Tires can be a deciding factor in accidents in the United States. A recent study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration notes that there is a strong link between car accidents and tire issues. There are numerous reasons for tires being directly linked to accidents – sometimes neglect, and other times defect. But, as an integral component of a vehicle’s safety, it is important that accident victims understand the correlation between their tires and the potential for an accident in the future.
Faulty Tires on Vehicles
In 2000, Firestone Tires were placed on Ford vehicles. There were numerous accidents, despite both the tires and vehicles being new. During the recall, there was enough evidence found that indicated faulty tire design, which led to the accidents. While it was contested by the company, the case settled.
What Can Happen With Faulty Tires
There are numerous things that may occur when tires are malfunctioning. One of the more common is when the sidewall blows out. This is typically caused by a weak area in the sidewall, which causes rapid deflation of the tire and results in a blowout. The driver typically loses control when this happens. It can be especially serious if the blowout occurs on the front tires.
The cause of blowouts can vary, but sometimes they occur when the layers of rubber that make up the tire start to separate. Proving that the tire was the direct cause of the accident can be complicated, and often the manufacturers are quick to defend their product. In fact, tire manufacturers may try to blame the vehicle manufacturer, driver or another element.
Tracking the design and manufacturing of the particular tire is often a time-consuming process, but it can and should be done to determine if there is a correlation between the accident and the tires used. That is why it is imperative that accident victims seek help from a professional attorney if they feel that their accident was caused by a defect in their vehicle – including tires.
Get the Help of a Car Accident Attorney
Whether or not your tires are new, used or recently rotated, you need to prove to your insurance company that you are not to blame for your accident. Insurance companies do what they can to reduce accident settlements. An attorney can help prove that you were not at-fault; instead, it was your defective tires.
If you have had an issue with a tire blowout or separation, causing a devastating accident, you may have a case against the tire manufacturer and the company that sold the tire(s) to you. Speak with a car accident attorney right away regarding your claim.
Contact the team at Malman Law for a free, confidential and no-obligation consultation. We are available to answer your call 24 hours per day at 888-247-2160. You can also ask a question online via our contact form.
