3 Signs You Need A Tow After An Accident
Car accidents can leave you frustrated and unsure of what to do next. If you're left standing on the side of the road, you may be wondering how to proceed after speaking with the police and calling the insurance company. Should you drive your car home? Should you call a towing company? Unfortunately, making the wrong decision can potentially lead to more costly damage to your vehicle.
If you aren't a mechanic and don't know much about cars, how can you determine the severity of the damage to your vehicle? While it's challenging to know for sure if your car suffered disabling damaged without getting under the hood, these three signs are a good indication that you should call a tow truck rather than driving your car home.
1. Leaking Fluid
Your car contains several different fluids, and none of them are superfluous. At worst, you may be leaking engine oil or transmission fluid. These essential components rely on oil for lubrication and cooling, and you can cause severe damage by driving with low fluid levels. Coolant and power steering fluid are also vital, and low levels can damage your engine or make your car impossible to steer.
If you notice any fluid on the ground after an accident, shut your vehicle off immediately and call for a tow. Losing some oil doesn't necessarily mean that your car suffered fatal damage (a hose may have popped loose), but driving your car with low oil can turn a quick fix into a repair that will cost several thousand dollars.
2. Smoke or Unusual Odors
It should go without saying, but never try to drive your vehicle when you notice smoke or smell something burning. Instead, remove the keys and move as far away from the vehicle as you can. Smoke doesn't necessarily mean that your car is about to catch on fire, but it's far better to be safe than sorry in these situations.
Always inform the police and your towing company that you noticed smoke. The fire department will usually need to confirm that your car isn't actually on fire before allowing you to tow it. Smoke could also indicate a severe electrical short, so it's safest to have your car towed to avoid potentially starting a fire by turning it back on.
3. Misaligned Doors
Is it hard to close one or more doors on your car? That's a good indication of frame damage, a severe problem that can occur even if the accident seems otherwise minor. A frame that's out-of-alignment can make your car difficult or unsafe to handle, so you should never attempt to drive away from an accident if you suspect frame damage.
Remember that the cost of a tow will pale compared to the potential costs of driving a severely damaged car. If in doubt, always call for a tow truck following any accident.
To learn more, check out sites like http://www.cctow.com/.
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