What To Do If Your Car/ Truck Breaks Down Roadside
Even the most safety-conscious and aware drivers can find themselves in difficult situations from time to time.
For example, your car may sustain damage that causes it to break down on the roadside, or you may be involved in a car accident. While these situations can be incredibly daunting and stress-inducing, it’s important to know how to respond to them, especially from a safety perspective.
With that in mind, here’s what to do if your car or truck breaks down on the side of the road.
Don’t panic
If you’re about to break down, you mustn’t panic. Driving, in any scenario, requires a cool, calm head but this becomes particularly important in situations such as breaking down, where your safety and that of other drivers could be put at risk.
Find a safe space to stop
Finding a safe space to stop your car is essential in this scenario. For example, you should try to find a lay-by or side road that is less densely populated.
Turn on your hazard lights
Before exiting the vehicle, you should turn on your safety and hazard lights. This helps to keep other drivers safe, especially if you are driving at night when visibility is low.
Get to a safe space
Once you’ve turned on your hazard lights, it’s time to get yourself to a safe space (out of the vehicle). If you have a high-vis jacket to hand, you may want to put it on. Ideally, you should find a place to stand that is far away from traffic and passing motorists. If you were involved in an accident, you should check on any other people involved to ensure they are okay.
Call for help
Once you’ve found a safe space to wait, it’s time to reach out to the appropriate services. For example, in the case of a car accident, you need to reach out to medical staff and the police. If your car or truck has simply broken down, you may want to reach out to a Mobile Truck Repair company that can provide you with emergency roadside assistance to get your truck back on the road in no time at all.
Take plenty of pictures
If your car or truck is about to get towed or has sustained serious damage, you should also ensure that you take plenty of pictures ahead of time. This is because your car insurance policy may require these pictures as evidence before they provide you with financial support.
Take care of yourself
Following an incident such as this, you must treat yourself with grace and give yourself some time to process what has happened. This is particularly important if you sustained any form of injury, as you may need to give yourself some time to recover. You may also want to reach out to a personal injury attorney.
However, it’s important to acknowledge that breaking down on the roadside can still be a stressful experience even if you weren’t injured. As such, you may want to take some time away from the wheel.
