After a car crash, your first concern is your health, but questions about your vehicle usually follow quickly. You may not know where the tow truck took your car, how storage charges work, or whether the insurance company will repair the vehicle or declare it a total loss. These factors affect how soon you can drive again and the compensation you receive for the damage.
You might also feel uncertain about your rights when adjusters, tow yards, and body shops all demand quick answers. So what happens to a vehicle after a Katy car accident? A car collision attorney from KGS Law PLLC could explain during an initial consultation.
Towing, Storage, and Securing Your Vehicle
Immediately after a collision, police or a private tow company may remove your vehicle from the scene. In many cases, they take your car to a vehicle storage facility that charges daily fees. State rules limit the daily storage charges that facilities may collect, subject to periodic adjustments. Knowing your vehicle’s storage location and how these fees work is an important part of understanding what happens after a collision in Katy.
As soon as you know your car’s location, call the storage lot to confirm the name and address, and ask for the daily storage rate and any additional fees. Visiting the lot when it is safe allows you to photograph the damage, remove personal items, and collect copies of towing and storage invoices. These steps help protect your property and reduce surprise charges while you decide how to handle the damage to your vehicle.
What Does It Take To Establish a Strong Vehicle Damage Claim?
What happens to your vehicle after a Katy car wreck often depends on the documents you collect and provide. Helpful records include:
- The police crash report and any supplemental reports
- Photos of the crash scene and all visible vehicle damage
- Tow and storage invoices and repair estimates from body shops
- Proof of recent maintenance or upgrades affecting the car’s value
- Copies of letters, emails, and messages with all insurers involved
These materials help demonstrate what happened to your vehicle after a car accident and provide a more accurate valuation when you negotiate with the insurance company.
Repairs, Total Loss Decisions, and Title Issues
Once your crashed car is towed and stored in Katy, what typically happens next is that the insurance company arranges an inspection. An adjuster evaluates the estimated repair costs against the vehicle’s actual cash value. If the combined repair costs and salvage value surpass the vehicle’s worth, the insurer may declare it a total loss. You are generally entitled to the fair market value of your vehicle before the collision.
If your car is repairable, the insurer may pay for repairs at a shop of your choice, subject to policy limits and terms. If totaled, your options include accepting a total-loss payment and transferring ownership or keeping the vehicle for a reduced fee based on its salvage value. Keeping a totaled vehicle may require a salvage or rebuilt title, which can affect its resale value and insurability. Our lawyers could help you understand these outcomes, review the valuation, and gather supporting records.
Talk to a Katy Attorney About What Happens to Your Vehicle After a Crash
“What happens to a vehicle after a Katy car accident?” is an important question that can significantly impact your finances and daily life. Decisions about towing, storage, repairs, total loss status, and settlement timing all matter, and state law gives you specific rights in each part of the process. When tow yards or insurers ignore those rights, you may need legal guidance to enforce them.
If you were in a car wreck and have questions about your vehicle, KGS Law PLLC could review what has happened so far, explain your options, and help you pursue fair compensation for your property damage. Contact our office today to speak with a lawyer about your car and filing a vehicle damage claim.