Tire Blowout Accident Attorney
What should I do in the event of a tire blowout?
If you are driving while there is a rapid loss of tire pressure or blowout, you should attempt to maintain the vehicle balanced and under control. Any overreaction, including abruptly releasing your foot from the accelerator or slamming on the brakes may result in a loss of vehicle control. Abruptly removing your foot from the accelerator causes the vehicle’s weight to be transferred from the rear to the front tires, potentially leading to loss of control. Applying brakes makes the vehicle further destabilizes the vehicle.
In a blowout situation, you should gradually release the accelerator, after controlled, corrective steering, look and steer in the direction you want the vehicle to go and, once stabilized, continue to slow down and pull over where you deem it safe to do so. These steps should be taken regardless of whether the front or back tire blows out. The main difference will be that you will feel a front tire blowout more in the steering whereas you will feel the force of a rear tire blowout more in the vehicle’s body.
How many deaths and injuries do blowouts cause?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that each year, in crashes resulting from flat tire/blowout causes, there are over 400 fatalities and over 10,000 non-fatal injuries. Tire blowouts cause over 23,400 tow-away crashes annually.
Why are blowouts so dangerous?
Tire blowouts cause vehicles to lose control. This increases the risk of injury due to rollovers and collisions with other vehicles or objects. Traveling at higher speeds or in less stable vehicles such as SUVs and large passenger vans increases the likelihood of injuries as a result of a tire blowout.
What causes blowouts?
Most tire blowouts are preventable. Some of the principal causes of tire blowouts include:
- Road hazards
- Under-inflation
- Tire mismatching
- Excessive wear
- Inadequate inspections
- Tire design defects
- Manufacturing defects
- Tire ageing
What is tire ageing?
Tires have a limited life of service regardless of use or tread depth. Ageing tires is a little known danger outside of the tire manufacturing industry and is likely to continue causing a significant amount of tread separations. These tires can inadvertently put into service after being stored in warehouses and garages, used on a vehicle that is not driven often, or having served as a spare. These “aged” tires are likely to be put into service because they may have adequate tread depth and show no visible signs of deterioration.
The age of a tire can be determined from the tire’s serial or identification number, which is molded into the tire’s sidewall. This number, however, is not easy for the average consumer to decode.
The accident and product liability attorneys at PersonalInjury.com can answer additional questions you may have with regard to tire blowout accidents or many other personal injury matters. Please contact us today so we can help you find an experienced tire blowout lawyer near you.
