If anyone is injured, a vehicle is blocking traffic, or there is an immediate danger, call 911 first.
Check for Injuries
Check yourself and your passengers before doing anything else. Do not move someone who may have a neck, back, or other serious injury unless remaining in place creates a greater danger.
Call 911 if anyone is injured, trapped, disoriented, or experiencing pain. Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, nearby cross streets or exits, and the number of vehicles involved.
Move Out of Traffic If Possible
If the vehicles can be driven safely, move them to the shoulder, a nearby parking lot, or the next freeway exit. Michigan is a “Clear It or Steer It” state, and moving a drivable vehicle out of traffic is not considered leaving the scene.
Turn on your hazard lights, put the vehicle in park, and remain inside with your seat belt fastened if you are stopped near fast-moving traffic.
Do not attempt to move a vehicle if it is unsafe to drive, leaking fluid, smoking, missing a wheel, or has damaged steering or brakes.
Call the Police
Contact 911 or the local police department when:
- Someone is injured or may need medical attention
- A vehicle is blocking an active traffic lane
- A driver leaves the scene
- A driver appears impaired or does not have insurance
- A vehicle, guardrail, sign, building, or other property is damaged
- The crash appears to have caused more than $1,000 in damage
- You are unsure whether an official crash report is required
Ask the responding officer for the police agency’s name and the incident or report number. You may need this information for your insurance claim or to obtain a copy of the crash report.
Document the Accident
If it is safe, use your phone to photograph or record:
- Damage to every vehicle involved
- License plates
- The overall accident scene
- Vehicle positions before they are moved, when possible
- Skid marks, debris, damaged signs, or guardrails
- Road, traffic, weather, snow, and ice conditions
- Nearby intersections, businesses, or freeway signs
Do not step into traffic or stand between vehicles to take photographs. Your safety is more important than documenting every detail.
Exchange Information
Exchange the following information with the other driver:
- Full name and contact information
- Driver’s license information
- Vehicle make, model, and license plate number
- Insurance company and policy information
- Name of the vehicle’s registered owner, if different from the driver
If there are witnesses, ask for their names and contact information. Remain calm, avoid arguing about fault, and provide accurate information to the police and your insurance company.
When Does the Vehicle Need to Be Towed?
A tow is generally necessary when:
- The vehicle will not start or cannot move under its own power
- Airbags deployed
- The brakes or steering may be damaged
- A tire, wheel, axle, or suspension component is damaged
- Fluid is leaking from the vehicle
- Lights, mirrors, or windows are too damaged for safe driving
- The hood, bumper, or another part could come loose
- The vehicle cannot be driven safely on snow or ice
- Police or emergency personnel determine that it must be removed
Even if a vehicle still runs, hidden damage can make it unsafe to drive. When in doubt, have the vehicle towed and inspected by a qualified repair facility.
When Is Accident Recovery Needed?
Some accident scenes require specialized recovery equipment and trained operators before the vehicle can be safely towed. Accident recovery may be needed when a vehicle is:
- Flipped onto its side or roof
- Down an embankment or in a ditch
- Stuck against a guardrail, barrier, tree, or another vehicle
- Severely damaged or unable to roll normally
- Partially submerged or located in mud, snow, or difficult terrain
- Blocking multiple traffic lanes
- Carrying cargo that shifted or spilled during the accident
- A commercial truck, bus, trailer, or piece of heavy equipment
Recovery operators may use winches, heavy-duty wreckers, rotators, lifting equipment, or multiple recovery vehicles to stabilize and remove the vehicle safely.
Do not approach, climb into, or attempt to move a flipped or unstable vehicle. Wait for police, fire personnel, and trained recovery operators. Tell dispatch how the vehicle is positioned and about any hazards you can see so the proper equipment can be sent.
What to Expect When Your Vehicle Is Towed
Tell the towing dispatcher your exact location, vehicle description, the type of damage, and whether police or emergency personnel are at the scene. Mention if the vehicle is in a ditch, against a barrier, overturned, or otherwise difficult to access.
If law enforcement arranges the tow, ask the officer which towing company is responding and where your vehicle will be taken. Before leaving the scene, remove essential belongings only when it is safe and permitted, including:
- Medication
- Wallet, identification, and house keys
- Phone and electronic devices
- Insurance and registration documents
- Child safety seats and other necessary personal items
Do not enter a badly damaged or unstable vehicle without permission from police, fire personnel, or the towing operator.
Notify Your Insurance Company
Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as reasonably possible. Provide the police report number, photographs, towing information, and the location of your vehicle.
Keep copies of towing receipts, storage paperwork, repair estimates, rental vehicle expenses, and other accident-related records.
Call Goch & Sons Towing
Goch & Sons provides 24-hour accident towing and specialized vehicle recovery throughout Detroit, Downriver, and Southeast Michigan.
We can recover and tow vehicles of nearly any size, from motorcycles and passenger vehicles to motorhomes, buses, commercial trucks, trailers, and big rigs. Our diverse fleet includes the towing, winching, lifting, and heavy-recovery equipment needed to handle everything from a standard accident tow to a complex recovery scene.
Our team can assist with accident towing, winch-outs, ditch recovery, overturned vehicles, difficult recoveries, and heavy-duty accident scenes.
Call (313) 382-2727 for assistance. Tell dispatch if anyone is injured, the vehicle is blocking traffic, police are at the scene, or specialized recovery equipment may be needed.
