tire defects can lead to auto accidents

How Tire Defects Can Contribute to Auto Accidents

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Long drives on open roads are liberating, and most people will tell you that they help relax you and clear your mind. And while drivers generally trust their cars to get them safely to their destinations, unsuspected defects in a vehicle’s critical components can sometimes turn into major hazards. 

One such important component, the tire, is in constant contact with the road surface, and any defect has the potential to cause an accident. While a tire defect may not always be clearly evident, every accident that results in severe injuries or fatalities needs to be scrutinized for tire defects.

If a motor vehicle accident occurs due to defective tires and leaves behind victims with injuries and other damages, the driver can be held liable if found negligent in taking care of their tires.

What Are the Common Tire Defects?

While there can be multiple reasons for tire defects, in most cases the fault lies with either the manufacturing or the design process. Tire manufacturing facilities, trying to maximize production on their overworked assembly lines, can sometimes churn out defective products that might prove fatal for some unfortunate road uses.

Even when tires do not display any obvious signs of a defect, they can be a hazard, based on their condition and age. Some of the most typical tire defects are:

  • Tread defects: uneven tread, tread separation, retread failure
  • Sidewall defects: cracks or cuts, bulges or blisters, blowouts
  • Manufacturing defects: no separation prevention features, trapped internal air pockets
  • End-use defects: mounted on the wrong vehicle type, damaged during mounting

Accidents Caused by Tire Defects

It is very important to keep a check on the quality of your motor vehicle’s critical running components, especially the tires. Driving with defective tires can result in many types of accidents.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data shows that the United States roadways see at least 11,000 crashes every year that can be related to tire defects. Even a minor tire defect, if left unchecked, can result in a serious mishap resulting in severe injuries or even fatalities.

Tire blowouts, explosions, belt and tread separations, and other such defects can cause a serious motor vehicle accident. Below are some common types of accidents due to defective motor vehicle tires:

Loss of Control

It is not uncommon for motorists to lose control of their vehicles when a defective tire explodes or blows out unexpectedly, causing the vehicle to skid, spin, swerve, or even roll over.

Rollovers

A vehicle may roll onto its roof or side in a rollover accident. NHTSA figures show that rollovers have the highest rate of fatalities as compared to any other type of vehicle accident. Tire defects and failures are a leading cause of terrible rollover crashes that result in grievous, and sometimes fatal, injuries.

Running off the Road

A tire defect may cause a vehicle to completely run off the road or sometimes into the direct paths of vehicles in an opposite lane, leading to devastating head-on collisions. Though these may not be as common, head-on collisions can prove to be potentially deadly because of the high speeds at which the involved vehicles might be traveling.

Typical Injuries in Accidents Caused by Defective Tires

As we have stated above, defective tires can lead to catastrophic accidents causing severe injuries and even death. These are some common injuries in accidents caused due to tire defects:

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
  • Spinal cord and back injuries
  • Whiplash and neck injuries
  • Internal bleeding
  • Broken bones
  • Lacerations
  • Paralysis
  • Amputations
  • Wrongful death

Consult an Experienced Mississippi Personal Injury Attorney

Victims of motor vehicle accidents involving a defective tire often may not know who to hold responsible for their grievous injuries and other damages. Is the driver of the other vehicle more negligent for not being diligent about checking their vehicle’s tires? Or should the parties that designed or manufactured the defective tire be held liable for their negligence or wrongdoing? 

At Gardner Law Firm, our attorneys work with injured clients, collecting evidence and pursuing liable drivers and other negligent parties to secure the compensation required to cover medical bills and lost income and compensation for your pain and suffering.

Our compassionate and seasoned lawyers will fight aggressively to help you recover the maximum possible compensation you deserve while letting you focus completely on recovering from your injuries and trauma.

If you or someone you know has been in an accident due to a defective tire, contact us today for a free consultation. The attorneys at Gardner Law Firm will assess your case and help you receive fair compensation for your injuries and losses.

Learn more about the legal options available to you through a complimentary, no-obligation case review with our skilled accident attorneys today. To schedule a consultation, call today at 228-900-9618 or contact us online.