When worn or defective tires cause your crash
If you were hurt in an accident caused by a tire blowout, or if your loved one was killed in such a crash, we can help you. We determine the reason for the tire failure and assist you in obtaining fair and necessary compensation for your injuries, related medical costs, property repairs or replacement, lost wages and emotional damages. For nearly 30 years, we have advocated for clients with many types of injuries, and we are well aware of the known risks of different tire brands, such as BFGoodrich, Cooper, Dunlop, Firestone, Goodyear, Hankook and Michelin.
What causes tire blowouts?
Personal injury attorneys know that tires might fail for a number of reasons, but the most common contributors to tire blowout accidents are product defects and tire wear. We can determine at which of the following production stages the defect occurred:
Design — The tire was designed in a way that rendered it ineffective, even when manufactured properly.
Manufacturing — The tire was not manufactured according to the design, or shoddy materials were used.
Directions — The directions for using the tire included inaccurate rotation or replacement guidelines or other misinformation.
Tire defects can cause the tires to malfunction unexpectedly, whether by exploding, separating from the tread or creating a blowout. When these types of events occur, drivers are likely to lose control of their vehicles and cause serious, even fatal accidents. Manufacturers are liable for the resulting damages.
When tire wear is the cause of the accident, it may be the fault of an entity, such as a trucking company, or a person, such as the car or truck driver. If a trucking company fails to perform regular maintenance checks for tire wear, clear signs could be missed that a tire needs to be replaced. And if an individual driving a car or other vehicle for personal use fails to take the vehicle in for regular inspections or to replace tires as often as recommended, that person could be found negligent if a tire blowout accident occurs. Additionally, retailers and resellers who purvey tires that are too old — essentially expired — or too worn to be safe could also be found liable.