There’s never an opportune time to break down on the side of the road, but it always seems to happen at the worst times: at night in the middle of nowhere or in the middle of rush hour traffic, causing an even bigger traffic jam.No one ever expects to have a roadside emergency, but it’s always a great idea to be prepared just in case it ever happens to you. And not only is it good to be prepared, but it also pays to know how to safely handle your emergency so that you or your passengers don’t get harmed.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, every year there are roughly 4,000 pedestrian fatalities, accounting for 12% of all traffic fatalities and 59,000 pedestrian injuries from roadway crashes.
Here’s what to do if you find yourself in a roadside emergency.
MOVE TO A SAFE SPOT
The very first thing that you should do when you’re having a roadside emergency is to get you and your passengers to a safe spot. If you have been in a collision with another vehicle and your cars are still operational, move your vehicles to a safe location that is out of the way of other drivers so that you can have a safe spot to exchange insurance information and call the police.
If you’ve had a tire blowout or another car issue, move to a spot that’s completely off the road before you start assessing the damage or repairing the problem. This may come at a cost of the wheel, but a new tire, rim, or wheel is much less important than your being a seriously injured by a driver who didn’t see you.
CALL FOR HELP
If your car is really damaged and no longer able to drive, the best thing to do is to stay inside your car and call someone for help. Unless you believe it’s unsafe to be in your vehicle, it’s typically safer to be inside the car while traffic is flowing around you. If you’ve broken down in an unsafe neighborhood, stay in the car, call the police and lock the doors until someone can arrive with help.
BE PREPARED WITH EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
In the event of a breakdown or an accident, it’s always a relief when you have the proper emergency equipment available in your trunk. You should always carry a roadside emergency kit that contains the following:
- Jumper cables
- Instant tire inflator
- Rope
- Gloves and a warm blanket for a winter breakdown
- First aid kit
Accidents caused by stalled vehicles or roadside emergencies can be serious—or even fatal. If you or a loved one has suffered grave injuries because of an emergency roadside accident in Georgia, you could potentially be awarded compensation for medical bills due to the injury. Click here for more information about the Randy Fry team, personal injury attorneys.
