Truck Accidents - Tire Blowout Accidents

WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA

Sudden tire failure can mean losing control of the vehicle and even a rollover. Defective tires or tires which are not adequate for the vehicle on which they are installed, can blow out with no warning and after very little mileage, even though they appear to be new and in good condition.

Tread separation
Tread separation is a very common cause of blowouts in tires which appear to be in good condition. In steel belted radials, the rubber and the steel must be bonded together. Failure in this bond allows the tire to come apart. Tread separation occurs most often at high speeds and in hot temperatures.

Firestone ATX and Wilderness tires, used primarily in Ford SUV’s, were recalled in August, 2000, due to problems with tread separation, and other brands, used primarily on SUVs, RVs, and large passenger vans have been recalled for the same defect.

Rotten spares
Tires age and degrade over time even when they are not in use. Spare tires, which look perfectly fine, but are several years old, can fail with just a few days of use. Heat and sunlight slowly harden the rubber and the steel inside of the tire can corrode. When tires are replaced, the spare is often skipped, and when put into use in an emergency may be much older than the other tires on the vehicle. Drivers cannot tell how old their tires are because, in the United States, manufacturing dates on tires are printed in a code which the average consumer does not understand.

Wrong tires for the vehicle
Tires are rated for the weights and speeds that they can safely handle. A perfectly good tire placed on a vehicle which is too heavy can easily blowout. Tire and vehicle manufacturers, as well as dealerships and repair shops, have a responsibility to match the proper tires to the proper vehicles.

From about 1995 or 1996 though 2004, large RVs were fitted with the Goodyear G159 275/70 22.5 tire. Goodyear recommended this tire for large RVs even though it was not designed or tested for use in them. It was designed for use in lighter vehicles.

Under inflated tires
Tires which are under inflated can flex and have a blowout. Low pressure inside the tire can also cause it to heat up, making hot weather driving and under inflation a deadly combination.

Blowouts can cause a vehicle to go out of control, causing an accident, or they can act as a tripping mechanism, causing the vehicle to rollover. Blowouts on any type of vehicle are dangerous, but pose an even greater danger on vehicle with a high center of gravity, such as SUVs, pick-up, and large passenger vans.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a tire blowout truck accident in Maryland, Virginia or Washington DC, please email or call our committed truck accident lawyers today. We are focused on obtaining justice for you - the victim.

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