It is an extremely sinking feeling. You’re tooling down the road when your car experiences some sort of mechanical malfunction. So what should you do when your car breaks down on the road?
On its website, the AARP lists a number of things you can do to help yourself get through this stressful predicament. First off, when you realize your vehicle is having problems, activate the hazard lights. You then want to get the vehicle safely off the road.
If you see smoke or flames coming out from under the hood, you need to evacuate your vehicle as soon as possible. However, if this is not the case, it is often best to remain inside the vehicle with your seat belt on. If you chose to exit the vehicle, be absolutely sure it is safe to do so. Do not get out of your car on the same side as oncoming traffic. Use the passenger side door if necessary.
Of course, you want to call for help as soon as you can. For assistance, you can call your auto club, 911 or a towing service.
Next, if you have any warning devices, such as hazard triangles or safety flares, you will want to place those well behind your vehicle to give other motorists a good chance to see and assess the situation.
If you take the proper measures, you should be relatively safe as you wait for assistance. You must also rely on other drivers to pay attention so they can avoid striking you or your vehicle. Unfortunately, sometimes distracted or impaired drivers do collide with a vehicle or people who are stuck on the side of the road.
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured due to a negligent driver running into an area with a stalled vehicle, you may wish to contact a personal injury attorney. The attorney could help you secure appropriate compensation for medical expenses and other damages.