The very first thing you should think about when your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere is to contact someone who can help. You can either contact an auto repair specialist or, depending on where you are, you can also find someone to tow your vehicle. That way, while you do everything else you need to do, help will be on the way.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 17,250 car crashes occur each day nationwide, so it's important to be prepared for the possibility of a crash or breakdown. Here are some things to do if you find yourself in one of these situations.

Assess the Situation and Surroundings

Whenever your car breaks down, you should avoid panicking at all costs. Although it's not the easiest thing to do, you should try to remain as calm as possible. Especially if you've been in an accident, gathering yourself and making sure you're okay before making any decisions will benefit you. What you need is to be smart about things, so take a deep breath and assess your surroundings. You will want to check for mile markers or anything that can tell you where you are. Your phone can also help you when it comes to your location and determining if there is a nearby auto repair shop. Knowing your specific location will also help you tell whoever is coming to help where you are.

Try to Identify the Problem

Your next step after ensuring the safety of yourself and everyone around you should be to pinpoint exactly what went wrong with your vehicle. This information will be helpful to relay to the towing services you call. Use your best judgment as you assess the vehicle and consider possible culprits for the issue. If you're inexperienced with cars, the representative from the towing company should be able to walk you through this step.

Make Yourself Visible

If your car has broken down, you also want to increase your chances of being seen on the side of the road. Some of the things you can do to ensure that other drivers can see you include turning on your hazard lights, raising the hood, and even turning on the lights inside your car. This will not only make it easier for anyone coming to help find you, but it will also make it easier for traffic to see you and avoid any further damage.

These are some things you can do to ensure that your situation gets resolved as soon as possible when your car has broken down by the roadside. If you need auto repair services or someone to assist you if you are dealing with a car breakdown, get in touch with Armory Shell Towing and Autobody today.