Vehicle Towing

[lanappo]

My company was called in by the County Sherriff's office to tow an abandoned vehicle from an accident scene. We were told by the sherriff's to impound her vehicle upon completion of the investigation. In the mean time, the owner of the car made no attempts to inquire about the vehicle. After a couple of weeks of not hearing from the owner or the sherriff's dept., I contacted the sherriff's for her information and called her. I informed her that she was responsible for the towing fee's and daily storage fees. She kept promising to rectify the situation but never did. Finally, after 42 days of storage, we sent a certified letter stating her balance and that we would be taking it to small claims court. Her lawyer contacted us and stated that we did not have her permission to tow the car and she was not responsible for the fees incurred. He is also telling me that she can go after us for not returning her lic. plates to her (which she is being charged $8.00 a day for). According to my information, the vehicle is technically abandoned after 30 days and then becomes our property but she is still responsible for any fees. Who's right? And is this lawyer blowing smoke up my a--.

The lawyer is wrong if you were ordered by the sheriff to impound after the accident. She has to pay. You could offer a partial reduction to make it easier. WLD lawyers could probably intervene if need be.