What to Do (and Who to Call) After a Car Breakdown in West Bend
A car breakdown is a stressful event, no matter where it happens. But when your car stops running on a busy road like Main Street or a quieter county highway near Hubertus, knowing exactly what to do is crucial for your safety and getting help fast. From a dead battery on a cold morning to a flat tire on I-41, having a plan makes all the difference.
This step-by-step guide will help you stay safe, secure your vehicle, and get the right assistance for a car breakdown in the West Bend area.
Your Immediate Action Plan: Safety First
Your number one priority is to protect yourself and your passengers. How you react in the first 60 seconds is critical.
Stay Calm and Steer to Safety. Do not slam on the brakes. Turn on your hazard lights immediately. Carefully steer your vehicle to the right-hand shoulder of the road. If you are on a highway like US-45, try to exit if possible. If you are in the middle of an intersection and the car dies, leave it only if it is safe to do so.
Make Your Vehicle Visible. Once stopped on the shoulder, keep your hazard lights flashing. At night, turn on your interior dome light. If you have emergency flares or reflective triangles, place them behind your vehicle to warn other drivers (about 200 feet on a highway, 100 feet on a smaller road).
Stay Inside or Move Away. If you are on a busy, high-speed road, it is often safer to stay inside your vehicle with the doors locked. If you feel it's unsafe to stay in the car (like on a narrow bridge or a sharp curve), exit from the passenger side and move well away from traffic, behind a guardrail if one exists.
The Next Critical Steps: Securing Help
After you have ensured your immediate safety, it is time to get assistance.
Call for Help. Use your cell phone to call for a tow truck. If you do not have a tow service in mind, this is the moment to call a local expert. Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing offers 24/7 dispatch for this exact situation. If your car is creating a major traffic hazard or you are injured, call 911.
Communicate Your Location Clearly. Look for street signs, mile markers, or nearby businesses. Note the direction you were traveling. Saying "I'm on the right shoulder of northbound I-41, just past the County Highway NN exit" gets help to you much faster than "I'm near West Bend."
Contact Someone You Know. If you can, call a family member or friend to let them know what happened, where you are, and what your plan is.
Who to Call for a Breakdown in Washington County
You have several options, but knowing the pros and cons of each can save you time and stress.
A Local, Trusted Auto Shop: This is often your best choice. Calling a shop like Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing means you are connected directly to your final destination. Our team will dispatch a tow truck from our West Bend headquarters to bring your car directly to our repair facility. This eliminates the extra step and cost of having a third-party tow your car to a lot and then arranging another tow to a shop later.
National Roadside Assistance Clubs: Services like AAA or those through your car manufacturer are a common resource. They are reliable, but be prepared for potential wait times, especially during peak breakdown seasons like winter. You will also need to specify which of our four West Bend or Hubertus locations you want your vehicle towed to.
General Towing Companies: Some companies focus only on towing to their own storage yard. This can add complexity and storage fees to an already difficult situation.
What Information to Give the Dispatcher
When you call for a tow, be ready to provide:
Your exact location.
Your name and a callback number.
Your vehicle's make, model, and color.
A brief description of the problem (e.g., "it won't start," "flat tire," "overheating").
Your vehicle's destination (e.g., "Bob's Main Street Auto location on Decorah Road").
Be Prepared: What to Keep in Your Car
A little preparation can make a breakdown much more manageable. Consider keeping these items in your trunk:
A fully charged portable phone charger
A first-aid kit
A flashlight with extra batteries
Jumper cables
A blanket (especially important for Wisconsin winters)
Bottled water and non-perishable snacks
Your auto shop's phone number saved in your contacts
Stranded in West Bend? We Provide the Help You Need.
A car breakdown is frustrating, but you do not have to face it alone. Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing is your local partner for 24/7 emergency towing and expert repair.
Save our number in your phone now. If your car breaks down, call Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing for prompt, professional towing directly to our shop. Our ASE-certified technicians will diagnose the problem, provide a clear estimate, and get you back on the road safely. For reliable towing and repair in West Bend, trust the team that has served Washington County since 1980.
