?
When following up on a vehicle that has been towed after an accident, it helps to have:
- Your vehicle registration number
- Vehicle make, model and colour
- Accident location
- Approximate time of the accident
- Police event number, if available
- Insurance claim number, if available
- Tow truck company details, if known
- Preferred repairer or destination
Having these details ready can make it easier to locate the vehicle and arrange the next steps.
Local Accident Towing Across Ballina and the Northern Rivers
Accidents can happen anywhere, from local streets around Ballina to highways, rural roads and coastal routes across the Northern Rivers. When they do, having a reliable local towing team can make a stressful situation easier to manage.
Ballina Tow Trucks provides accident towing, breakdown towing, car towing, caravan towing, truck towing, vehicle transport, heavy towing, float transport and container transport across Ballina, the Northern Rivers and Northern NSW.
If you have been involved in an accident and need emergency towing support, or you are arranging car towing on behalf of someone who has been taken to hospital, contact Ballina Tow Trucks for practical assistance.
Need accident towing in Ballina or the Northern Rivers? Call Ballina Tow Trucks 24/7 on 0413 992 482.
