As simple as it may seem to some automobile owners, defective tires are one of the major reasons for devastating driving-related accidents. If you get involved in an accident that you think was caused by a defective tire, you need a personal injury lawyer who has experience with defective tire cases.
Defective tires not only risk injuring yourself or the passengers in the automobile, but also bystanders and other vehicles along the road. The problem with such instances is that often victims of crashes caused by tire failure often do not know their legal options related to the failed tire.
If you believe that someone must be held accountable for your defective tires and the injuries and damages you received, feel free to contact Fitts Law Firm and their experienced injury lawyers in Houston, TX to explore your options.
What are Defective Tires or Tire Defects?
Defective Tires are one of the most common causes of vehicle-related accidents in the United States, about 35% ofthe overall annual count according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Tire defects are mostly caused by various factors, which may include the following, but not limited to:
- Damage caused by the tire manufacturing or creation process
- Poorly performed puncture repair
- Deceivingly new-looking tires that are used or too old that have dryrotted
- Incomplete design features (i.e.: faulty separation prevention design)
- Production defects
- Unsuccessful or low-quality retreading
- Tread separation
Most of these factors that cause defective tires-related accidents, such as the production defects, are accountable to the manufacturer themselves. The reasons behind these may include:
- Poor quality control
- Use of substandard materials
- Human errord
- Poor storage of rubber components
- Air and water trapped inside the tires during the production
- Misalignment of steel belts during assembly
As a driver or a purchasing a tire, it is reasonable to expect the tire to perform as designed so long as it is used for it intended purpose. It hard for a driver or a consumer to know that a tire could be defective once it has been placed into commerce (you have purchased the tire).
Defective Tires — Major Cause of Loss of Control and Tire Blowouts
Defects can have catastrophic consequences to causing accidents due to the inability to control the vehicle. The most common result is tire blowout— which also carries with it its own extremely dangerous risks.
In the event of a tire blowout while on the road, utilize these tricks to safely reach get your vehicle under control and safely stopped:
- Firmly place both hands on the steering wheel
- Attempt to keep your speed constant
- Gradually release pressure from the accelerator pedal
- Gently correct your steering to stabilize the car.
- Once the vehicle is back under control, continue slowing down until it is safe for you to pull off of the road.
To avoid a disaster, resist the urge to overreact or oversteer. Don’t hit the brakes harshly or hastily remove your foot from the accelerator — these reactions may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.React thoughtfully in order to stay safe!
Who is responsible in Defective Tire cases?
To recover damage for a case involving an inadequate or defective tire, you must show that the tire was defective and directly or indirectly caused harm to you personally. Often an expert is required to testify how a tire was defective and that the tire in the accident was actually defective.You are entitled to reimbursement for all physical, economic, and emotional damages incurred as a result of this incident.
Who is to blame in your particular case depends on the specifics of what went wrong.
- If a manufacturing defect was present, then you may be able to hold the tire manufacturer liable.
- If they were original equipment tires for the car itself and the tires were incorrectly specified for the car: then you can seek damages from the vehicle producer instead.
- If the tires were old or used, then you could seek compensation from whichever store sold you expired and unsuitable “new” tires – as this would mean shoddy retail practices are afoot!
- Lastly, another viable option might include suing whoever last worked on or serviced your tires — should there have been some issue with repair/installation of them too.
A highly experienced personal injury lawyer in Houston, TX can help you with this situation and assist you on investigating your case and determine all accountable individuals or parties.
A list of recent tire recalls:
- Cooper Tire and Rubber – Big O – Big Foot A/S
- Bridgestone – M854, M860A, M864, V-Steel Highway Service, V-Steel Snow Wedge
- Canadian Tire – Motomaster Total Terrain A/T3
- Continental – Conti Coach HA3, Conti Coach HS3, Contiprocontact, and ContiScoot, CROSSCONTACT LX SPORT, CROSSCONTACT LX20 ECOPLUS+, PROCONTACT GX, PROCONTACT TX
- Cooper – Adventurer H/T CUV, CS5 Grand Touring, Discoverer AT3, Discoverer AT3 4S, Discoverer AT3 S4, Discoverer HTP, Discoverer SRX, Evolution H/T
- Discount Tire – Discoverer ATP
- General Tire – ALTIMAX RT43, GRABBER A/TX, GRABBER AT2, Grabber HD, GRABBER HTS60, GRABBER HTS, Reliatrek, Reliatrek HT
- Goodyear – Fortera HL, G159
- Hercules – Hercules Terra Trac A/T II, Roadtour 455 Sport
- Kelly – KDM I
- Les Schwab – Back Country QS3 Touring, Back Country QS3 All Terrian
- Mastercraft – Courser AXT
- Mickey Thompson – Deegan 38 All terrain
- Pep Boys – Cooper Adventurer A/T
- Roadmaster – RM852 Em
- Starfire – Solarus AS
- TBC – Multi-Mile Wild Country ATX Sport 4S
- TBC/Big O – Big O/AT/T Bigfoot
- TBC/Tire Kingdom – Cooper Discoverer RTX
- Toyo – Proxes A27
- Yokohama – 108R, 109L, 709ZL, 712L, 715R, BluEarth 109L, LY053, RY023, RY617, TY517MC2, TY527
Tire Maintenance that can prevent tire blowouts
Negligence of tire maintenance can be just as deadly as having a defective set. Keep your family safe and sound by following these simple yet essential tips for proper tire care:
- Practice Proper Tire Inflation. For optimal fuel efficiency, be sure to check your tire pressure monthly and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for inflation. Amazingly, this simple task can save you up to 11 cents per gallon on gas!
- Ensure The Tire Tread is Intact. Consistently evaluating your tire tread is an essential part of proper car maintenance. Treadwear indicators are conveniently placed on the tires, or you can use a simple penny trick to determine when the treads have worn down and need replacing. Keep a close eye on your tyre wear each month when examining air pressure! You can also try the Lincoln penny trick for more efficiency.
- Tire Maintenance. To maximize the life of your tires and ensure a smooth ride, have them balanced by a certified technician alongside getting an alignment performed. Fittingly, new tires should be balanced as soon as they are installed.
- Interchange Tires with One Another. Stay up-to-date with your car manufacturer’s tire rotation guidelines. Certain vehicles may not even require this maintenance at all!
If you wish to educate yourself more about possible legal actions with potential accidents that may involve defective tires, try to visit the US Department of Transportation’s NHTSA.
Defective tire-related accidents can be an incredibly terrifying and disheartening experience. If you find yourself involved in one, make sure to contact an accomplished personal injury lawyer in Houston, TX through Fitts Law Firm.
Call Today 1-800-99-FITTS.
