Hitting the Road this Holiday? Make Sure Your Car Isn’t Involved in Any Recalls

As you get ready to hit the road this Thanksgiving, make sure that your car is not included in one of the many recent recalls.

It seems almost every day we hear about another automobile recall, everything from Takata airbags to VW emissions. One major recall that Cash, Krugler & Fredericks has investigated is a defect in a KIA gearshift. Our client Sonya Bady suffered severe injuries to her leg after her neighbor’s KIA Sorento, parked on an incline across the street, slipped out of park, rolled and slammed into her as she stood in her driveway. As we shared with the Atlanta NBC affiliate 11Alive, the KIA recall involves certain 2011-2013 Sorentos with automatic transmissions.

If you have a 2011-2013 KIA Sorento, it’s important you take it to the dealer to get checked out. No matter what kind of car you drive, you can see if it’s part of a recall by visiting The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall website. You can search by make/model, or by your car’s unique vehicle identification number.

We have successfully litigated defective products cases, including automobiles and tires under recall. Make sure your holiday road travels are safe with these tips from AAA:

• Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained. If maintenance is not up to date, have your car and tires inspected before you take a long drive.
• Map your route in advance and be prepared for busy roads during the most popular times of the year. If possible, consider leaving earlier or later to avoid heavy traffic.
• Keep anything of value in the trunk or covered storage area.
• If you’re traveling with children, remind them not to talk to strangers. Go with them on bathroom breaks and give them whistles to be used only if the family gets separated.
• Have roadside assistance contact information on hand, in case an incident occurs on the road.
• In case of an emergency, keep a cell phone and charger with you at all times. AAA and many other companies offer smartphone applications that enable motorists to request help without making a phone call.

How many miles will you log visiting family and friends before the end of the year?

-Alwyn Fredericks