Tire blowout accidents, just like other types of motor vehicle accidents, can occur almost instantaneously. For example, you may be operating your vehicle safely down the road or through a parking lot, when all of a sudden, one of the tires on your vehicle blows out, and your vehicle quickly careens out of control.
In fact, tire blowout accidents are an extremely serious problem across the United States. According to statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in just one recent year, more than 730 deaths occurred as a result of blowout accidents on United States roadways.
If you or a person you love has suffered an injury in a tire blowout accident, an experienced car accident attorney may assist. Your lawyer can examine the circumstances surrounding your accident and can help you decide on how best to proceed.
Drivers have a responsibility to ensure that they have good tires on their vehicles at all times. Consequently, if you suffered an injury in an accident that resulted from a tire blowout on another person’s vehicle, you may file a personal injury claim or lawsuit for damages against that person.
What Happens During a Tire Blowout?
Tire blowouts can be frightening, because when the blowout occurs, it may sound to the driver almost like an explosion. A tire blowout can occur when a tire on a motor vehicle endures significant pressure or takes on significant damage, causing the tire to release all of its air at the same time.
For example, a tire may blow out if it has too much air in it, or if the tire has a nail or some other sharp object lodged inside it. When a tire blowout occurs, it makes the vehicle difficult (or, in some cases, impossible) to control. In fact, no driver can operate a vehicle with a blown-out tire in a completely safe manner.
When a tire blowout occurs on a vehicle, the driver may try to apply the brakes quickly, resulting in a potential collision from behind. In other cases, the driver may jerk the steering wheel when he or she senses that one of the vehicle tires has blown out.
Also, once the blowout occurs, it can be difficult for the driver to maneuver the vehicle to the side of the road in a safe manner. If a spare tire is not available immediately, A towing service may need to tow the vehicle from the scene, so that it is out of the roadway and clear of other vehicles.
Common Causes of a Tire Blowout
There are many ways that a tire blowout can occur on a roadway. In some instances, tire blowouts result from vehicle operator/owner negligence. For example, drivers are responsible for making sure that their tires are properly inflated and that they maintain good tires on their vehicles at all times.
In other instances, however, tire blowout accidents occur because of circumstances that are beyond the driver’s control, such as dangerous road conditions and potholes.
Some of the most common causes of tire blowout accidents include:
- Underinflated tires – Drivers are responsible for making sure that their motor vehicle tires maintain the proper air pressure at all times. Therefore, they must make sure that the tires on their vehicles are not overinflated or underinflated. When a tire is underinflated according to the motor vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation, the tire poses a significant risk of blowing out due to inadequate air pressure.
- Potholes – Potholes and other dangerous road conditions are beyond the control of motor vehicle drivers and owners. When a motor vehicle strikes a pothole, especially at a high rate of speed, the tire or tires on the vehicle may sustain damage, and it may even cause a puncture in one or more of the tires. Because potholes are significant dips in the road, simply driving over them fast can cause significant tire pressure changes, which increase the likelihood that one or more of the vehicle tires will blow out. Even though running over a pothole is practically unavoidable, drivers should be sure to watch their speeds as they drive through dangerous road conditions. They should also routinely check their tire pressures to make sure that they are complying with the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation.
- Damage from a small puncture – Motor vehicle drivers and owners are responsible for checking their vehicle tires for foreign objects, such as nails, which may become lodged in the tire and may cause the tire to lose air pressure over time. Even a small puncture in the tire can cause air to leak out over time, making the tire underinflated. When that happens, the tire is at risk for blowing out at some point.
- Excessive vehicle loads – Using a motor vehicle in a normal way to transport passengers typically does not place an excessive amount of weight on the vehicle tires. In other words, merely transporting passengers is usually not going to result in a tire blowout. However, if a vehicle, such as a truck, is routinely used to transport heavy objects and materials, this may place an excessive amount of weight or pressure on the tires, causing one or more of the tires to eventually blow out. Excessive loads are usually only a problem for tires when vehicles are used to transport these loads over long distances and/or long periods of time.
- Slicing damage to a motor vehicle tire – Sometimes, a motor vehicle operator will drive his or her vehicle over a sharp object that slices into one or more of the vehicle tires. This slicing damage can cause the tire to lose a significant amount of air pressure immediately, resulting in a blowout within a few seconds. In some cases, depending upon the traffic conditions and the speed of the other vehicles, it may be impossible to avoid a sharp object in the middle of the road. If slicing damage causes a tire blowout, the vehicle driver/owner must completely replace the defective tire. It is not eligible for repair.
Steps That Drivers Can Take to Avoid a Tire Blowout
Although tires are generally sturdy and reliable, tire blowouts can and many times do occur on roadways throughout the United States. However, there are certain steps that drivers must take to try to prevent tire blowouts.
You might want to take these steps:
- Check and maintain tire pressure – Drivers should make sure that they check and maintain their tire pressure regularly. The owner’s manual in a vehicle will state the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure for both front and rear end-and tires. Drivers must do their best to keep tire pressures at these levels. When a vehicle’s tire pressure decreases, it significantly increases the chances that a blowout, and possibly an accident, will occur as a result.
- Replace tires when necessary – Drivers should also make sure that they replace their tires whenever the treads on the tires get low. Drivers have a responsibility to constantly check their tires for excess wear and tear. If one of the tires on the vehicle becomes more worn than the other tires, this may suggest a problem with the vehicle’s alignment, and it may be a signal that you need to have your mechanic rotate the tires on a more frequent basis. When tires become excessively old and worn, they pose a higher chance of blowing out and potentially causing an accident.
- Drive vehicles safely – One of the most important things that a driver can do to avoid a blowout accident is to operate his or her vehicle safely. Drivers should try and avoid potholes and other objects in the middle of the road that may potentially lead to a tire blowing out. Drivers should also watch their speeds when going over bumps and potholes and should try to avoid any unknown objects or hazards in the middle of the roadway.
- Be on the lookout for problems – Motor vehicle operators should constantly be on the lookout for problems with their tires. If they notice that they have to inflate one or more of their tires regularly, this may be a sign that there is a puncture in the tire, and that the driver needs to have someone either patch or repair the defective tire. If the driver fails to take these actions, there is a significant likelihood that a blowout may occur while driving.
- Refrain from slamming on the breaks – If a blowout occurs, a driver should refrain from slamming on the brakes at that point. Slamming on the brakes can cause the driver to lose control of his or her vehicle, potentially resulting in a collision. It is much better when the driver attempts to slow down carefully. In that instance, the driver is more likely to avoid colliding with a stationary object or another motor vehicle on the roadway.
Driver Negligence
Drivers have a responsibility to other drivers to ensure that they maintain the tires on their vehicles at all times—and that they drive safely and carefully when they are operating their vehicles on the road. When a driver fails to maintain the tires on his or her vehicle, and a blowout accident occurs, then an accident victim may file a claim or lawsuit against the negligent driver.
Similarly, if a motor vehicle passenger can demonstrate that the accident happened because the driver of his or her vehicle failed to maintain the vehicle’s tires, then the passenger may file a claim or lawsuit for damages against the driver for any injuries he or she suffered.
To succeed in a negligence claim against an at-fault driver, the injured accident victim must demonstrate that the driver behaved unreasonably under the circumstances, that an accident occurred, that the accident victim suffered one or more physical injuries, and that these injuries would not have occurred but for the accident that the negligent driver caused.
Steps You Should Take After a Tire Blowout Accident
If you or someone you love has suffered an injury in an accident that resulted from a tire blowout, there are certain steps that you should take. First, you should make sure that you remain at the scene of the accident and await the police officer’s arrival. A police officer may assess what caused the accident (including a tire blowout) and who caused the accident.
Motor vehicle accidents can result in debilitating injuries, ranging from traumatic head and brain injuries to soft tissue injuries, internal injuries (including bleeding), fractures, broken bones, and even death. Therefore, in addition to remaining at the scene, you should make sure that you receive prompt medical attention for your injuries right away. This may include following up at a hospital emergency room or urgent care facility.
Tire blowout accidents often include an explosion-like sound and a rush of adrenaline. Consequently, you may not feel the onset of your injury or injuries right away. Instead, it may take several days, or even weeks, for your injuries to manifest. It is better to be on the safe side and seek medical attention right away.
Next, you should make sure that you contact your insurance company. In cases where another motor vehicle driver’s tire blew out (resulting in your accident), having your insurance company on board can help to make the process go more smoothly.
A Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Contact an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer as soon as possible to represent you in your case. In many jurisdictions, accident victims have as little as one or two years from the date of their accident to file a claim or lawsuit against the responsible driver.
This is not very much time, and if you wait until the last minute, you may be waiving your right to recover monetary compensation for the injuries that you suffered in your accident. Therefore, the sooner you get in touch with a knowledgeable car accident attorney, the better off you will be.
A lawyer can investigate the factual circumstances leading up to the blowout accident and can determine about who was likely at fault. If you can file a claim or file a lawsuit against another driver for damages resulting from your accident, a lawyer can help you do that as well.