What to Do When One Side of the Car Falls into a Ditch and Gets Stuck?
5 Answers
Here are the solutions for when one side of the car falls into a ditch and gets stuck: 1. If all wheels fall into the ditch: If road conditions permit, you can use another vehicle to pull the stuck car out; if the road is soft, you can first deflate the tires of the stuck vehicle to increase the contact area between the tires and the ground before proceeding with the rescue. 2. If only one wheel falls into the ditch: You can use a jack to lift this wheel, place a hard object underneath, and then slowly drive forward in a low gear. 3. You can find a fixed point in front of the vehicle to tie a steel rope to secure the car, reducing secondary damage caused by lateral sliding during the rescue.
It can be quite tricky when one side of your car drops into a ditch and gets stuck on the undercarriage. I've encountered a similar situation before. First, stay calm and avoid panicking or trying to force the car out abruptly, as this could make the chassis more firmly stuck. Immediately turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers to keep their distance and prevent secondary accidents. If the car can still move, try gently reversing a little bit, but do so with care. If you can't get it out, call for help—either ask nearby friends to assist with pushing or contact your insurance company's free towing service. Once the car is free, remember to check underneath for any scratches or oil leaks, and take it to a repair shop if necessary to avoid future issues. Safety comes first—haste makes waste, so take your time to handle the situation properly.
If one side of the car gets stuck in a ditch or bottoms out, I'll first try self-rescue. Find something hard to place under the wheel, like a wooden board, stone, or old tire, to increase friction before slowly reversing out. If the car's chassis is too firmly stuck, don't force it—doing so could damage the suspension or exhaust pipe. In that case, use your phone to look up nearby towing services or call the manufacturer's rescue team; they have professional equipment. Once the car is out, I'll check the chassis for any deformation and get it repaired promptly. When driving, try to avoid potholes and rough roadside areas to prevent trouble. Experience tells me that handling minor incidents properly isn't a big deal.
Last month, my car also got stuck in a ditch and scraped the undercarriage, which was really frustrating. In such situations, safety is the first thing that comes to mind: turn on the hazard lights to warn others and avoid any unnecessary movement to prevent further damage. Then, the most straightforward solution is to contact rescue services immediately, such as your insurance company or a local towing service, many of which offer 24-hour assistance. After getting the car out, be sure to inspect the suspension and undercarriage for any damage and take it to a repair shop if needed. In the future, drive more slowly on challenging roads—prevention is always the best approach.
I've experienced the car sliding into a ditch and getting stuck a few times. A common mistake beginners make is revving the engine hard to get out, which only grinds the chassis more severely and burns out parts. The correct approach is to move slowly, use a jack to lift the car slightly and place something under the tires to elevate them, or ask for help to push. Don't rush to escape; patience is better. After the car is out, be sure to conduct a thorough inspection of the chassis for any deformation or oil leaks, and replace damaged parts promptly. Lessons learned from these experiences can help you avoid detours.
