Unfortunately, there are many reasons why you might find yourself on the side of the road without a functioning automobile. You could have been driving along and then experience car problems which render your car immobile. Another situation is that you simply ran out of gas. Whatever the reason why you find yourself stranded on a roadside, the most important thing to do is be safe. The following tips can help keep you out of harm’s way until help can arrive:
- Grab your safety kit: All motorists should anticipate being stranded on the roadside and carry a car safety kit as a precautionary measure. A good safety kit should contain a flashlight, a first aid kit, and roadway warning lights. It is also a good idea to carry a cell phone with the phone numbers for roadside assistance saved into the contacts in case you are in an area in a dead zone and cannot connect to the internet.
- Leave your vehicle and move to a safer place: Once you have determined that your car is immobile, you need to remove yourself from the car, especially if the vehicle is close to traffic (e., on the shoulder of the road). While it is often more comfortable to sit and wait in your car, under most circumstances it is not the safest spot to be.
- Call for help: When stranded it is important to always call for roadside assistance. While you may be very capable of changing your own tire or tending to whatever ailment your car may be experiencing, the fact of the matter is that it is simply not safe to do so on the side of the road. Call a tow truck to tow your car to a service station or call for roadside assistance. Performing any vehicle repairs close to oncoming traffic is just plain dangerous. If you do not have a roadside assistance provider call a friend or if in Missouri, you can call Motorist Assist at *55.
- Make your car visible to other motorists: Any time you car is immobile on the road or the shoulder, it is important to alert other motorists to this fact. If you have roadside flares or signaling cones, use them! If not, turn on your vehicle’s flashers or hazard lights and raise the hood.
- Only accept help from a trusted source: Being stranded on the side of the road can make a person feel a bit like a sitting duck. While no one likes the feeling of being stuck, it is always best to wait for help from a trusted source. If you are waiting for a friend or family member to come to your aid, then wait it out. Do not be tempted to accept the assistance of a Good Samaritan.
- Contact local law enforcement: If you need to abandon your car along the side of the road, even if for a short period of time, you need to notify the law authorities right away.
If you or a loved one suffered serious injuries after being involved in an automobile accident, it is important to contact a skilled Kansas City Injury Attorney who can protect your rights! The experienced Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. having been helping accident victims in Kansas and Missouri for almost two decades. Our seasoned Kansas City Personal Injury Attorneys work hard to make sure that you receive proper compensation for your injuries. Trust the Personal Injury Attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. to help you, just as they have helped countless injured victims in the area. To find out how the attorneys at Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. can work for you, contact our office today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation.