Truck Tire Blow Outs Cause Thousands of Wrecks
Have you ever driven down the highway, slowly passing a big rig commercial truck, and actually looked at the size? They’re called 18-wheelers because with the tractor and trailer, they have a total of 18 wheels. Each of those wheels is around 40 inches tall and weighs, without the rim, between 75 and 100 pounds.
When one of those tires blows out, and it happens thousands of times every day across the country, there’s the potential for a major wreck. According to studies by the FMCSA, there are about 8,000 truck crashes every year that involve tire failures (not specifically blowouts, but that is a leading cause). The Car Crash Captain explores what’s going on, and how you can stay safe.
Causes of Texas Truck Tire Blow Outs
Driving on Texas highways can make you especially susceptible to one of these dangerous wrecks. The extreme heat we can experience, heavy traffic, and long-haul trucking routes that crisscross the state mean there’s many more opportunities for one of these wrecks to happen.
Combine that with other factors, such as:
- Worn tires
- Overweight cargo loads
- Road hazards
- Improperly maintained tires
- Under/over inflated tires
And you end up with a recipe for a blow out that in the best-case scenario scatters shredded rubber across the road. Worst-case scenario, multiple vehicles are involved and fatalities occur.
How to Stay Safe and Avoid Truck Tire Blow Outs
A tire blow out can cause the driver to lose control. Or, the shredded tire can hit your vehicle and cause you to lose control. The best way to survive a wreck is to avoid it in the first place.
That’s not always possible, but there are some best practices that can ensure you’re as safe as possible.
Keep a Safe Distance – You never want to follow closer than 2 seconds behind another vehicle. With a rig that could blow a tire, stay back a little more.
Watch for Debris – Some highways, like 1-45 that runs Galveston, through Houston, and ends in Dallas, have heavy truck traffic and are known for blow outs.
Pass Quickly – Drive defensively. Don’t linger in blind spots, alongside trucks, and try not to pass on curves. Don’t break the law and go flying past, but don’t hang out next to a truck longer than necessary.
What Are Your Legal Rights?
If you’re injured, or a loved on is killed, in a wreck due to a truck tire blow out, you have the right to pursue justice from the negligent party.
The hard part, however, can be determining who the negligent party actually was.
The driver (or trucking company) might have been negligent if he or she failed to maintain the tires, ignored defective tires, or failed to inspect the truck properly.
The tire manufacturer might be negligent if they sold a tire that had a known defect.
The tire installation company might be negligent if they installed a tire and knew that it was faulty, but installed it without warning anyway.
That’s why you need a personal injury lawyer, like those at Herbert Law Group, to help you navigate this potential multi-party liability claim.
What Happens if You’re Hit
If you’re hit, you need to speak with us right away. The insurance companies will try to deflect, deny, or delay your claim. If you wait too long, it’s going to be harder to track down evidence that shows liability.
As soon as you can, get things started and we can pursue justice for you. All it takes is a phone call to our offices for a free conversation as we get to know you and understand what happened. Call us at 214-414-3808. Or, just fill out the contact form, and we’ll reach out to you.