The Most Common Causes of Truck Tire Blowouts

Any kind of truck accident can have devastating consequences for other drivers, especially those in smaller vehicles. Unfortunately, Truck tire blowouts are a common event, and because they’re unexpected, they can cause the truck driver to panic and react improperly, making the incident even more dangerous. Tire blowouts can be very loud, and seeing one suddenly veering out of control can also cause the drivers of other vehicles to panic, leading them into a collision. Read on to learn what causes these catastrophic situations.

What Causes Truck Tire Blowouts?

There are many reasons a truck tire blows out.

– Defective tires. This falls into the category of not necessarily being the trucker’s or trucking company’s fault. The tires may have come from the manufacturer with defects that make them unsafe. Then the responsibility would likely belong to the manufacturer. However, if the manufacturer issued a recall for safety reasons and the driver or trucking company ignored it, they may have responsibility too.

– Wrong tires. If the truck has the wrong size of tires or mismatched tires, that can put additional strain on the tires, which leads to blowouts. Either the driver or the trucking company’s maintenance department may be liable for not ensuring the truck had the proper tires.

– Driver negligence. This involves the driver not keeping the tires properly inflated (tired can either be under- or over-inflated) or not noticing when the tires are becoming dangerously worn out.

– Improperly loaded cargo. Trucks have weight limits by state law. If their truck is overloaded, that puts additional pressure on the tires, which can then blow out.

– Brake problems. Brakes that are worn out are involved in tire blowouts. Frequent use of brakes can cause the tire’s tread to wear down, leading to tire failure.

– Weather. All bad weather can have an impact on tires, especially in the overuse of brakes, as discussed above. One condition that’s especially bad for tires is high heat, which makes summer driving more dangerous.

– Potholes or uneven pavement. Slamming through a pothole or across uneven pavement can cause a tire to blow out. While sometimes it’s difficult to see a pothole coming, an experienced driver should know to look for them and how to avoid them. A truck can even go over a pothole without experiencing a problem, but the pothole can damage the tires enough that they blow out later down the road.

What Types of Accidents to Tire Blowouts Cause?

Given that tire blowouts are unexpected and can happen when trucks are traveling at freeway speeds, it’s not surprising that these mammoth vehicles can cause considerable damage. There are a variety of accidents that are associated with tire blowouts.

– Head-on collision. This happens when the front end of the truck collides with the front end of another vehicle. This can have a significant impact on the driver and front passenger in the other vehicle.

– Read-end collision. This happens when a truck runs into the back of another vehicle. It can impact all people in the other vehicle, especially if the truck driver is at high speeds.

– Rollover. This occurs when a truck either tips over on its side or even turns all the way upside down. If other vehicles are in the path of the rollover, or if other vehicles can’t stop in time to avoid hitting the rollover, there can be considerable damage.

-Cargo displacement. A truck’s cargo can become dislodged in any of the above scenarios. If it hits another vehicle, it can cause considerable damage, especially if it hits the front windshield.

How Does Texas View Comparative Negligence?

Different states use different types of comparative negligence when assessing liability in accidents. Some states say that if the injured person is even 1% at fault, they can’t receive damages. A few others say that if the victim is 99% at fault, they can receive 1% of the damages awarded to them.

Texas, like most of the U.S., uses what’s known as the modified comparative negligence approach. That says that if the injured person is 51% or more at fault for the accident, they’re not eligible for damages. That often leads to a contentious legal situation where the person or company which was asked to pay damages to the injured person sees value in redirecting as much blame as possible to the victim–another reason to work with an experienced truck accident attorney.

What Should I Do if I Was Injured by a Truck Because its Tire Blew Out?

It’s vital that you see a doctor as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. There are many injuries, including serious ones, that don’t always exhibit symptoms immediately. Left untreated, those injuries can worsen and even become life-threatening.

Then call DB Law 24/7 at 346-818-3311 to set up a free nationwide case review. If the truck’s tires blew out, there are numerous potential causes (as discussed above). It’s likely that the truck driver or trucking company will want to paint a picture of an accident no one could have predicted when it’s possible that they may have considerable liability for your injuries. Working with our experienced, knowledgeable truck accident attorneys can help uncover the truth.

However, it’s also crucial that you don’t communicate in any way with the insurance representative or attorney hired by the trucker or trucking company or anyone in management for the company. Because Texas uses the 51% modified comparative negligence law, they’ll try to convince you the accident was at least 51% your fault or that you should accept a low settlement. Forward any communications to your attorney.