Towing and Storage After a Truck Wreck: Who Pays in Georgia?

Who pays towing and storage fees after a truck wreck in Georgia? Several sources can cover the bill. These include the at-fault party’s liability insurer, your own collision coverage, the trucking company’s insurer, or you, paying first and seeking reimbursement later. If your truck is sitting at a tow yard today, the question matters more with each passing day.

Why Towing and Storage Costs Climb Fast After a Truck Wreck

Towing and storage costs climb fastest when a truck sits at a yard while the claim is still open. Heavy trucks and trailers need heavy-duty tow equipment. The truck is often hauled from the roadway to a yard several miles away, and that trip is only the first charge.

Yards commonly bill storage per day. A truck left for weeks can build a large balance, even while nobody has decided who is responsible. Cargo removal, inspection holds and handling of damaged loads can add more. Each item shows up on an invoice you did not expect.

You are likely juggling several problems at once. The truck is damaged, a business or income may be on hold, and a yard bill keeps growing. The first days matter because storage charges can start the day the truck arrives. Acting early keeps the bill smaller and the paper trail cleaner.

Who Can Pay Towing and Storage: The Main Sources

Four sources can pay towing and storage after a Georgia truck crash. Each works differently, and the answer depends on the facts of your crash.

• The at-fault driver’s liability insurance. Liability coverage pays for harm the at-fault driver caused. Reasonable towing and storage tied to the crash can be part of that claim.
• Your own collision coverage. Your policy may pay towing and storage, subject to its terms, your deductible and the claim process.
• The trucking company’s insurer. When a motor carrier or its driver is involved, that company’s insurer may be the one that responds.
• You, paying first. Some owners pay the yard and then seek reimbursement from the party responsible.

Towing and storage are generally treated as vehicle-related losses. They are presented in a property damage claim alongside repair or replacement costs. Each insurer has its own paperwork and timeline, so keep a separate file for each claim.

How the At-Fault Party’s Liability Insurance Fits In

The at-fault party’s liability insurance is the source many people hope will pay first. A claim against the at-fault driver or company can include reasonable towing and storage charges tied to the crash. Repair or replacement costs usually sit in the same claim.

Insurers typically ask for itemized invoices. Each invoice should show dates, daily rates and the reason the truck was held. Charges that stem from delays in the claim process itself can be disputed, so keep a written timeline of every call and step.

Georgia’s fault rules also shape what you recover. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33, the judge reduces damages in proportion to the plaintiff’s percentage of fault. The same statute says a plaintiff who is 50 percent or more responsible for the damages claimed is not entitled to receive any damages. Liable persons also pay their own shares, not joint liability. Shared blame can change how much of a towing bill comes back to you.

Using Your Own Collision Coverage to Pay First

Your own collision or comprehensive coverage may pay towing and storage, subject to your policy. This route can move the bill faster than waiting for another insurer to accept fault. It also has trade-offs you should understand.

Paying through your own insurer can still leave a reimbursement question. Your insurer may later look to the at-fault party for repayment, and that process can take time. Your deductible may apply, and the policy language controls what is covered.

Read the towing and storage language in your policy. Then ask your insurer in writing how these charges are being handled, and keep the reply. Georgia law also looks at whether the injured person could have avoided harm with ordinary care. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-11-7, a plaintiff who by ordinary care could have avoided the consequences caused by the defendant’s negligence is not entitled to recover. Prompt, written communication keeps your record clear.

Tow Yard Liens, Storage Charges and Getting the Truck Released

A tow yard may hold a truck while its charges stay unpaid. Get the charges in writing before you pay or sign anything. If your vehicle was towed after a crash, questions about where it is being held and how to get it back are worth raising with our team as early as possible. Ask the yard for its written basis.

If your truck was towed that way, the tariff may help you check whether a charge looks out of line.

Ask for an itemized, dated statement of every charge. Confirm the daily storage rate and the date charges began. Compare that statement against your tow ticket and crash report number. Storage keeps growing while the truck sits, so talk with the yard and insurers promptly. Silence lets the balance grow.

When a Trucking Company, Vehicle Owner or Cargo Is Involved

A commercial truck crash can involve the driver, the motor carrier, a leasing company, a cargo owner or a maintenance contractor. Each may have its own insurer. Work out which party’s coverage applies to towing and storage before you assume the answer.

That usually means reviewing the crash report, the vehicle registration and the trucking company’s paperwork. Federal rules set minimum liability levels for motor carriers. For example, 49 C.F.R. § 387.9 sets $750,000 as the minimum public liability level for for-hire carriers in interstate or foreign commerce, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 or more pounds, hauling nonhazardous property.

Georgia also limits when a motor carrier’s insurer can be joined in the same lawsuit. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-1-112, joinder is allowed only in specific situations. Examples include when a related carrier is insolvent or bankrupt, or when personal service cannot be made after reasonable diligence. For the wider picture of who can be responsible, read our truck accident guide. Crashes involving driver phone use are covered in this guide on proving a truck driver was on the phone. Hazardous cargo cases are covered in this guide on hazardous materials crashes.

Records That Help Protect Your Towing and Storage Claim

The records you gather in the first week can decide how well the towing and storage bill is documented later. Keep these items together in one folder, paper or digital.

• The crash report number, and any police or incident report you receive.
• Photos of the truck, the scene and any damage, taken as early as you safely can.
• The tow ticket issued at the scene or by the tow company.
• Every yard invoice, release notice and storage statement, with dates.
• A call log and copies of written messages with insurers, including dates and the names of the people you spoke with.
• Rental, lost-use or business interruption costs, tracked separately.

Ask the yard to confirm the daily storage rate and the date charges started, in writing. Under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2, special damages are those that actually flow from a tortious act. They must be proved before they can be recovered, so the paper trail matters.

Talking With T. Madden & Associates About Your Truck Wreck Costs

If a truck is sitting at a yard while storage charges grow, you can talk with T. Madden & Associates, P.C. before the bill climbs further. You may be dealing with the wreck, a damaged truck and a business on hold all at once. You do not have to sort out who pays by yourself.

The firm offers a free first consultation, which is confidential and comes with no obligation to continue. Personal injury and wrongful death matters are handled on a no-fee-unless-we-win basis, but the client may still be responsible for court costs and case expenses.

Responsible lawyer: Terance Madden, T. Madden & Associates, P.C., who has practiced since 1999. The firm has offices in Jonesboro (Clayton County), Atlanta, Decatur, Macon and Augusta. You can reach the firm through its contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions