Avoid being fresh kill for road vultures
Every day South African motorists face the fear of being pushed off the road by aggressive road vultures, speeding to the site of the latest accident. Even worse is the fear of the accident being you – and having your vehicle towed, either mistakenly or against your will, to one of their lairs.
Given that road vultures are out there daily, aggressively plying their trade, “it is important that South African motorists know their rights – as well as how to deal with these people in the event of an accident” says Gari Dombo, Managing Director, Alexander Forbes Insurance.
No matter how promptly road vultures arrive, or what they may tell you, you have the right refuse to let them tow your vehicle.“You also have an obligation to your insurance company - and yourself - to insure that they don’t” warns Dombo.
If they do get hold of your vehicle, motorists will find themselves in for an expensive and unpleasant ride.Road vultures often tow cars to their own repairing business. They charge unreasonable amounts for towing, andexceptionally high storage fees if they don't get the job. Moreover they will not release the vehicle to you or your insurer until these fees are paid.
“Insurance cases are often held up for months with owners held ransom by vultures refusing to release vehicles until storage fees are paid. Since litigation causes vehicles to rack up even higher storage fees resorting to the law is not an option - as the longer the vehicle sits the more the vultures earn” says Dombo.
Instead, when you have an accident, you should phone your insurer and they will appoint a reputable towing company to take your vehicle directly to a reputable panel beater. This turns the whole exercise into an efficient and hassle-free process.Most importantly, when this happens, your insurance company picks up its share of the bill. This is especially important, cautions Dombo, as “some insurers will not pay for towing and storage if it is not arranged through their own accident help line.”
To insure that a seamless process is put in place when accidents happen Dombo advises motorists toput essential numbers intheirmobile phone sothat theycan call the correct roadside/accident assistanceor speak directly to theirinsurer."Getting the right advice from the right people is especially importantwhen you are shaken up after an accident and being pressurised by vultures” advises Dombo.
Some insurance companies also provide license disk covers with emergency numbers so that motorists are able to access the correct numbers easily.So “when vultures are badgering you, make sure you use this sticker, its more than just an advert!” says Dombo.
