Tire Failures & Blowouts
Legal Support & Advocacy
When Defective Tires Cause Serious Accidents
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Been injured or lost a loved one in a tire failure accident? Contact us now for a free case review. Time is critical for preserving evidence and protecting your rights.
When a tire fails at highway speeds, the results can be catastrophic. Tire blowouts, tread separations, and other tire failures cause thousands of serious accidents each year, often resulting in vehicle rollovers, loss of control, and devastating injuries. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a defective tire, you may be entitled to significant compensation from the tire manufacturer.
Did you know? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that tire-related crashes cause approximately 11,000 injuries and 200 deaths annually in the United States.
Understanding Tire Failures & Defects
Tire failures occur when a tire suddenly loses its structural integrity, causing rapid air loss, tread separation, or complete blowout. These failures can result from manufacturing defects, age, design flaws, or inadequate quality control during production. Unlike normal tire wear, defective tire failures happen unexpectedly and often catastrophically, giving drivers little to no warning.
Common types of tire defects include belt separation, sidewall failures, bead defects, and inadequate bonding between tire components. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring their tires meet strict safety standards and can withstand normal driving conditions throughout their expected lifespan.
Common Scenarios & Case Types
Highway Blowouts
High-speed tire failures on interstates and highways, often leading to loss of vehicle control, rollovers, or collisions with other vehicles or roadside barriers.
Tread Separation Events
The tire’s tread layer separates from the underlying structure, causing violent shaking, loss of steering control, and potential vehicle instability.
Sidewall Ruptures
Sudden sidewall failures that cause immediate and complete air loss, particularly dangerous when occurring on steering tires or during cornering.
New Tire Failures
Defects in recently purchased tires that fail prematurely, sometimes within days or weeks of installation, indicating manufacturing or design problems.
Recalled Tire Incidents
Accidents involving tires that were subject to safety recalls, especially when consumers were not properly notified of the recall.
Commercial Vehicle Tire Failures
Blowouts on trucks, buses, or other commercial vehicles that can cause multi-vehicle accidents due to the size and weight of these vehicles.
Types of Injuries & Damages
Tire failure accidents often result in severe injuries due to the sudden and violent nature of these incidents. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries from vehicle rollovers, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, lacerations from broken glass, and internal injuries from impact forces.
Economic losses can be substantial, including emergency medical treatment, ongoing rehabilitation, lost wages during recovery, reduced earning capacity from permanent disabilities, and the costs of adaptive equipment or home modifications for severely injured victims.
Proving Your Case
Successful tire defect cases require preserving and analyzing the failed tire, which serves as crucial physical evidence. Expert analysis can determine whether the failure resulted from a manufacturing defect, design flaw, or external factors.
Accident reconstruction experts help establish how the tire failure caused the accident and resulting injuries. Documentation of the tire’s history, including purchase records, installation details, and maintenance history, strengthens the case by showing proper use and care.
Weather conditions, road surfaces, and driving circumstances at the time of failure are important factors. Cases are stronger when the failure occurred under normal driving conditions rather than extreme circumstances that might excuse the manufacturer’s liability.
Manufacturer Responsibilities
Tire manufacturers must design products that meet federal safety standards and perform safely under normal driving conditions. They’re required to conduct extensive testing during development and maintain quality control throughout production.
When safety defects are discovered, manufacturers have legal obligations to issue recalls and notify consumers, dealers, and federal safety regulators. They must also provide replacement tires and installation costs for recalled products.
Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring adequate warnings about proper tire use, maintenance requirements, and replacement intervals. Failure to provide clear guidance about tire limitations can contribute to liability in defect cases.
Your Legal Rights & Options
Tire defect cases are typically filed under product liability law, which holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products regardless of negligence. This means you don’t have to prove the manufacturer was careless, only that the tire was defectively designed or manufactured.
Most states provide two to three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit, though some states measure this period from when the defect was discovered. Acting quickly is important to preserve evidence and meet legal deadlines.
Compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and in cases involving permanent disabilities, future medical costs and diminished earning capacity. In cases involving particularly egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim if the tire failure happened several months ago?
Yes, you may still have legal options. Statutes of limitations for product liability cases typically provide two to three years from the injury date, but preserving evidence becomes more challenging over time. Contact an attorney immediately to protect your rights.
What if I can’t find the failed tire or it was thrown away after the accident?
While having the actual tire strengthens your case significantly, experienced attorneys can often work with accident investigators, witness testimony, and other evidence to build a strong case. Photos of the tire taken at the accident scene can be particularly valuable.
Will my case be affected if I was speeding or driving aggressively when the tire failed?
Your driving behavior will be examined, but it doesn’t automatically bar recovery. If the tire failure was caused by a defect, you may still be entitled to compensation even if your driving contributed to the accident’s severity.
How long do tire defect cases typically take to resolve?
Complex product liability cases often take 18 months to several years to reach resolution. Factors affecting timeline include the strength of available evidence, the manufacturer’s willingness to negotiate, and court scheduling. Many cases settle before trial.
Can I join a class action lawsuit for defective tires?
Class actions are more common for economic losses, like tire replacement costs. Personal injury cases typically require individual lawsuits because each person’s injuries and damages are unique. Your attorney can advise which approach best serves your interests.
What if the tire was several years old when it failed?
Tires generally have a safe life of 6-10 years from the date of manufacture, after which time the rubber can break down causing catastrophic tire failures. If you have recently purchased a used car and had a tire catastrophically fail, the age of the tire may be a substantial factor in its failure and you may have a case against the seller of the used car or used tire.
Why Choose Our Firm for Your Tire Defect Case
Our attorneys have extensive experience handling complex product liability cases against major tire manufacturers. We understand the technical aspects of tire design and manufacturing, and we work with leading experts in accident reconstruction and tire engineering to build the strongest possible cases for our clients.
We have the resources to take on large corporations and their legal teams. Our track record includes significant settlements and verdicts in tire defect cases, and we’re prepared to take your case to trial if necessary to achieve fair compensation.
Most importantly, we understand the devastating impact these accidents have on victims and families. We handle every aspect of your case so you can focus on recovery while we fight for the compensation you deserve.
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If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a tire failure, time is critical for preserving evidence and protecting your legal rights. Contact us immediately for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your options.
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