Every year thousands of tire brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Pirelli, and many more have been reported for defective tire recall investigations or complaints. Unfortunately, when these reports go unheard, these companies continue manufacturing and selling unsafe tires, endangering the lives of countless people on the road. You shouldn’t have to worry about the reliability of your tires when getting on the road. However, when the unthinkable happens, we are here to help you get the justice you deserve.
Defective Tires
Defective Tire Lawsuit
Defective Tire Lawsuit
FAQ
Morgan & Morgan
How Do Defective Tires Cause Accidents?
Drivers heavily rely on tires to control their cars at high speeds and avoid obstacles while on the road. However, when a tire is defective, it can cause the driver to lose control of the car, causing an accident and severely injuring the driver, passengers, and any others in the surrounding area. In the case of a defective tire, most commonly, accidents are caused due to the treads separating from the tire and/or weak points in the tire causing a blowout.
Tread Separation
Tires are designed with specific patterns of grooves that allow them to properly grip the road, making it easier for the driver on all terrains. Along with grip, the tread design also allows water to be expelled, keeping you from skidding on wet surfaces, an incident also known as hydroplaning. When the tread has not been installed properly on the wheel or the design is flawed, the driver can lose control of the vehicle.
As previously mentioned, tread separation can occur in new tires with design flaws or manufacturing defects. However, tread separation also occurs in older tires that have been retreaded. Specifically, these risks become more prevalent when there has not been enough curing time or lower quality products were used for retreading the tire. In some cases, a flat tire that has been improperly repaired can also cause tread separation.
Blowouts
Blowouts or tire rupturing can happen while the car travels at high speed. Blowouts occur when the rubber on the tire rapidly loses air pressure due to the loosening of the bond with the internal steel belting and fabric reinforcement. Like tire treading, blowouts can occur due to design defects, manufacturing defects, or even faulty or separating treading.
Who Is Liable in a Defective Tire Case?
If you have been involved in an accident or injured due to a defective tire, your case could fall under two categories: a strict liability case or a negligent one.
Strict Liability
When the driver or owner of the car is unaware of what could have caused the tire defects, it falls under strict liability. The issues presented could have started during the product design, a manufacturing problem, or somewhere down the line before the tire was sold to the buyer. In some instances, the use of lower quality products to make or repair the tires could also play a part in strict liability. Defective product liability lawsuits also allow you to file a claim without showing that any single defendant was negligent.
Negligence
However, on the other hand, if the tires were fine when they were sold to the consumer, someone else may be liable for a tire-related accident. Most commonly, those responsible in this situation could be a tire repair shop, a used tire seller, or a mechanic who worked on the tires. Depending on the incident, it is also possible that the tire blowouts have been caused by vehicle owners' negligence or by the operator's error. When overloading a vehicle or operating one with bad tires, it can cause a blowout which could cause the driver to lose control of the car, veer off the road, or lead to an accident involving other vehicles.
What Forms of Compensation Could I Receive From My Accident?
After an accident involving a defective tire, you may be able to seek damages for any losses that are associated with your accident. It is important to remember that every accident case is different, which means the amount of damages will also vary from case to case. Victims of these accidents will most commonly receive a return for their economic and non-economic damages in the form of pain and suffering, hospital bills, medical care, medication and medical supplies, future medical treatment, lost wages, and lost earning potential.
Am I Eligible for a Defective Tire Case?
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident and believe it was caused due to a defective tire, then you may be eligible for financial compensation. At Morgan & Morgan, we understand how difficult it can be to navigate the complex road of an accident lawsuit, which is why we believe hiring an experienced attorney is the best thing you can do for your case. For over 30 years, our law firm has been helping victims just like you get the justice they deserve after an accident. Please complete our free, no-obligation case evaluation form today to learn more about your accident case and how we can help you.