Have you ever had a roadside emergency and thought to yourself, “What should I do”?
Well, we’re here to let you in on some advice on the things you should do during a roadside emergency and how to get you and your car in a position where you feel safe and comfortable while waiting for someone to assist you.

Sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire, car broken down, or because an accident occurred is never something that is on anyone’s to do list. In fact, this is probably the last thing you have planned on doing while you were on your way to a big game or running errands. Unfortunately, this is a reality for so many drivers each day and it’s important to educate yourself on the things you should be doing when a roadside emergency occurs.

Nobody ever thinks they need to fully be prepared for something to happen until it actually does, but in this case, your safety is what matters and it’s essential you know exactly what to do when you find yourself on the side of the road.

Below are a few actions you should immediately take if you ever catch yourself in a roadside emergency situation:

Flashers Come First

The first thing you should always do during a roadside emergency is to turn your flashers on. By doing this, you are automatically alerting other drivers on the road that you are in trouble or in need of some assistance. Typically when drivers see a car on the side of the road with their flashers on, they will avoid the lane closest to the side of the road to ensure you or your vehicle is hit.

When you turn your hazards on before exiting your vehicle, you are instantly making yourself highly visible to other drivers. If you have an emergency kit in your trunk, look for flare lights or reflective hazard triangles that you can place on the ground to alert other drivers that you are there, and are waiting for roadside assistance.

Call For Roadside Assistance

After you have pulled over, turned your hazard lights, and checked to see if you have any flare lights, contact law enforcement for help. Not only will the police sirens grab drivers attention while on the road, officers can make sure you stay safe while waiting for a tow truck or friend to come get you.

Officers can also help you contact a towing company and any other assistance you may need. If you have been in an accident involving another vehicle and plan to file a claim with your auto insurance, have a police report to refer back to. This will be helpful when speaking to your insurance carrier.

Keep Your Car Doors Locked

If you decide to remain in your vehicle during a roadside emergency, always keep your doors locked, especially if you are in an area that is unfamiliar. Keeping your doors locked will ensure your safety from others who may have ill intentions. If you see someone approaching your vehicle and you don’t feel safe, call 9-1-1 immediately and remain calm.

Put Yourself In A Safe Place

If you’re traveling and you find yourself on the side of the road with a flat tire, engine trouble, or have gotten in an accident make sure you and your passengers are safe upon pulling over. Make sure to pull off the side of the road as far as you can go from the road or highway. You should also make sure your vehicle is highly visible to other drivers. This is important because it will ensure that you remain safe while pulled over.

Picture this: you’ve stopped in a location with heavy traffic. What do you do? The answer is to try and get yourself to a safer spot where you can wait with less traffic. If you plan to walk to a different location to wait for roadside assistance, make sure you and any passengers in the vehicle exit from the passenger side ensure nobody is hit or hurt while exiting the car.

Lastly, if you have a piece of paper and a pen on you, always leave a note to tuck under your windshield wiper blade so if you do vacate the area, authorities will know it wasn’t just an abandoned vehicle on the side of the road.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

While traveling and your vehicle suffers from auto damage, contact your agent as soon as you can. Something that everyone should know is if you have collision coverage, that should cover any type of repair that you may need, from auto glass repair to body repair. If you have auto damage caused by something other than a collision, comprehensive coverage is necessary for insurance to pay for your repairs.

What You Can Do To Prepare

There are a few things you can do to better prepare yourself in case you’re involved in a roadside emergency:

• Have a phone charger handy (So you can always contact someone for help)
• Make sure you have a spare tire and jack
• Carry jumper cables
• Have you insurance provider on speed dial

• Know the non-emergency line to call for assistance if you feel unsafe

Now that you have all of the tips you need to ensure your safety during a roadside emergency, you will be able to properly handle unexpected car trouble.

At Auto Glass Doc, your safety is our number one priority and then we will worry about all of your auto glass repair needs. We are more than just an auto glass shop. We are here to give you advice on all things automotive related, even the little things.