Q: Who would be responsible for my vehicle& it's contents if tow yard crushed it without notifying me in Minnesota?
My vehicle was taken without my knowledge or consent, then found by cops whom had it towed as an abandoned vehicle. The tow yard then crushed it without notifying me. I was out of town for a few weeks when I returned & discovered it was gone I called to report it stolen and that's when the cops said they had found it on the side of the road and had it towed. I had ignition interlock also which they also crushed. They claimed they sent a certified letter which was returned to them 3 times due to them apparently sending it to the wrong address. Only after trying to file a claim with my insurance company did I find out that my vehicle was in some kind of accident and they (the cops)considered it totaled. Whom would then be responsible for not only crushing my vehicle without notifying me but also for the cost of the ignition interlock system that was in it.
A: You can file a claim with the city. Do this quickly. You can then file a lawsuit against the city and tow yard.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In Minnesota, if a tow yard crushes your vehicle without properly notifying you, they could be held responsible for the loss of your vehicle and its contents. The law typically requires that owners be notified before such actions are taken, especially when a vehicle is considered abandoned.
In your case, it appears that the tow yard sent notifications to the wrong address, which resulted in you not being properly informed. This failure to notify you correctly may make the tow yard liable for the loss of your vehicle and the ignition interlock system. Additionally, the police may share some responsibility if they did not follow the proper protocol in deeming your vehicle abandoned and arranging for its disposal.
You should consider consulting with a legal professional to explore your options for seeking compensation. They can help you determine the best course of action, which might include filing a claim against the tow yard and potentially the police department for mishandling the situation. Document all communications and keep records of any expenses incurred due to this incident to support your case.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
