Q: Seeking help to recover towed car, tow bill over $3000, in Maryland after assault incident.
I am homeless and was sleeping in my car parked at a hotel in Edgewood, Harford County, Maryland. I was assaulted and taken to the hospital, and during that time, my car was towed without my knowledge. The towing bill is now over $3000. I've contacted the police and have a police report documenting the incident. My insurance company, Erie, declined to cover the towing costs as there were no issues with the car itself. Communication with the towing company has been unhelpful. I've also reached out to Social Services and Victims Advocacy Programs, but they were unable to assist with the towing fees. I am urgently seeking financial help to recover my vehicle, which is also my home. Where can I find assistance?
A:
That sounds like a very challenging situation. Unfortunately a tow company often has the legal right to charge per day fees for vehicles they legally tow, even though on a personal level such fees may work a significant financial hardship.
You might consider reaching out to the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service (MVLS) which aims to match attorney volunteers with persons of limited financial means who need legal assistance in certain areas of law. https://mvlslaw.org/free-legal-help/ Alternatively, you might contact the Harford County Community Mediation Program at 410-638-4807 to try and set up a free mediation session with the tow company -- although it sounds like they were unresponsive to your requests, if the tow company agrees to mediate, you might be able to explain your situation in front of a skilled mediator and work out a resolution.
While not legal advice I hope that this information helps.
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