Stuck and Out of Luck? First-aid For Stranded Drivers

June 28, 2022

Every car will have its day. This is a reality that all car owners have to accept. The best way to deal with this eventuality is to make sure your car is always in good running condition by undergoing maintenance checks every so often. However, even the best maintained cars will still break down at some point so it’s best to know exactly what to do when your beloved car conks out in the middle of the road. 1. Pull over if you can The first thing you need to do immediately after you notice signs of trouble in your car is to get out of the road. Safely veer toward the shoulder or look for an emergency bay if there’s one in sight. Employ your parking brake and steer the wheels to stay away from traffic to prevent your car from rolling. If you can’t pull over, turn your hazard lights on to alert the motorists behind and do not try to push the car to the side of the road. Also, after you’ve pulled over to the side of the road, make sure to get out of your vehicle on the side that is away from traffic. 2. Assess your vehicle’s problem After you’ve safely gotten out of your car, you can assess the vehicle’s problem. A loose battery cable is easy to deal with if you’re an experienced car enthusiast, but don’t try to solve things that you’re not sure of as you might make things worse. If it’s a flat tire, only attempt to change it when you’ve established that it’s safe to do so. Don’t try to change it when the busted tire is on the side of traffic because it can be dangerous, especially if you’re still on the road. 3. Alert other motorists If you’re not in heavy traffic, take out your early warning device and place it 10 feet behind your car as a warning to other motorists. If you’re in heavy traffic, keep your hazard lights on and pop open the hood so other motorists can avoid you as early as possible. At night, you can also turn your interior lights on for extra visibility. Try not to stay directly behind or in front of of your car because you can be at risk if it ends up getting rear-ended. 4. Call for Roadside Assistance After assessing the state of your car and determining that there’s nothing you can do on your own, call for roadside assistance. Most motor insurance policies come with roadside assistance benefits. With COCOGEN Motor Insurance, policyholders can avail of kaLAKBAY. If you need anything while on the road, all you have to do is call them through (02) 8830-6000 and tell them what kind of services you need. COCOGEN Road Pal Rescue has emergency towing services, motor shop referrals, and even minor on-site servicing for battery boosting, tire changing, gasoline delivery, and car-lockout. If your car gets stranded due to damage from an accident, COCOGEN Motor Insurance also offers GAWA AGAD, their innovative concept in motor insurance claims, on top of their emergency road service. This service was designed to improve claims processing time by authorizing select repair shops to perform claims administration. Through GAWA AGAD, COCOGEN realizes its ultimate goal in recognizing and meeting the needs and expectations of the market for convenience and quality service. To know more about COCOGEN Motor Insurance, click here. You may also call our customer service hotline at (02) 8830-6000, or email us at client_services@cocogen.com.

*** The views expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of COCOGEN Insurance.

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