What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down to Avoid an Accident
You are cruising down the highway, making excellent time when you suddenly see smoke coming from the hood of your vehicle, or one of your tires goes flat, or your engine dies. Whatever the specific cause, having your car die on the road is a nightmare scenario for many drivers, especially those younger or more inexperienced drivers who may not have had this kind of problem before and do not know how best to handle it.
Although there is no way to completely prevent vehicle breakdowns, you can make them less of a nightmare and keep yourself safe by familiarizing yourself with the best practices for breaking down to avoid a car accident. Being prepared will allow you to stay calmer, act rationally, and resolve the issue more quickly. It is easy to make a mistake in a high-stress situation that can put you or your passengers in danger.
In most Maryland car crashes, it is relatively simple and straightforward to determine the liable parties. However, there are scenarios where the fault and liability are not clear. One of such scenarios is when a broken-down vehicle is involved in a car accident. In such a case, you will typically require the legal help and guidance from the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt.
Always Be Prepared for a Breakdown
It is far better to be over-prepared than under-prepared for a vehicle breakdown or an automobile accident, so even if you regularly tune your car up and think it is in great condition, you should keep an emergency/supply kit in the vehicle.
- A cell phone and cell phone charger
- Your vehicle operating manual
- Flares, reflectors, or warning triangle
- A signal flag or brightly colored handkerchief you can hang out your window
- Jumper cables, or a portable jump starter
- Tire pressure gauge, or a tire inflater
- Jack with flat surface, lug wrench, and your spare tire
You may also want to consider having a flashlight, gloves, water bottles, a fire extinguisher appropriate for vehicles, and first aid supplies in your vehicle in case of an emergency. A blanket is good for the winter to keep warm, but it can be invaluable if you need something to keep you clean while changing a tire. Kitty litter is a great absorbent that can help you break free if stuck in snow or ice. Remember that bottled water can go bad when left in hot cars for long periods of time.
Personal Safety Is Your Top Priority
Whether you have been involved in a car accident, have a flat tire, are waiting for an overheating engine to cool, or you have simply run out of gas, your personal safety should always be your first priority. If you neglect your personal safety, you can turn a simple inconvenience into a life-altering event. It can be easy to put your personal safety to the side when taking a few risks can get you on the road faster. But they are not ever worth taking.
Use your cell phone to call for help while inside your vehicle. If you are a member of AAA or another auto club, call them, and if you are not, call the local police department or highway patrol. If you do not have a phone or your cell phone is dead, do not attempt to walk along the side of the roadway to get help (although if you can see a nearby emergency call box and can safely get to it, you can make a call there). If you are on a well-traveled road, it should not take long for a local police officer, a highway patrol officer, or other emergency personnel to come to you.
When practical, keep your doors locked, even if your windows are down. It only takes a second for someone up to no good to open your vehicle. Having your doors locked, even if the windows are down, can give you a few extra seconds to realize that something is going on. In any case, you should be paying attention to your surroundings.
Remember, if you have an emergency plan in mind, handling a vehicle breakdown will not be as stressful, or as dangerous. You should also make sure you are keeping up with your vehicle’s regular maintenance, especially if you are planning to go on a long road trip.
Get Off the Road Whenever Possible to Avoid a Collision
While you cannot choose where your vehicle finally says that it has had enough, you may be able to guide your vehicle to a safer place by keeping your cool. If you are still in motion, you might instinctively brake when something unforeseen starts to happen. But that could be a mistake. Your vehicle will come to a sudden stop in the middle of the road with no power to move making you more vulnerable to be in a car crash. If your car begins to breakdown and you are safely able to do so, take your foot off the accelerator and coast to the right shoulder of the road or highway so that you are out of the way of oncoming traffic. Try to avoid stopping on the shoulder of a blind corner, as approaching vehicles may have trouble seeing you and you may have difficulty pulling back onto the road.
If your vehicle breaks down while you are in the left lane of a multi-lane highway, it may be safer to pull off onto the left shoulder, if there is one, instead of going all the way to the right. Whatever you do, do not climb out of your vehicle into traffic.
If You Cannot Get Off the Road, Make Your Vehicle Visible
If you are on a busy roadway, street, or highway and are unable to pull off to the side or shoulder when you break down, you should under no circumstances get out of the vehicle and try to push it. Even though it can be scary to have other vehicles rushing by you, it is safer to stay inside the car. Turn on your emergency flashers to let other motorists know you have broken down to avoid being struck by another vehicle. If you can, stick a white or brightly colored handkerchief out your window as an additional warning to other drivers.
Illuminate the Path Around Your Vehicle
In any situation where you can pull your vehicle off to the side of the road or shoulder, climb out of your vehicle on the side away from traffic and set up warning triangles (if you have them) starting 10 feet behind your car on the side closest to the road. You can also use flares if you have them, unless you have a fuel leak or can smell fuel. It is especially important to give oncoming traffic some kind of warning if it is dark out and other motorists may have difficulty seeing your disabled vehicle.
Never Try to Make Repairs on the Side of the Vehicle Sticking Out into Traffic
If you are making emergency repairs, use some common sense. Keep unneeded passengers inside the car. You can still move the car on a flat tire, albeit slowly. You may know how to change a tire or handle whatever problem you are facing, but if the repairs require you to stand near a lane of traffic, you should wait for help to arrive. Only perform maintenance if you are on a very wide shoulder or road and do not need to stand anywhere near oncoming traffic.
How Can a Baltimore Car Accident Lawyer Help?
Vehicle breakdowns are an unfortunate fact of life no matter which kind of vehicle you drive. While many breakdowns can be prevented by taking simple precautions and performing preventive maintenance, some are sudden and cannot be avoided with even the best planning. The issues you face after a car accident caused from a vehicle breakdown are not as simple as some people would believe. From how medical bills get paid to how much you should be compensated it is always better to receive a free consultation from a Maryland car accident personal injury attorney than to rely on an insurance company that increases its profits by paying you less.
If your vehicle was disabled and suffered a car crash in Maryland, we can help you. The Law Offices of Larry B. Litt understands that car collisions involving broken-down vehicles are different. We take into consideration all the factors involved to help you understand where liability lies. We also work with you to file a car accident claim with the insurance company of the at-fault driver and seek maximum compensation for your personal injury claim as well as your vehicle damages. In the unfortunate event you are injured in a car breakdown accident, contact the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt as soon as possible so we can start protecting your right to financial recovery.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt have years of experience handling cases like yours, and would be honored to help you and your family with the legal recovery process while you focus on healing. If you are too injured to travel, we may be able to set up a virtual consultation or come see you. Our family-based law firm works closely with survivors of car collisions to help them seek fair compensation. Your initial consultation costs nothing and it is an important way for you to understand your potential case. Contact the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt at 443-844-1528 to schedule your no-cost consultation today.