Recalls And Car Accidents: What You Need To Know

At some point, you may receive a notification that your car has been recalled. Some recalls are minor and only require a small adjustment. In other incidents, some recalls are for serious problems that could cause your vehicle to fail and result in a car accident. If you receive a recall notice for your car, you need to get it to the dealership for an adjustment right away. You do not want this to happen. Here are some things you need to know:

When Should You Have Your Car Inspected?

Once you are aware of the recall for your car, you need to take it in for a repair as soon as possible. Some recall issues can take a long time to repair. If you do not have time to wait, you can ask the inspector if the issue can wait or if the repair is necessary right away. If your car passes an initial inspection and you are able to drive it temporarily, you can continue to do so. In the meantime, you can make an appointment to have the car fixed. If you cannot wait for a recall-related repair, inquire about getting a rental vehicle while yours is being fixed.

What Should You Do if You Are in an Accident?

If you do not get your car fixed and end up in an accident due to the nature of the recall notice, there are some things you need to do. First, go get a medical checkup to make sure you are not injured. If you are injured in a recall-related accident, you need to have a record of the injuries and treatment in the event you need to file a car accident legal claim.

The next thing you need to do is call your attorney. If you or one of your passengers get seriously injured or if a death results from the accident, your attorney needs to file a claim. Your attorney will contact the manufacturer of your vehicle and begin to deal with your damages. If your accident was directly due to the recall issue and you made an attempt to have the issue fixed, the manufacturer can be held liable for your damages. If you were advised to get your car repaired and you failed to do so, you may have a tougher time proving you are not at least partially at fault.

It may be inconvenient to get a recall notice for your vehicle, but you need to deal with it right away. You do not want to be involved in an accident that is avoidable.

For more information, contact a car accident lawyer near you.


Share