While a blown tire may seem like nothing more than a minor inconvenience, it can actually lead to a car accident and injuries. Flat tires and other problems related to a vehicle’s tires account for nearly 10% of all auto crashes in the United States.
The dangers of tire blowout crashes were evident in a recent accident involving an overturned dump truck in Hillsborough County, Florida. According to the Tampa Bay Reporter, a blown-out tire caused the truck to overturn on Interstate 75. The dump truck was carrying gravel when its right front tire blew out. As a result, the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle, which eventually overturned, collided with a concrete wall, and blocked traffic for several hours.
What Are a Driver’s Duties in Tire Blowout Accidents?
An automobile’s tires can blow out for different reasons. Common causes of tire blowout accidents are overinflated and underinflated tires. Driving with overinflated tires may cause the tires to blow out.
Meanwhile, when the tires are underinflated, low air pressure creates more frictional force between the road and the tires. As a result of that additional friction, tires tend to overheat and eventually blow out, leading to an auto accident.
Motorists have a duty to exercise reasonable care and avoid causing harm to others. Maintaining a vehicle, including the tires, in good condition is a fundamental part of that duty. A driver must exercise due care by monitoring tire pressure, checking if the tires are losing tread, and ensuring that the tires are inflated correctly.
What to Do if You Experience a Tire Blowout While Driving
If you have a tire blowout while operating a vehicle, it is important to take the following steps:
- Avoid braking suddenly or steering your automobile.
- Place both hands on the steering wheel in order to take full control of your car.
- Slowly move your car to the side of the roadway.
- Avoid hitting the brakes. Unfortunately, this is what many motorists do as soon as they experience a tire blowout. Hitting the brakes with a blown tire can cause the vehicle to overturn.
- As you push the brake gently to slow down smoothly, stop your vehicle and turn on the emergency light. Then, it is safe to change the tire.
At-Fault Parties in a Tire Blowout Accident
Depending on why you experienced a tire blowout, you may have a right to pursue a personal injury claim against:
- The manufacturer of the vehicle
- The manufacturer of the tires or other automobile parts
- The auto mechanic who installed, inflated, or maintained the tires incorrectly
- The dealership that sold the automobile with defective tires or other automobile parts
The at-fault party may be held liable for your damages and losses. If the tire blowout accident was the result of a defective part, design defect, or failure to warn, you might be able to file a product liability claim against the at-fault party.
Speak with an experienced Lakeland personal injury attorney to establish fault in your tire blowout accident. Contact The Turnbull Firm to discuss your particular situation and determine liability in your crash. Call at 863-324-3500 for a consultation.
Resources:
crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811617
tbreporter.com/traffic/blown-out-tire-causes-crash-that-ties-up-i-75-traffic-for-hours/