'Sheer panic,' cries driver left with a $13k repair bill after calling a tow truck for help - company offered her $1,500

A DRIVER has asked for more cash after her vehicle was damaged when it fell from a tow truck.

Brandi Tudor, a former Dodge Ram driver, said she needed to replace her entire vehicle after it fell from the tow truck's bed.

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A driver said she was underpaid by the towing companyCredit: YouTube / CBS News Sacramento

"It was sheer panic," Tudor said about the 2004 Ram falling from the tow truck in 2021, according to Sacramento-based CBS affiliate KOVR.

"I'm thinking, 'oh my god, my husband's truck!"

The Ram was placed on the tow truck after the car's starter failed.

The tow truck operator made it back to Tudor's house - but the pickup fell from the bed and into the driveway.

Security cameras mounted on the family's home caught the tow truck tumble.

The fall caused between $5,500 and $13,000 in damages, AAA estimated in bills to Tudor.

A new bumper and several components on the truck's underbelly needed to be replaced.

The towing company admitted to KOVR that the damage was their responsibility.

But the company only sent Tudor $1,500.

"They're acting like we're trying to get a free truck out of them," Tudor told the station.

I owed the city $504k after trucks were towed over unpaid parking tickets - but I wasn't even responsible for the fines

"We just want our truck the way it was before they towed it."

AAA said it is not responsible for damage caused by third party companies, like a tow operator.

However, the company will send cash payments if there is a dispute over the damage.

The company decided to offer a $13,000 check to Tudor to help pay for the damage to the truck.

She rejected the check because parts from her nearly 17-year-old car were no longer available.

What to do if your car is towed

Wrongfully or not, retrieving a towed vehicle can be a hassle.

If your vehicle is towed after parking in a "No Parking" zone or other legitimate reason, there are a few steps to take to get it back.

Steps to take when your car is towed:

Try to figure out why your car was towed. Did you not see a posted "No Parking" sign? Did you miss a car payment? Did you return to a lot where you have unpaid citations? Finding the reason can narrow down the phone numbers to dial.
Locate the vehicle. Most states, cities, or counties require towing companies to leave some form of contact information via a posted sign or sent by mail.
Recovery dates and times depend on the company that towed the vehicle, but those times will be posted to the website or can be recited by a representative.
Pay the fees. Be careful to be as prompt as possible, as some tow yards may charge storage fees by the day.

If you feel your vehicle was wrongfully towed, contesting the action can be done with the following steps:

Be prompt - many states have a small window of time where it's acceptable to file a complaint against a company that wrongfully towed the vehicle.
Gather supporting documents: photos, emails, receipts, police reports, and witness statements if applicable. The more evidence, the better.
Get familiar with your local laws, as laws for towing companies vary per state.
Try speaking with the towing company. Sometimes it may have been a simple oversight, and the matter can be resolved quickly.
Contact the Justice of the Peace in your area, as they may have more insight or resources to help. They are often utilized for towing cases.
Talk to a lawyer. Many lawyers have free case consultations, and depending on the case, it may be worth it to utilize a lawyer.

Source: Oregon Department of Justice, National General, Rak Law Firm

Tudor said it would take $20,000 to replace the truck with the correct parts.

"I really shouldn't have to pay it," she claimed.

"I'm not the one that damaged the vehicle."

At the time, the pickup was worth around $7,000 and $12,000, according to Kelley Blue Book.

Tudor said she secured lawyers to help get back more cash.

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