Georgia Truck Tire Blowout Accidents
Tire blowouts can happen on any vehicle, but they are especially dangerous on larger vehicles, like commercial trucks. The sheer weight and size of these vehicles can cause drivers to lose control if a tire fails, resulting in collisions with other cars and structures. Even when a truck driver is able to retain control of the vehicle, other road users could still end up involved in an accident, as tire blowouts tend to result in a lot of road debris with which other drivers could collide. Read on to learn more about tire blowouts and what to do if you are involved in this type of accident.
What Causes Tire Blowouts?
Truck tire blowouts can happen at just about anytime and for a number of reasons, but when it comes to blown truck tires, most can be attributed to one of the following:
- Overloading the truck’s trailer;
- Driving with underinflated tires, which can cause tires to overheat and eventually fail;
- Driving with overinflated tires, which makes tires more vulnerable to road defects, like potholes;
- Failing to change, patch, or otherwise properly maintain the tires;
- Driving with worn treads, which makes it a lot harder for the rubber to grip the road and weakens the stability of the tire’s structure;
- Defects in the tires themselves, such as the use of the wrong materials during manufacturing; and
- Striking a road hazard, like a pothole, which can exert excessive pressure on the tire, causing it to burst.
Most truck tire blowouts can be linked to some sort of negligence, either on the part of the trucking company, the driver, a tire manufacturer, or even the government agency responsible for road maintenance. Who is at fault for such an incident can have important repercussions for an accident victim, who could stand to recover compensation for accident-related medical bills, property damage, and lost wages from the at-fault party.
Liability for Truck Tire Blowouts
Who can be held financially responsible for a tire blowout accident depends on whose negligence caused the tire’s failure. Potentially liable parties include:
- The trucking company, as these entities are legally required to take steps to maintain their vehicles, conduct tire inspections, and repair or replace worn tires;
- The tire’s manufacturer, if the cause of the tire’s failure was the result of a problem with the materials used during production, improper design, or an issue with assembly;
- The government agency or third party company that was responsible for keeping the roads properly maintained if the blowout was the result of a road hazard, like a pothole; or
- Another driver, if his or her negligence forced the truck driver to swerve into a pothole or otherwise take evasive maneuvers that contributed to the blowout.
In many tire blowout cases, more than one party ends up being held responsible for the victim’s accident-related losses. These cases tend to be especially complex and often require the assistance of a dedicated legal representative.
Contact an Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Navigating the claims process alone can be intimidating. Fortunately, you do not have to do so on your own, so if you were involved in an accident caused by a truck tire blowout, feel free to call the experienced and compassionate Roswell truck accident attorneys at Shiver Hamilton Campbell for help with your case.
Sources:
fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/USDOT_1168_1097_TireAdvisory.pdf
11alive.com/article/news/local/marta-bus-fire-interstate-20-early-monday/85-8a7633cc-08af-43ff-99e7-8518002d4579
