Tire blowouts are scary, especially when these tire blowouts involve large trucks. When truckers and trucking companies do not perform the preventative maintenance required on the tires of their vehicles, these overworked tires can rupture, often at high speeds, causing a driver to lose control of their truck and debris to be strewn across the roadway, putting other drivers at risk for serious accidents, injury, and death.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligence, we at America’s Consumer Lawyer are here for you every step of the way to ensure that your rights are protected, and you are fully compensated for your injuries and losses.
Reasons for Truck Tire Blowouts
Truck tire blowouts are different from flat tires. A tire blowout occurs when the tire or tires burst or rupture, and the shredded bits of the tire are thrown across the roadway. Not only does this cause a truck driver to lose control of their truck and possibly crash into other vehicles or roll over, but it can cause other drivers to lose control of their own vehicles when they try to avoid hitting the bits of tire on the road.
Truck tire blowouts are often the result of a truck driver or trucking company’s negligence. Trucking companies are required to ensure their vehicles are safe and properly maintained, however, some trucking companies fail to maintain their tires or fail to replace worn tires when it is necessary.
Not only is this an act of negligence, failing to properly maintain a truck and its tires also violates the rules set forth by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). According to the FMCSA, which governs truckers and trucking companies throughout the U.S., the following rules must be followed:
- Truckers and/or trucking companies must inspect and maintain their vehicles routinely, including the tires, on a FMCSA specified schedule;
- Truckers and/or trucking companies are not to drive a truck if it is in a condition that could cause an accident;
- Truckers must perform a pre-trip inspection that includes reviewing the past trip report and certifying that needed repairs were completed. If tires are damaged, they may not take the truck on the road;
- At the end of each day, a truck driver should inspect their vehicle for damage and should not continue to drive if the truck isn’t inappropriate shape;
- Trucking companies are required to maintain, repair, and replace tires when it is called for.
Trigger Factors for Truck Tire Blowouts
There are a number of conditions that can trigger a truck tire blowout when tires are worn or defective. These trigger factors include:
- Underinflation
- Potholes
- Overloading
- Heat
- Mismatched tires
- Weather conditions
- Excessive braking
Who is Liable in a Truck Tire Blowout Accident?
Determining liability in a truck tire blowout accident can be difficult due to the numerous factors at play that contributed to the accident. While it may seem that the truck driver would be completely at fault, his or her liability might be reduced because of external factors such as road conditions or obstacles in the road. If a tire was defective, tire manufacturers may be partially liable for any injuries and damages that an accident caused and if a mechanic failed to notice these defects, they could also share in liability.
In the event that a truck tire blowout caused your accident, it is important to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to help investigate the possible causes of the blowout and determine which party or parties may be at fault so you get the compensation you deserve.
We at America’s Consumer Lawyer are proud to serve our fellow citizens in personal injury cases, especially when you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, and we are fully committed to protecting your rights and ensuring that the other party is held legally accountable when negligence occurs. We will fight until the very end to ensure that you are fully compensated for all injuries and losses resulting from the accident, including medical expenses, property damage, lost wages, and pain and suffering, and you won’t owe us a dime for our services.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident due to another driver’s negligence, contact America’s Consumer Lawyer for a free consultation. Helping our clients is about counseling, advocating, and ultimately solving problems. With years of experience successfully representing the people and not the powerful, we will take care of the insurance adjusters, your medical bills, your property damage, and your lost wages, and monitor your treatment so you can focus on healing and getting your life back to normal. We will handle your case quickly and advise you every step of the way, and we will not hesitate to go to trial for you. Lastly, America’s Consumer Lawyer,
LLC is not paid attorneys’ fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. You have nothing to risk when you hire us – only the opportunity to seek justice.
