It has happened to most people once or twice in their lives. Your car is driving along nicely when all of a sudden a red warning light comes on and you are left not knowing what to do. The important thing you should know is that you can compound your issues by not following the right course of action and ending up in a Connecticut auto accident if you’re not careful.
Cars can break down with warning, like the above mentioned red warning light or without warning in the case of a blown out tire or an engine seizing up without any warning. In all cases of a car breakdown you will want to follow certain steps to make sure you are clear from harm so you can handle your car’s issue with care and get them resolved so you can get back out on the road safely in the near future.
If this does happen to you, and we certainly hope it does not, but if it does, you should take some of the following steps to make sure you and your vehicle’s passengers are free from harm.
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Stay calm. This is probably the hardest part of the whole exercise. If a red light comes on it can be nerve racking and difficult to stay calm, but even worse, if a tire blows out you are literally going to have to deal with controlling the vehicle and staying calm all at the same time. It will be difficult, but if you can manage to stay calm you will put yourself in a much better position to avoid an accident.
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When it is safe, pull over to the side of the road. You should get your car over as far as you can to be out of the flow of traffic. If you know your car is breaking down, while you have it running it is best to get as far off the road as you possibly can. If you can make it off an exit and into a parking lot that would be the best result, but if you can’t, you should pull off to the shoulder of the road and out of the flow of traffic.
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Call for help. If you are in a situation where you cannot get your car started or your tires are not operational, you will want to get some help to get you out of the situation. Depending on the severity of the break down you will either want to call a roadside assistance company or you may even want to contact the non-emergency line for the police to have them come out and help you address the situation. Either way, you will want to get some help so you are not stranded on the side of the road with a car that isn’t operational.
Breaking down on the side of the road can be scary and frustrating. If you take your time and follow the steps above you have a greater chance of not getting into a Connecticut auto accident and getting your car back on the road in no time. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you are in this situation because we can’t do it all on our own.
If you do wind up in an accident and you’re injured you may need to speak with someone who has experience with a situation like yours. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will speak with you and work with you to learn the details of your situation and protect your long-term interests.
