KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If anyone is hurt or traffic is blocked, call 911 first.
- Get yourself off the road before you deal with the car.
- Report the claim to ICBC; you choose where the car goes.
- A flatbed is used when wheels, steering or the underside are damaged.
- Take photos and your belongings before the car is loaded.
What should you do right after a crash in Bridgeport, Richmond?
Check that everyone is okay. If anyone is hurt, call 911 before anything else. Turn on your hazard lights and, if it's safe, move away from traffic. On a busy road, stand behind a barrier or well off the shoulder, not between cars.
Once people are safe, take photos of the scene, the damage and the other car's plate. Swap names and insurance details with the other driver. Then call us for accident towing if your car can't be driven safely.
How does ICBC fit into accident towing?
In BC, you report the claim to ICBC. That can happen before or after your car is towed. Your car then goes to the body shop you and ICBC agree on, or home for now if you haven't decided yet.
ICBC handles the claim and the coverage questions, so ask them what your policy includes. Our part is the tow: we confirm the price before we hook up and give you a clear record of where your car went, which is useful when you talk to your adjuster.
Can I choose where my car is towed after an accident?
Yes. It's your car. You can send it home, to your own mechanic, to a dealer in Richmond or Vancouver, or straight to a body shop. If you're shaken up and not ready to decide, taking it home first is fine.
If someone at the scene pushes you to sign over your car or use a shop you don't know, you can say no. Take a moment, make the call you're comfortable with, and tell us the address.
Wheel-lift or flatbed for accident towing?
The damage decides the truck. A light bump with the wheels and steering intact can sometimes go on a wheel-lift. Anything more serious rides on a flatbed so damaged parts aren't stressed further.
| Damage you can see | Usual truck |
|---|---|
| Bumper or light damage, car rolls straight | Wheel-lift or flatbed |
| Bent wheel, flat tire or broken suspension | Flatbed |
| Airbags deployed | Flatbed |
| Fluid leaking under the car | Flatbed |
| Electric or all-wheel-drive car | Flatbed |
| Car in a ditch or off the pavement | Flatbed after it's pulled back out |
What to take from your car before the tow
Your car may sit at a shop for a while, so grab what you'll need before it's loaded.
- Wallet, phone, keys for home and any medication
- Registration and insurance papers from the glove box
- Child seats and anything in the trunk
- Garage remotes and parking passes
- Photos of the inside and outside of the car
Accident towing on Bridgeport Rd, No. 4 Rd and Hwy 99
Bridgeport Rd is busy all day, with driveways and lot entrances along most of its length. Cars turn in and out all the time, so a stopped car is easy to clip. If your car can roll, a nearby lot entrance may be a safer place to wait than the lane, as long as you aren't blocking it.
Hwy 99, just west of Bridgeport toward the Oak St Bridge, has narrow shoulders and fast traffic. After a crash there, stay in the car with your belt on or get well behind the barrier, and call 911 if the car is in a live lane.
No. 4 Rd is the way into Tait, and Tait Elementary sits in the middle of the neighbourhood. If a crash happens near school drop-off or pick-up, we work slowly and keep the area clear for families while we load your car in Bridgeport, Richmond, BC.
Questions drivers ask
Should I call 911 or a tow truck first?
If anyone is hurt, the car is on fire or traffic is blocked, call 911 first. Once everyone is safe, call for the tow.
Do I have to use the tow truck that shows up at the crash?
No. You can choose who tows your car and where it goes. Ask for the price before anything is hooked up.
Can my car go to a body shop at night?
Many shops are closed overnight. For a late-night tow, we can take your car home first and move it to the shop you and ICBC agree on later.
Can you tow a car that won't roll after a crash?
Yes. We use a flatbed tow truck and can winch the car on even if a wheel is locked or bent.
Do I need my ICBC claim number before the tow?
Not always. You can report the claim to ICBC after the car is moved; keep the tow details so you can pass them along.