Legal Question in Consumer Law in Virginia

Impounded Vehicle

My car was impounded on January 8th from a auto body shop because is sat to long. I owed no money to the shop because it was total lossed. The company that towed and impounded the vehicle notified me by mail on February 14th that they had my car and to get it back I had to pay the full balance which was at about $3000 and goes up $50 a day. I didn't know it was impounded until I recieved the letter over a month later. Now I have to wait to go to court because they are going to sue me for the cost. I feel they should have notified me way before then that they had my car and what the policy was on storage before it got to an outrageous price. Do I have any legal rights to back me at all? Please help!


Asked on 3/19/07, 4:16 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Ruth Emily Kochard Ruth Emily Kochard, Counselor at Law

Re: Impounded Vehicle

Notice of impoundment must be provided within 15 days. You may have rights in this situation and I would advise to consult an attorney.

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Answered on 3/19/07, 5:09 pm
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Impounded Vehicle

Yes, you make at the very least a reasonably equitable argument for a very substantial reduction(or even outright dismissal)of what appear to be vehicle storage charges which are unreasonable, if not downright unconscionable (and for a junked-total loss-vehicle at that).

Just go to the scheduled court hearing and wait for your case to be called. When it comes your turn to speak as the defendant in the case, just explain it all to the judge and ask the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that you were not properly notified of these cascading storage charges for a vehicle that had no more value than that of an unsalvageable junked jitney.

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Answered on 3/19/07, 5:25 pm


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