Granted, many motorists are familiar with the phrase roadside assistance services. While they may have never sought them before, they probably assume that they are provided when someone is facing an issue with their vehicle on the road. However, some individuals will misinterpret the scope of roadside assistance services, as they presume they are only relevant when one has become involved in a car crash that would advisedly affect the driveability of their vehicle.

The reality is that while roadside assistance services are indispensable after a collision, car accidents are not the only emergencies that these professionals attend to. You could be surprised at the vast range of roadside assistance services offered. To ensure that you know when to call the professionals rather than seek amateur help from a friend, check out the following surprising ways that roadside assistance would be invaluable when you are stranded.

Your vehicle has run out of gas

Running out of gas on the road may seem farfetched, but you could be surprised at how often this happens to unsuspecting motorists. As a busy adult, whether you are running around completing errands before picking up your kids from school or your mind is distracted by work, you can easily forget about filling up the tank. In some extreme cases, the car's gas gauge may be defective, so while you could be under the impression that the tank is full, the reality could be that you are driving on empty.

Whatever the case, if your gas runs out while you are on the road, you should reach out to roadside assistance services. Hiring roadside assistance services will not only ensure prompt gas delivery, but you will not have to leave your vehicle unattended to go in search of a gas station and risk losing your valuables.

Your vehicle is stuck in a ditch

Your car can get stuck in a ditch or, during the winter, a snowbank due to a range of reasons. Most commonly you could be trying to avoid hitting someone on the road, whether it is an irresponsible pedestrian or a child, forcing you to veer off to the side. Or maybe your car's wheels are misaligned, so when the vehicle pulls to the side on a slippery road, you may end up stuck in a ditch.

Rather than call a friend to come and hitch your car to their vehicle and risk damaging it in the process, you should opt for roadside assistance services in the form of a winch out. During a winch out, the professionals will attach an industrial-strength cable to your vehicle's undercarriage. A motorized axle will then be used to pull the cable and, consequently, your car out of the ditch.

Contact a local roadside assistance service to learn more.