Responsabilidad de los operadores de remolque en Virginia

Explicación Simple

Si alguien necesita remolcar un coche porque está en un lugar prohibido, los que remolcan no pueden ser demandados si lo hacen siguiendo la ley. Pero si dañan el coche mientras lo remolcan, sí podrían ser responsables.

Es como cuando un bombero rompe una puerta para salvar a alguien. Hizo lo correcto y no será culpable, pero si la puerta se rompe por su descuido, podría tener problemas.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana estaciona su auto en un lugar donde no está permitido. La policía llama a una empresa de remolque para que lo retire. La empresa remolca el auto sin problemas y no puede ser demandada por Ana, siempre que haya seguido las instrucciones de la policía.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

510 ; 2024, c. 308 . Va. Code § 46.2-1231.1 - Immunity from liability for certain towing. No towing and recovery operator shall be liable for damages in any civil action for responding in good faith to the lawful direction of a law-enforcement or, in the case that life, limb, or property is endangered, a fire or rescue agency to tow, recover, or store any vehicle, combination of vehicles, their contents, or any other object. The immunity provided by this section shall not extend to the liability for negligence in the towing, recovery, or storage carried out by the towing and recovery operator. For the purposes of this section, any towing, recovery, or storage carried out in compliance with a contract between a towing business and a local law-enforcement agency or local government shall be deemed to have been performed at the lawful direction of a law-enforcement agency. 1990, c. 604; 2007, c. 376 . Va. Code § 46.2-1231.2 - Attorney fees and costs; towing and recovery operators. In any civil action brought by a towing and recovery operator to recover allowable costs pursuant to § 46.2-1212.1 or 46.2-1217 or to enforce a lien pursuant to § 46.2-644.03 related to towing and recovery services rendered as a result of a request made by any local or state law-enforcement officer or other government official acting in his official capacity, the towing and recovery operator may include reasonable attorney fees and costs for pursuing such civil action as a part of the damages. Such reasonable attorney fees and costs may be awarded if the court finds that the towing and recovery operator is entitled to any monetary award for the underlying claim. 2023, c. 198 .