Roadside Emergency Checklist

Why a checklist beats “winging it”

When you're parked on the shoulder with hazards on, your judgment is compromised. Adrenaline narrows attention, especially at night or in bad weather. Every roadside professional has watched a driver forget basic steps, exiting on the traffic side, standing between cars, walking onto a freeway with their phone out. That's why we put this list together: not because the steps are clever, but because nobody remembers them under stress.

Pick your situation, work the numbered steps in order, and check them off as you go. Print it once and keep a copy in the glove box, you'll have it even if your phone dies.

What to do after the immediate situation is handled

• Need a tow? Get a real-world estimate first with the towing cost calculator so you know what a fair price looks like before dispatch quotes you a number.
• Was there a collision? Build an insurance-ready damage report with the damage checklist generator and run the claim readiness checker before you call your adjuster.
• Flat tire? Once you're back rolling on the spare, head to a station and check proper tire pressure for your make and model, most spares are limited to 50 mph for a reason.

Tips you'll wish you knew before it happened

• Practice changing a tire in your driveway. The first time you do it, it should not be at 11pm in the rain on a freeway. Twenty minutes of practice on a sunny weekend pays off forever.
• Keep a charged power bank in the glove box. A dead phone in an emergency turns a 20-minute problem into a two-hour one.
• If anyone is hurt, call 911 first, even before your insurer. Police clear lanes faster than tow trucks, and same-day medical documentation matters for any later injury claim.
• Don't stand between vehicles. If you must exit, exit on the side away from traffic and stand well clear of the crumple zone.

For the full background and scenario-specific details, read What to do after a car breakdown: a step-by-step checklist.