Most commercial truck and tractor-trailer tire blowouts are preventable, yet they result in devastating accidents on roadways every day. When truck drivers and their employers don’t take steps to properly care for tires and ensure their safety, occupants of other vehicles can end up paying with their lives. If you were hurt or have suffered the loss of a loved one in a crash caused by a tire blowout, our tractor-trailer accident attorneys at Moore Law Firm can investigate your claim and advise you of the most effective course of action to recover compensation for your damages.
Why Are Truck Tire Blowouts So Dangerous?
Tire blowouts are more than just a regular flat tire. When the sudden rupturing of a truck tire happens at high speed, a driver can lose control and pieces of metal and other debris may fly into the air and onto the road. Tire blowouts can lead to jackknifing, rollovers, and cause other vehicles to swerve and crash when trying to get out of the way. These types of tractor-trailer accidents can also have a domino effect and cause multicar pileups that lead to extensive property damage and injury.
Who Is Responsible For Large Truck Tire Blowouts?
Unfortunately, many big truck tire blowout accidents happen because of the negligence of drivers and trucking companies. Failing to inspect tires regularly and neglecting to maintain and replace them when they’re worn puts everyone on the road in danger. Although the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific rules for frequent tire inspection and maintenance, too many trucking companies and drivers ignore these regulations to save time and money. Contractors who own and operate dump trucks and other large vehicles also have an obligation to inspect, maintain, and replace the tires on their equipment to ensure they are safe.
On the road, truck drivers are supposed to inspect their tires at the end of each day. If a trucker observes that tires are in poor condition, they have a duty of care to stop driving the truck. Our tractor-trailer accident attorneys are all too familiar with how cutting corners can lead to devastating crashes caused by tire blowouts. We help injured victims hold truck drivers, trucking companies, and defective tire manufacturers accountable when their failure to do what’s right causes an accident, injury, or death.
Causes Of Commercial Truck Tire Blowouts
Tractor-trailers can weigh up to 80,000 or more when overloaded. To support their massive size and weight, commercial truck tires need to be in top-notch condition to ensure a driver can slow down and safely come to a stop. Tractor-trailer tire blowout accidents can be caused by many different things, including:
Lack of inspection and improper maintenance – Damaged or worn tires and those with low or no tread are dangerous on any vehicle, but on tractor-trailers they can be deadly. Wear and tear on tires that are already weakened can cause them to blow out unexpectedly and cause serious accidents. Frequent inspection, periodic rotation, proper installation, and replacement of worn tires can prevent these types of crashes and keep everyone safer on the road.
Over- or under-inflation – Truck tires should always be inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI.
Mismatched tires – Putting different sizes or types of tires on a truck can affect its balance, stability, and traction. All of the tires on tractor-trailers and other large trucks should be the same size and type.
Improper cargo loading – Shifting cargo or trucks that are overloaded beyond safe weight maximums can cause tire blowouts. Cargo must be balanced properly from front to back and left to right in any tractor-trailer load.
Defective tires – Trucking companies and drivers should always keep up with tire recalls and safety notices. Although they can’t prevent defective products from being released on the market, they can be vigilant about identifying potentially dangerous tires.
Extreme weather conditions – Excessive heat can cause tires to become underinflated. Drivers who travel over hot terrain should check PSI frequently and keep an eye out for accelerated wear. Driving inclement weather such as rain or snow also requires extra caution. Icy, salt-covered roads can be a hazard and have the potential to cause tire blowouts.
Excessive braking – Inexperienced, improperly trained, or negligent truck drivers may overuse or suddenly put on the brakes too often, which can cause serious wear and tear on tires.
Road defects – Road damage like potholes can also cause tire blowouts. If a truck hits a pothole at high speed in just the right spot, a tire can easily pop. Construction zones with uneven lanes can also be a hazard and have the potential to cause tire blowouts.
Injuries Sustained In Tractor-trailer Tire Blowout Accidents
Tractor-trailer tire blowout accidents can cause catastrophic injuries that require expensive medical and long-term care. In addition to being injured due to the impact of the crash, pieces of metal, rubber, and other debris can be thrown with such force that they penetrate car windows, hitting the occupants inside. Some common injuries that can result from accidents caused by tire blowouts include:
- Head, neck and spinal injuries
- Concussion
- Traumatic brain injury
- Paralysis
- Facial lacerations and scarring
- Fractured or crushed bones
- Psychological injuries
Recovering Compensation In A Tire Blowout Accident Claim
It’s hard to put a number on the physical, emotional, and financial costs of being hurt or losing a loved one in an accident caused by a truck tire blowout. Our truck accident lawyers understand how to accurately value your claim to ensure you receive the care and compensation you deserve for the damage that’s been done. We handle all communications and negotiations with insurance companies and aggressively pursue compensation from all potential sources.
Insurance companies often try to discredit victims’ stories and they downplay the severity of their injuries so they can pay out as little as possible in personal injury claims. Our Mobile tractor-trailer accident lawyers have been dealing with their tactics for decades. We methodically investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident and collect relevant evidence to support the facts of your claim. We work with your medical providers and may consult expert witnesses who can explain the scope of your injuries how they have impacted your life.
You may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Wage loss
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium and companionship
- Property damage
- Other damages
Paying For Legal Representation
Injured victims are sometimes hesitant to reach out to an attorney because they’re not sure about how they’ll pay for legal fees. At Moore Law Firm, our personal injury lawyers take cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you. Initial consultations are free, even if we determine that a personal injury claim is not appropriate in your case.
If You’ve Been Injured, Contact Us Today
If you’ve been hurt in a crash involving a truck tire blowout, our tractor-trailer accident attorneys can help you make sense of it all and recover the compensation you deserve. call Moore Law Firm at 251-445-7602 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.