If your vehicle is stopped in a traffic lane, someone is injured, or there is an immediate danger, call 911 first.
Move to a Safe Location If Possible
Turn on your hazard lights and carefully move your vehicle to the shoulder, a nearby parking lot, or the next freeway exit if it can be driven safely.
Do not continue driving if the vehicle has damaged steering or brakes, a flat tire, severe shaking, smoke, leaking fluid, or an oil-pressure or temperature warning light.
If the vehicle cannot be moved from an active traffic lane, keep your seat belt fastened, turn on your hazard lights, and call 911. Do not attempt to push the vehicle out of traffic.
Stay Inside When It Is Safest
On a busy Michigan freeway or roadway, it is generally safest to remain inside your vehicle with your seat belt fastened while waiting for help.
- Keep children and pets inside the vehicle.
- Do not stand next to traffic or between vehicles.
- Do not walk along the freeway.
- Exit only when remaining inside creates a greater danger.
If you must leave the vehicle, exit from the side farthest from traffic when possible. Move behind a barrier or as far away from the roadway as you can safely get.
Make Your Vehicle Visible
- Turn on your hazard lights.
- Keep your vehicle’s lights on when visibility is poor.
- Raise the hood only if it can be done safely.
- Use reflective triangles or emergency markers only when you can place them without approaching traffic.
- Tell dispatch if you are stopped in a lane, on a narrow shoulder, or around a blind curve.
Do not use flares near leaking fuel, dry grass, or another fire hazard.
Call 911 When There Is Immediate Danger
Call 911 if:
- Anyone is injured, trapped, or experiencing a medical emergency
- The vehicle is blocking an active traffic lane
- You see smoke, flames, leaking fuel, or downed power lines
- The vehicle is in moving or rising water
- The vehicle is overturned or at risk of rolling
- You were involved in a hit-and-run
- You feel unsafe because of another driver or person nearby
Tell the dispatcher your location, direction of travel, nearest exit or cross street, vehicle description, and the nature of the emergency.
Common Roadside Emergencies
Flat Tire
Slow down gradually and move as far away from traffic as possible. Do not change a tire next to an active traffic lane or on an unstable, sloped, snowy, or icy surface. Call for roadside assistance or towing when the tire cannot be changed safely.
Dead Battery
A jump-start may get the vehicle running again. If it will not start after a jump or repeatedly loses electrical power, it may need to be towed for diagnosis and repair.
Overheating
Move to a safe location and shut off the engine. Do not open the radiator cap while the engine is hot. An overheating vehicle should generally be towed to avoid additional engine damage.
Out of Fuel
Turn on your hazard lights and call for emergency fuel delivery. Remain inside with your seat belt fastened if you are near moving traffic.
Lockout
Move to a safe place away from traffic while waiting for assistance. Call 911 immediately if a child, vulnerable adult, or pet is locked inside and may be in danger.
Roadside Emergencies in Snow and Ice
Michigan winter conditions can reduce visibility, make shoulders difficult to see, and cause vehicles to slide after they have stopped. Move as far from traffic as safely possible and avoid standing on an icy shoulder.
If you are stranded in snow:
- Stay with your vehicle unless a safe shelter is clearly nearby.
- Keep the exhaust pipe clear of snow, ice, and debris.
- Do not run the engine continuously for heat.
- Open a window slightly when running the engine.
- Conserve your phone battery and keep it available for emergency calls.
- Do not overexert yourself trying to dig out the vehicle.
When to Call Roadside Assistance
Goch & Sons Towing can provide roadside assistance when the vehicle can likely be made operable at its current location. Services include:
- Jump-starts and battery assistance
- Flat tire changes
- Vehicle lockout assistance
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Winch-outs
Roadside service can only be performed when there is enough room for the operator to work safely. A tow may be needed if the vehicle is too close to traffic or cannot be made safe at its current location.
When to Call for Towing or Recovery
Request towing or recovery when:
- The vehicle cannot be driven safely
- Roadside assistance cannot correct the problem
- The brakes, steering, wheel, or suspension may be damaged
- The vehicle is overheating or leaking fluid
- The vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, water, or a ditch
- The vehicle is overturned, unstable, or off the roadway
- Specialized lifting or recovery equipment is needed
Help for Vehicles of Any Size
Goch & Sons provides roadside assistance, towing, lifting, and recovery for vehicles of nearly any size, from motorcycles and passenger vehicles to motorhomes, buses, commercial trucks, trailers, and big rigs.
Our light-duty and heavy-duty fleet allows us to respond to everyday roadside problems as well as difficult commercial vehicle and heavy-recovery emergencies.
Call Goch & Sons Towing
Goch & Sons provides 24-hour roadside assistance, towing, and vehicle recovery throughout Detroit, Downriver, and Southeast Michigan.
Call (313) 382-2727 for help. Tell dispatch your location, vehicle type, the problem you are experiencing, and whether you are safely out of traffic. This information helps us send the right vehicle and equipment for your roadside emergency.
