While traveling on the road, imagine you hear a loud, gunshot-like sound before you see cars and trucks swerving in front of you. This is what a truck tire blowout may involve, ultimately injuring the truck driver as well as dozens of others on the road.
A singular tire blowout can be the cause of a devastating multi-vehicle collision on the road. If you are ever in this situation, knowing who may be liable for the blowout is crucial to obtaining fair compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
Causes and Dangers of Tire Blowouts
A blowout occurs when a tire bursts or ruptures, typically while the truck is traveling at high speeds. While a tire blowout can be devastating for any driver, it can be even more dangerous for big trucks due to the large size of these vehicles and their potentially hazardous cargo. Blowouts tend to occur most frequently during the warm summer months, which also coincide with trucks driving far distances with extremely heavy loads.
Such situations can cause debris to be strewn across the road or even the truck to roll over and jackknife across the highway. Some of the most common causes of truck tire blowouts include:
- Defective tires
- Overloaded or heavyweight trailers
- Debris in the road
- Road conditions, such as potholes
- Underinflation
- Inadequate maintenance
Determining Potential Liable Parties
While you may automatically assume that the truck driver is at fault for a tire blowout, this is not always the case. In fact, there are several potential parties that could be found to have acted with negligence and are liable for a blowout-related truck crash. Some of these parties include:
- The Truck Driver. Truck drivers should frequently check tire inflation, tread depth, and other signs of wear and tear. Failure to do so could be considered negligence.
- The Trucking Company. It may be shown that a truck driver addressed tire issues, but the trucking company chose to forgo any maintenance in order to save money and prevent the driver from missing any time-sensitive deadlines.
- Tire Manufacturer. The manufacturer of the tire may be found liable for a blowout due to product liability if a defective design or manufacturing defect caused a product to be made that was unsafe.
- Maintenance Company. Trucking companies often hire third-party maintenance companies to inspect their trucks and perform repairs. If the maintenance company failed to perform its duty, this company could face liability.
Advocating for Victims of Truck Accidents
Never attempt to handle your own truck accident case alone, especially when you don’t have to. These cases are oftentimes complex and require the skills and experience of a seasoned truck accident attorney. At The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC, our team is committed to advocating for those injured due to no fault of their own. You have our word we will do everything in our power to secure you the compensation and justice you deserve.
Contact our San Antonio truck accident attorneys at (210) 807-3178 to schedule a free case review. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to take your call.