Can Tire Blowouts Cause Truck Accidents?
While traveling along highways throughout the United States, it is not uncommon to come across the sight of a shredded tire along the side of the road. A blowout is a terrifying experience. Now, imagine for a moment that that strip of blown out tire material came from a giant commercial truck. A tire blowout on any vehicle puts the driver at risk, as well as any passengers or occupants of nearby vehicles. Tire blowouts occur every day from a variety of causes. Sadly, accidents involving truck tire blowouts are more common than you might like to believe, and the size and weight of commercial trucks create danger to the occupants of the vehicles traveling nearby.
What Causes Tire Blowouts on Trucks?
There are many manufacturing, maintenance, and usage factors that may be at the root of a truck’s tire blowout. Many of the same factors create a scary-enough risk of the driver losing control of the truck while the tire is still intact, but if the tire blows, the danger level explodes as well. In the event that one of the truck’s tires suffers a blowout, the driver of the truck and those in the vicinity are at serious risk of injury or death from an accident.
When an 18-wheeler is traveling at high speeds down the interstate, one tiny misstep in the tire’s production, upkeep, or usage can have dire consequences. Some causes of truck tire blowouts include:
- Manufacturing defects: One tiny flaw can cause immeasurable damage when a tire explodes under the weight of a giant truck.
- Improper installation: Tire misalignment may cause uneven weight distribution and put too much stress on one or more tires, risking a blowout.
- Poor maintenance: Tires should be replaced before worn out tires become a blowout hazard. Inspections should happen often and include checks for rot, cracks, and wear, as well as damage to bonds and rims.
- Under-inflation: Tires that are not properly inflated may present driver control issues that will be exacerbated by a blowout.
- Overloading the trailer: This can put too much pressure on tires than they were built to endure, which puts the tire at risk for a blowout.
- Truck driver behaviors: If a driver causes damage to the tire by driving over damaging materials or by clipping the side of a corner while underestimating a turn, the tire damage may set the tire up for a catastrophic blowout down the road.
What Types of Accidents are Caused by Truck Tire Blowouts?
Tire blowouts are known to cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles. The uncontrolled truck can careen into other vehicles on the road or run off the road into oncoming traffic. A large truck may jackknife and cause a smaller vehicle to become lodged underneath the trailer. The truck may become so unstable it could even topple over onto another vehicle.
Even when nearby motorists are able to avoid crashing into an out-of-control truck, individuals inside the vehicles traveling alongside a truck can be hurt by pieces of the blown-out tire, being injured by the truck’s cargo that may break loose in the accident, or crashes with other drivers attempting to avoid the truck or debris from the initial accident. The best way for a driver to protect against truck tire blowout accidents is to stay aware of your surroundings as you drive. Steer clear of truck that seem out of control or have unsteady steering or wobbly tires.
Who may be Held Liable in a Truck Tire Blowout Accident?
When the cause of a truck accident can be traced back to a tire blowout, there are many possible parties that may liability for the accident. The accident may be due to negligence on the part of the tire’s manufacturer, the maintenance service team, the trucking company, or the truck driver, among other possible liable parties.
New Brunswick Truck Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr Represent Clients Injured in Tire Blowout Incidents
If you or a loved one became injured as a result of an accident caused by a tire blowout on a truck, you may be able to collect compensation for costs and suffering related to the injury. The New Brunswick truck accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Harold J. Gerr can help you bring suit against the tire manufacturer, the trucking company, or another liable party to collect damages to cover your medical bills, lost wages, or other financial losses suffered as a result of your accident. Contact us online or call 732-537-8570 to set up a free consultation.
Located in Highland Park, New Jersey, we serve clients throughout New Brunswick, Somerset, Piscataway, Edison, South River, Sayreville, Metuchen, East Brunswick, South Plainfield, Fords, Middlesex, Old Bridge, Iselin, Bound Brook, Perth Amboy, and Colonia.
