What to Do After a Car Accident in your area: Complete Towing Guide

Step 1: Safety First — Before Anything Else

In the seconds after an accident, adrenaline is pumping and it's easy to panic. Take a breath and assess:

• Is anyone injured? If yes, call 911 immediately. Don't move injured people unless the vehicle is on fire or in immediate danger of explosion.
• Are you in a dangerous location? If the vehicle can move and you're in an active traffic lane, move to the shoulder or a nearby parking lot.
• Turn on hazard lights immediately, even if the car is still drivable.
• Do not leave the scene — leaving the scene of an accident in Utah is a criminal offense.

Step 2: Call the Police

Utah law requires you to call police after any accident involving injury, death, or property damage over $2,500 (approximately). In practice, call police for any accident — it creates an official record that protects you during the insurance claim process.

Salt Lake City Police Department non-emergency: (801) 799-3000
Utah Highway Patrol (for freeway accidents): *UHP (*847)
Emergency/injury: 911

When officers arrive, they will file an accident report. Get the report number — you'll need it for your insurance claim.

Step 3: Document Everything

While waiting for police, document the scene thoroughly. This protects your insurance claim:

• Photos: Take wide shots showing both vehicles, close-ups of all damage, skid marks, road signs, and traffic signals. Photograph license plates.
• Information exchange: Get the other driver's name, address, phone, driver's license number, license plate, insurance company, and policy number.
• Witnesses: Get contact information from any witnesses — their account may support your version of events.
• Officer info: Get the responding officer's name, badge number, and the police report number.
• Dashcam footage: If you have a dashcam, note that it captured the incident and preserve the footage before it's overwritten.

Step 4: Call Your Insurance Company

Call your insurance company from the scene if possible. They can:

• Advise you on what to do next
• Dispatch a tow truck on your behalf (if you have roadside coverage)
• Open your claim immediately so repairs can begin faster
• Inform you whether the at-fault driver's insurance will cover the tow

Major Utah auto insurers with 24/7 claims lines: State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Allstate, USAA, Farmers. Their apps also allow you to open claims immediately with photos.

Step 5: Choosing Your Tow Truck — Your Rights in Utah

Here's something many Utah drivers don't know: you have the right to choose your own towing company after an accident.

When police respond to an accident, they may dispatch a tow truck from a rotation list. You can:

• Accept the police-dispatched tow — convenient, happens quickly, but may send your vehicle to a lot you don't prefer
• Request your preferred company — politely tell the officer you'd like to choose your own tow truck. They must honor this request unless the vehicle is creating an immediate traffic hazard that requires urgent removal.

Why does this matter? Police rotation tow trucks vary in quality and pricing. Some impound lots charge high daily storage fees. By choosing your company through a vetted directory like National Tow Connect, you know upfront what you're paying and where your vehicle is going.

Always Request a Flatbed After an Accident

Any vehicle involved in a significant accident should be towed on a flatbed. Here's why:

• Accident damage may have compromised the steering or suspension — a wheel-lift tow could make it worse
• If you drive an AWD vehicle, flatbed is required regardless
• Flatbeds prevent additional undercarriage damage from scraping
• Evidence of damage is preserved better on a flatbed — important if there's a dispute about what damage was pre-existing

Step 6: Where Should Your Vehicle Be Towed?

Before the tow truck arrives, decide where your vehicle will go. Options include:

Your Preferred Repair Shop

The best option if your shop is ready to receive the vehicle. Tow directly to where repairs will happen — avoids secondary towing charges and storage fees.

Your Insurance Company's Preferred Shop

If your insurer has recommended or approved repair shops, they may expedite the inspection and repair process. Ask your insurance agent.

A Towing Company's Storage Lot

Only acceptable as a temporary measure. Storage fees in your area typically run $40–$75/day. After 3–5 days, you could owe more in storage than the vehicle is worth on an older car. Move the vehicle to a shop within 24–48 hours.

What Does Accident Towing Cost in your area?

Accident towing costs in Salt Lake City depend on the same factors as regular towing, plus possible recovery costs if the vehicle is in a ditch or unusual position:

Insurance coverage: If you have collision coverage or the other driver is at fault, towing costs are typically covered. Document all receipts and get an itemized bill from the towing company.

Avoiding Post-Accident Towing Scams

Unfortunately, predatory towing practices exist in every city, including Salt Lake City. Be aware:

• "Chase" tow trucks — Some operators monitor police scanners and rush to accident scenes to solicit business before the official tow arrives. You are under no obligation to use them.
• Inflated storage fees — Some lots charge excessive fees knowing insurance will pay. Get your vehicle moved quickly and keep documentation of all storage charges.
• Unnecessary services — Any extras (dollies, cleanup fees, "special handling") should be itemized and explained before work begins.

Utah law requires towing companies to accept credit cards and provide an itemized bill. If a company refuses, file a complaint with the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.

After the Tow: Next Steps

1. Get a damage estimate: Your insurance adjuster will inspect the vehicle. You're also entitled to get an independent estimate.
2. Rental car: If the accident wasn't your fault, the at-fault driver's insurance should cover a rental car while yours is being repaired. If you have rental reimbursement coverage, it applies in either case.
3. Total loss determination: If repair costs exceed a certain percentage of the vehicle's value (varies by insurer, typically 70–80%), the car may be declared a total loss. The insurance company will pay you the actual cash value.
4. Legal consultation: For accidents with serious injuries or disputed fault, consulting a Utah personal injury attorney is wise. Most offer free initial consultations.