Who Is Liable for Defective Tires?
Do You Need an Attorney for Defective Tires?
Today’s vehicles are built with more safety features than ever before. Unfortunately, these innovations can still fail to protect us from one of the most overlooked parts of our cars: the tires. Tires require regular inspection and maintenance, but even the newest, most trusted tires sometimes fail without warning. To protect yourself and your passengers, you must understand how tires fail and what you can do to help prevent a tire-related tragedy.
What Are Defective Tire Accident Statistics?
Defective tires are a significant contributor to road accidents, leading to numerous fatalities and injuries each year. In 2022, tire-related crashes resulted in 563 fatalities in the United States alone.
Tire blowouts, a common form of tire failure, are more likely to occur on highways and interstates, where vehicles travel at higher speeds, increasing the risk of severe accidents.
The NHTSA claims that defective tires can be related to tire problems such as blowouts or flat tires, tire or wheel deficiency, tire or wheel failure, and tire degradation. Poor tire maintenance is a leading cause of tire-related crashes, and one we can all avoid. To help protect yourself, make sure that your tires always have enough air and are rotated and balanced on a regular basis. Pay attention to the amount of tread on your tires as well. Driving with low tread increases the risk of losing traction, especially on wet or icy roads. As a general rule, tires worn down to 2/32 of an inch are unsafe to drive on. Lastly, when possible, plan your route to avoid bad roads with uneven lanes and potholes, which can increase the risk of tire failure over time.
If you or a loved one is involved in a crash caused by a defective tire, you need to seek help immediately from an attorney experienced in auto accident cases. The law firm of Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. is passionate about representing victims of defective tires, and we want to help. If you have been in an accident related to a defective tire, please call us today at (205) 322-8880. We have a dedicated team of personal injury attorneys ready to consult with you for no cost and no obligation.
