Would this be considered illegal towing practice

Ahhh if we could all get these kind of rates we would be trucking millionaires in no time.

Even machinery & oilfield rates aren't quite that good.

 

Yeah, that's a total ripoff. They're hoping to gouge your insurance company. We would have charged something like $150 an hour, 2 hour minimum, and just taken the trailer to the yard. Maybe a few other fees, after hours, recovery, etc, in the hundreds, not thousands. Then you'd have storage fees, but nothing approaching that high.

I guess places like that have to charge that much to stay in business because nobody ever calls them. Everyone called us.

 

Sure, it's possible. Whether you can win is the problem. You'll have to have a good lawyer either way and he's going to want his cut. If you don't win you'll be out the cost of the lawyer too. Bout all you can do is go talk to one. He would have a better idea of how to win and if you can.

 

I thought some of the back woods redneck justice in TN was amazing until I went to RI.

That has to be the most crooked state in the country. The little boogers pack a punch. They hate truck drivers with a passion and will take you to the cleaners.

Seek help from a RI attorney and they will work in the interest of the courts, not you. Your best bet is to hire an attorney that is not common to that jurisdiction, if you go that route.

Basically, it's a live and learn state. Pay and don't go back.

 

My grandfather had a big rig towing service in NW Ohio for about 30 years until closing in 1991 or so. One night he comes home when I was at their house talking about this driver who was so rude and impatient. This guy was cussing up a storm before and after the service call. The Driver thought the low clearance sign on an I-75 overpass was not accurate and tried to make it under at a lower rate of speed, wedging the trailer under the bridge, so he called the wrecker out to get him unstuck. Grandpa knowing how angry the guy was had him sign the invoice first then step into the wrecker to warm up with some coffee. Meanwhile he lets the air of the rear drive axles, backs the truck up and then grabs the airhose to refill. Driver was furious at him, already signed the invoice and trucking company was furious with the driver, but never said anything to the towing company complaining.

He ended up not charging the trucking company in the end as he was worried they were angry enough to fire the SOB who treated him like crap. Heart of gold and classic business practices you don't see anymore in this greed driven society.

 

I dunno if you can win without one, up to you if you want to try. Here I think you can file up to a $1500 claim without a lawyer but over that you need to have him file for you. Check into that first, it might be different there.

 

That rate is a ripoff but them holding the truck for payment is not.
Charged by the hour for recovery work, a fee for hooking up and towing each unit (if they could not tow the unit together this is two tows) lights, air line hookup, pulling drive shaft, and storage.
Cant imagine the amount you stated unless it was way more involved than you were told by your driver.
I had one driver tell his company he had pulled off the road and got stuck in the mud on the shoulder. When billed they freaked out until I spoke to the Owner and explained His truck was indeed stuck in the mud, approx 300 feet down an embankment.
This required 2 trucks with extra 200' of cable for each, 5 extra people on our crew, 2 State Troopers, 5 DOT people and a hiway closure to recover.
If the bill had been settled upon completion of the job the Driver would have been free to take the truck and go.
Get a breakdown of the charges. Some charge for police if they were on site to close the road, fire trucks and firemen on them etc, etc.
While it should not be on the tow bill you may be liable for any damage to the bridge he hit as well.
Dont kill the messenger, just letting you know what goes on in cases like this.
A court case could lead to more expense, uncovered buy insurance.
I watched many unhappy owners stomp off screaming about sueing. Not one ever did.
Towing companies know where the line is and while they will walk right up to it most do not cross it.