Tire and wheel failure are the top causes of mechanically-related car and truck crashes. In the summer, tire blowouts are very common in Wisconsin and have multiple causes. While many tire blowouts cause single-vehicle crashes, they can still result in serious injuries.
About 45% of SUVs roll over during a tire-related crash. And high-speed blowouts can cause a vehicle to lose control—resulting in catastrophic injuries and even death. Below, the car accident lawyers at Jacobson, Schrinsky & Houck explain the mechanics of tire blowouts and your legal rights after a serious tire blowout crash.
What Causes Tire Blowouts?
There are several primary causes of tire blowouts:
Tire age – Most tires have a lifespan of six years. After that, their rubber and other components start to break down and become more brittle. Even if you don’t do much driving and the treads are intact, old tires can be dangerous to drive on.
Low tread depth – Bald tires are vulnerable to damage, more sensitive to heat, and make your vehicle more difficult to control.
Existing tire damage – Damage to the sidewall or tire components can take time to emerge. You might drive miles before road friction and pressure cause the tire to explode. For this reason, it’s important to inspect your tires regularly. Many dealerships and tire shops will check your tires for free and inflate them properly at the same time.
Vehicle overloading – When you overload a vehicle, the increased pressure can damage your tires’ sidewalls. To protect yourself, you should try to buy tires with the same load capacity as your SUV or pickup.
Product and design defects – Flaws in the design or manufacturing of a tire can cause tire blowouts. While you may have heard of highly publicized recalls, like the Firestone recall, tire manufacturers routinely face product liability lawsuits due to defective or dangerous tires.
Reckless driving – Aggressive driving maneuvers, harsh braking, and other reckless behaviors can cause tires to fail (especially if they’re already damaged or poorly maintained).
Poor road conditions – Potholes and road debris can puncture or damage a tire, causing a blowout.
Underinflation – Although you may not suspect it, low pressure is one of the top reasons for tire blowouts. When you drive on an underinflated tire, you put pressure on its sidewalls. This flexes the tire’s components beyond their tolerances. At some point, they burst in those weakened areas. Make sure to keep your tires inflated properly, especially when the temperature outside changes drastically.
Heat – Hot temperatures increase your tires’ internal pressure, making them expand. This expansion, coupled with hot asphalt, causes increased friction and stress, which can result in a blowout.
Who Is Responsible for Tire Blowout Injuries?
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your crash, you might have multiple claims against multiple defendants. Importantly, you should never dispose of the blown-out or flat tires. Your car crash lawyer and expert witnesses will need them to assess your claims. If they’re destroyed, it’s virtually impossible to prove there was a tire defect. If you need help preserving the tires as evidence, contact a Milwaukee personal injury lawyer immediately.
You might have claims against a negligent driver whose tire failure caused your injuries and the manufacturer of a dangerous or defective tire. An experienced car accident or tire defect lawyer can help you investigate your claims and demand fair compensation for your injuries.
Finally, if a negligent driver was uninsured or underinsured, you might have a claim against your personal uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy.
Should you become involved in any kind of car accident with a tire and/or wheel failure in which injuries are sustained, the first thing you should do is contact a personal injury attorney. When you are represented by a skilled attorney, you’ll have your best chance of being fairly compensated for any injuries that you sustain in an accident.
Call Jacobson, Schrinsky & Houck in Milwaukee TODAY at (414) 223-4444 to have one of our caring lawyers come out to meet you and get car accident help TODAY and money for your injuries. There is no fee until we win.
#jshlaw #milwaukeecaraccidentlawyer #caraccidenthelptoday #nofeeuntilwewin #money4injuries #tireblowoutaccident #accident