There is never a good time for vehicle problems. Unfortunately, they most often seem to occur at the most inopportune times. Being caught off-guard only makes the problem worse. With a little preparation, however, you can get through just about any vehicle breakdown without too much hassle.
Know What to Do in an Emergency
For the vehicle breakdown, while you are on the road, the first thing you want to do is move it to the nearest safe place. If you are on the highway, get on the shoulder as far as is safe from traffic. If you can get your vehicle off the freeway, that would be the best option.
If you are on a regular street, pull into a service station, if possible. If not, park your car in the nearest safe spot, which may be a parking place on the street, or it could be the parking lot of a nearby business.
When your vehicle breaks down, remember your main priority is staying safe. Get out of traffic before you attempt to address the matter. A very simple issue can end up being a fatal accident when you are too close to traffic.
Call for Assistance
In some cases, you may want to take care of the issue yourself. For example, a flat tire can easily be changed by a person who knows what they are doing. This is fine when done safely. Pull off the road as far as is safely possible. Consider the surface you have to work with before you attempt to change the tire. You may be safer calling for assistance.
Many car insurance policies have roadside assistance as part of the plan. Knowing whether or not your policy carries such assistance is important. If you do have assistance coverage, make the call and have someone come out to help you.
Auto clubs, such as AAA, also provide roadside assistance. Have your card and information ready when you make the call. Know the location of your vehicle. Most companies will have knowledge of the area, but it is up to you to provide detailed information, so they can find you faster.
Another option for roadside assistance is to make a call to the Florida DOT Road Ranger service. Just dial *347 (FHP) on your cell phone. The availability of the service varies in different parts of the state, however, they are equipped to help with the most common vehicle breakdown, and their job is to provide safe assistance.
Safety first cannot be stressed enough. Too many people have been injured or killed while attempting to address an issue with their vehicle or stopping to help someone else. Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A., lawyers have helped many people handle their personal injury cases successfully and with excellence. If you have a question or concern about a personal injury situation, please contact us by phone or email. We are the lawyers who care. We provide top-of-the-line legal services for those living in the Englewood, North Port and Port Charlotte areas.