If you own a car, then you should know what to do if certain things happen when you’re on the road. The longer you drive, the more experience you will gain. However, it’s best to know about some common car-related scenarios and what to do about them before they occur. That way, you can spring into action without delay if a problem ever arises.

In this article, we’ll talk about some common car-related situations and what you should do when each one comes up. We’ll start by discussing vehicular accidents.

What to Do if You Get Into a Car Wreck

If you cause a car wreck or another vehicle hits you, you must get your vehicle off the road if you can. Then, assess whether you and your passengers have any injuries. Call 911 and tell them your location and the situation.

Next, you can tell the police what happened when they arrive. Go to the hospital and get yourself checked out, if necessary. If you’re not hurt, then call a tow truck and have the driver tow the car to the nearest auto body repair shop.

You should not overlook the importance of consulting with an attorney after an accident. Maybe you feel you needn’t do this because it’s clear the other driver caused the wreck, and their insurance will cover the damages. If you’re in a no-fault state, then your insurance can pay for the repairs instead.

Maybe you feel the other driver could sue you for damages, though, or you must sue them because they caused the crash, and your insurance won’t cover the repairs or medical bills. In that case, you’ll definitely need a lawyer. Make sure you hire one who charges on a contingency basis and who has had plenty of prior experience with personal injury cases.

What to Do if Your Check Engine Light Comes On

If your check engine light comes on when you’re driving your car, you should see it on the dashboard. The check engine light can mean many things.

There’s no need to panic if you see the light come on. In all likelihood, you can still drive the car with no danger. However, you must get the vehicle to a mechanic who can check it out as soon as possible. 

You might let it go for one or two days before getting it checked, but it should be no more than that. You need to have someone fix whatever’s happening with the vehicle as soon as you can so the situation doesn’t get worse or become hazardous.

What to Do if a Tire Punctures

If you’re driving and one of your tires blows out, that’s usually a scary experience. You must get off the road as quickly as you can. If you don’t, you can wear the tire down even further until you’re essentially driving on the rim. That can seriously damage the car very quickly.

You can pull the vehicle into a parking lot if there’s one nearby. If there’s not, at least pull onto the shoulder if you’re on the highway. If you’re on a local road, pull out of the way of oncoming traffic. You don’t want someone to accidentally hit you while you’re changing the tire.

Ideally, you will have a spare tire in the trunk. Most modern cars come with one. Mechanics call it a doughnut. It is a modified car tire that can last you till you get a regular replacement one that matches the three others.

If you know how, you can use a wrench to loosen your lug nuts. Then, you put your jack under the vehicle’s frame and lift it so that you can remove the tire easily. Make sure you put the lug nuts somewhere safe so you don’t lose them.

Next, pull the tire toward you so that it comes off, and put the damaged one in the trunk where you had the replacement tire. Now, you can put on the doughnut and fasten it in place with the wrench and the lug nuts. Then, you can safely lower the car to the ground again with the jack.

Now, you can drive your car home, to work, or wherever else you were going. Remember to get the car to a mechanic as soon as you can so that they can remove the doughnut and sell you a regular tire that 

matches the others.

Alternatively, you can always call AAA or some other service if you have one. They can change the tire for you, but you must wait till they get there. If you’re in some remote location, that might take a while.

What to Do if the Low Tire Pressure Light Comes On

If the light comes on indicating you have low tire pressure, you must drive to a gas station as quickly as you can. There, you can find a machine that inflates your tires.

You must figure out what PSI you should have for your tires. Usually it’s 36 pounds per square inch, but sometimes you might have a car that requires a different number. You can look in the car’s manual and see the correct tire PSI. You can also often find it on the interior of the driver’s side door.

Most tire-inflating machines at gas stations take quarters. Some more modern ones accept credit cards instead. 

You must remove the caps from each tire’s valve stem. Hold onto those, and don’t lose them. Then, feed quarters into the tire-inflating machine or use your credit card to activate it. Tighten the handle grip as you insert the end of the hose nozzle over the valve stem to start inflating each tire.

Watch the machine. It should show you when you get to the correct PSI with each tire. Once you do, turn off the machine and replace the valve stem caps. You’re now ready to get back on the road with fully inflated tires.