Truck Accidents Due to Tire Blowouts: What You Should Know

March 5, 2024

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 200 people each year lose their lives in crashes involving truck tire blowouts. These truck accidents have a high fatality rate. You may be entitled to significant financial compensation if you or a loved one have been injured in a truck tire blowout accident. An experienced attorney can investigate the accident and determine who you may be able to sue.

Why Are Truck Tire Blowouts Dangerous?

Tire blowouts are extremely dangerous. The most immediate danger is that the truck driver will lose control of their vehicle. Then, they can hit other cars or tip over onto the roadway. Tire blowout accidents often occur at high speeds, and passenger car drivers cannot anticipate or avoid the truck. When the truck driver loses control, it may cause a chain reaction in the area as other drivers are caught up in the crash. In addition, tire blowout accidents may also cause debris to fly onto the road and strike other cars.

Truck tire blowout accidents can also cause cargo to spill onto the roadway, raising the risk of accidents in the vicinity. The situation can be hazardous when the truck carries hazardous cargo, such as gasoline or chemicals.

What Causes Tire Blowouts?

The trucking company must properly maintain their trucks and only allow them when in roadworthy condition. It is essential to make sure that the tires are in safe condition. However, truck tires can cost up to $1,000 each, and many trucking companies do not want to spend the money to replace them when necessary. They try to make more money by cutting back on maintenance, and tires are one of the first things this corner-cutting shows.

Truck drivers are legally obligated to inspect their trucks at the beginning of a shift. They should always check the tires to see if they are properly inflated, as this is the cause of many tire blowout accidents. Some truck drivers head out onto the road without inspecting their trucks or doing a rush job so they can begin their shift.

A tire blowout does not always have to lead to a truck accident. In some cases, the truck driver can take immediate steps to avoid the accident and get their truck safely to the side of the road. However, not all drivers have the skill and experience to react calmly and promptly under extreme pressure. Many will panic and oversteer, increasing the chances of an accident.

Lawsuits for Truck Tire Blowout Accidents

The tire itself may also cause tire blowouts. Tire manufacturers have been known to produce defective batches of tires occasionally. Even if the trucking company correctly maintains its trucks, there may be nothing it can do to prevent an accident.

In that case, you would file a product liability lawsuit against the company that manufactured the truck or the tire. You would need to prove the tire was defective for the defendant to be held strictly liable for your damages. Product liability lawsuits can lead to large jury awards or settlements.

Get Legal Help From a Baltimore Truck Accident Lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton

If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a commercial vehicle, reach out to a Baltimore truck accident lawyer at LeViness, Tolzman & Hamilton today. We can help you maximize the value of your claim. Call us at 800-547-4LAW (4529) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

We have offices in Baltimore, Glen Burnie, Lanham, and Owings Mills, allowing us to represent clients in Maryland, including those in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Maryland’s Western Counties, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Southern Maryland, and the Eastern Shore, as well as the communities of Catonsville, Essex, Halethorpe, Middle River, Rosedale, Gwynn Oak, Brooklandville, Dundalk, Pikesville, Nottingham, Windsor Mill, Lutherville, Timonium, Sparrows Point, Ridgewood, and Elkridge.