Preparing For Car Emergencies

Posted on: 6 August 2015

Developing car trouble and finding yourself sitting on the side of the road is never a fun experience, but a quick phone call to a local emergency towing company like Larry Menz Towing Services Inc can make you breathe a sigh of relief. Help will soon arrive and you'll be riding to a neighborhood garage to start the process of dealing with your car problem. As you wait on the side of the road, it's important that you never lose sight of the potential danger of your situation and that you take the necessary safety precautions to avoid issues. Here are three valuable strategies to adopt from the time you place the phone call to the time the tow truck arrives.

Get The Necessary Details From The Towing Company

When you've already arranged assistance from a reputable towing company, the last thing you need is an unscrupulous tow truck operator stopping and trying to help you to make a quick buck. When you speak to the towing company agent on the phone, confirm the number of the truck that will be arriving to help you and ask the driver's name. When a tow truck approaches, check that it belongs to the same company you called and that the truck number is correct. When the driver approaches, ask his or her name as confirmation.

Make Yourself Visible

Carrying an automotive emergency kit has a number of practical benefits and can be a valuable ally when your car breaks down. Many kits include neon reflective markers for you to place on the road behind your vehicle to increase its visibility, especially after dark to approaching motorists. A triangular, orange "warning" sign, which is also common in many kits, is ideal to mount to your rear window to further alert other drivers. If you're stopped in the dark, engage your four-way flashers and leave your vehicle's dome light on if they still work.

Don't Seek Help From Others

Although many good Samaritans exist, not everyone who stops to ask if you need assistance has honorable intentions. Although seeking some help from others might be necessary if you haven't already contacted a towing company, it's not needed when a tow truck is on its way. If someone stops and approaches your vehicle, let the person know that help should arrive any minute. However, resist the urge to lower your window -- even if the person is indicating that he or she can't hear you -- and write your message on a piece of paper, if necessary.