When a truck’s tire blows out, serious damage can result. If you sustained an injury or other damages in a truck accident caused by a tire blowout, it is crucial that you understand who can be held liable and how you can recover compensation. Contact an experienced Rockland County truck accident lawyer for more information and legal representation today.
What is a Tire Blowout?
A tire blowout is when a tire on a motor vehicle suddenly loses air pressure, causing it to burst or explode. Because of the unexpected nature and the difficulty of driving with a popped tire, these blowouts often lead to accidents and collisions.
It can be especially dangerous when the tire of a commercial truck bursts. These vehicles can weigh 35,000 pounds when empty and up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. When a truck’s tire blows out the driver can lose control of the vehicle and cause significant damage, injury, and even death.
What Causes Tire Blowouts?
Tire blowouts can occur for a number of reasons. Below are some common causes of these accidents.
- Over or underinflated tires
- Excessive weight like overloaded trailers
- Old or worn tires
- Road conditions like potholes or debris in the street
- Defective tires
- Uneven tread
The above and more can cause or contribute to a tire blowout in a commercial truck.
Who is Liable for a Truck Accident Caused by a Tire Blowout?
For both truck and passenger vehicle drivers, it is important to understand the implications of a tire blowout in terms of liability and compensation. The individual or entity who is found responsible for an accident caused by a tire blowout will vary depending on the reason that the tire malfunctioned.
Often, truck drivers are responsible for inspecting their vehicles before getting on the road to ensure the truck is in safe operating condition. If the driver fails to conduct a full inspection and write up a report for their company and a tire blowout occurs, the driver can be held liable for any resulting damages. A victim of an accident can file a claim or lawsuit against the driver because their negligence in inspecting the vehicle directly resulted in the blowout and collision.
However, the trucking company that owns the vehicle can also face responsibility. The company is likely in charge of conducting maintenance on their vehicles. If the trucking company failed to maintain the vehicle and replace tires, especially if the truck driver reported that they were worn or defective, they can be held liable for compensating any victims.
Besides the driver and trucking company, the manufacturer could also face liability for a truck accident caused by a tire blowout if a defect or issue with their process caused the crash. If there was an issue or error in the design or manufacturing of the tire that resulted in a blowout, victims could pursue compensation through a claim or lawsuit against the manufacturer.
For more information regarding pursuing compensation after a truck accident, reach out to an experienced attorney at Mitchell J. Schroeder, P.C.
