What to Do When One Side of the Car's Tire Falls into a Ditch?
2 Answers
If you are driving a four-wheel-drive model, you can engage the low-range four-wheel-drive mode to get out by yourself. If it's a front-wheel-drive model, then you can only wait for a tow truck to rescue you. You can use a jack to lift the sunken side, then place wooden boards or stones under the tire, and accelerate to climb out. Check on-site whether components such as the vehicle's control arm, steering knuckle, and tire are damaged. As long as the impact is not too strong, the control arm components will not be damaged. If there are no issues, you can continue driving. If there are problems, you can only call the insurance company to send a tow truck.
Last time I was driving, my tire fell into a ditch and I almost had an accident. First, stay calm, don’t panic, immediately stop the car, turn off the engine, pull the handbrake, and turn on the hazard lights to warn other vehicles not to crash into you. After getting out of the car, check the tilt of the vehicle and the depth of the ditch. If the ditch is shallow and the car is stable, it might not be a big deal; but if the car is severely tilted, stay away to avoid slipping and causing injury. At this point, it’s best not to try pushing it yourself to prevent damage to the chassis or suspension. Quickly call a professional tow truck or ask a friend for help to pull it out. Safety comes first, especially since there’s other traffic on the road—getting rear-ended would be even more dangerous. Always drive carefully, especially at night or in rainy weather when the roads are slippery and ditches are hard to see, making accidents more likely.
