Worry…at least a little.
When you drive down the highway, you may occasionally notice large pieces of rubber scattered across the road or shoulder. You do your best to avoid them, but do you know what they are?
They’re pieces of exploded tire.
Semi-trucks experience tire blowouts far more commonly than they should. Excessive wear-and-tear compromises the integrity of their tires and allows for the air inside the tire to rapidly escape through holes or imperfections. This rapid escape of air changes the pressure within the tire and causes it to literally explode from the force. This explosion, or blowout, can seriously affect the stability of the rig, forcing it into another lane, tipping the trailer over, or causing the driver to lose control—all of which can put you and your passengers in danger for a collision.
Now, if this wasn’t scary enough, blowouts aren’t solely confined to truck tires. Any tire is susceptible to damage, and damage can lead to air escaping—which in turn can lead to blowouts.
Common Causes of Tire Blowouts
The most common reasons tire blowouts occur are as a result of drivers not properly maintaining them, deformities within the tire itself, and improper road care that causes debris to compromise the structural integrity. Sadly, poor maintenance is the leading cause, which doesn’t bode well for those who seek injury compensation.
If your negligence—such as failure to maintain your tires—causes a blowout accident, you’ll be liable for damages. However, on the other hand, if another driver’s tire negligence caused the blowout that led to him colliding into you, he would be liable for damages.
To pursue a successful injury claim, you must know who was at fault and therefore you must know what exactly caused the blowout. Here are some common culprits:
- Poor maintenance. The tire’s treads, sidewalls, and body plies can only withstand so much friction before they become worn out. When proper upkeep isn’t maintained, the tire will deteriorate. Once the treads are worn down, continued friction will cause the tire to tear, allowing the air to escape and blow outward.
- Poor inflation. Overinflated tires put too much pressure on the inside of the tire—think about what happens when you overinflate a balloon. Underinflated tires cause the bottom of the wheel to spread onto the road. The more surface area of the tire that comes in contact with the road, the more friction the tire must withstand, increasing the risk of wear and tear.
- External damage. When a tire repeatedly hits potholes (or hits one big hole), or is punctured by a sharp object, the air inside the tire can rapidly escape through the newly formed tears and holes. This release can cause the tears to expand, releasing more and more air until the tire either deflates or explodes from the force.
- Pressure changes. Extreme temperature changes can cause air to expand and compress at an astonishingly fast rate. When the outside temperature is extremely hot, the air inside the tires expand and add pressure to the tire walls. This pressure can cause the tire to pop.
- Internal defects. Mistakes, miscalculations, or errors in design could potentially compromise the integrity of the tire through no fault of your own—the defect may have occurred during manufacturing. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it. Occasionally check for potential recalls of your tire brand and if you know what type of tires the other person in the accident had, do a quick search to see if his tires have known defects.
Recovering From the Explosion—Liability, Claim, and Compensation
Tire blowout accidents can be both catastrophic and complicated. The amount of damage they can inflict as well as the confusion over who was at fault can cause difficulties when pursuing a claim—after all, you can’t sue the tire for exploding. However, with the help of an experienced and determined attorney, you can avoid frustrations and pitiful settlements.
Contact our office today to set up your free consultation. We’ll waste no time or effort in investigating exactly what and who caused your collision. Once we have the facts, we’ll then discuss your recovery options and help you pursue your claim from start to finish. Contact us today and see how our fortitude can help you recover the settlement you and your family need.