“Tire blowout” describes the sudden bursting and deflating of a vehicle’s tire while driving. Truck tire blowouts occur without warning, creating an immediate hazard for every driver on the road. When a truck’s tire bursts, the truck driver often loses control of the vehicle, sometimes sending 80,000+ pounds of force into the next lane.
This much force can cause serious damage to you and your vehicle, but you have so little time to avoid it. This combination of extreme damage and minimum warning makes truck tire blowouts one of the most serious types of accidents.
Though these accidents are difficult to avoid, there are a few warning signs. If you’re driving beside a semi-truck and notice its tires are worn down, or that it is vibrating intensely, be sure to keep your vehicle at a safe distance.
Common Causes of Truck Tire Blowouts
A truck tire blowout can happen for several reasons. Some are caused by human error, and others are mostly out of our hands. Let’s look at some typical culprits behind a truck tire blowout accident.
Driver Negligence
It’s a truck driver’s responsibility to care for their vehicle. Negligent drivers will often make the following mistakes:
Allow their tires to be overinflated or fail to address underinflated tires.
Fail to regularly inspect their tires.
Ignore worn-out or mismatched tires. Mismatched tires may be of different sizes, brands, and conditions.
Manufacturing Defects
Sometimes, a truck or its parts may have been poorly constructed. This means that a truck may be driving with lower-than-expected safety standards.
Defective trucks and tires are a hazard for other drivers, leaving manufacturers liable for any injury or property damage caused. But if a manufacturer issues a recall and a truck driver or trucking company fails to respond to this recall, liability may still fall on the driver or company.
Overloading & Improper Cargo Distribution
Tires come with a specified weight limit. If a semi-truck is loaded beyond this weight, there is a greater threat of a truck tire explosion. If a certain area of the semi-truck is overloaded, there will be increased pressure on the tires below that area, leading to a truck tire blowout.
Heat & Weather Conditions
Summer is the most common season for truck tire blowouts. There’s a reason behind this: as temperatures rise in the air and the road’s asphalt, the air inside tires expands. If a tire is already overinflated, this expansion can easily lead to a blowout.
Winter also brings some tire woes. Extreme cold can make tires hard and prone to cracking. Thankfully, this isn’t too much of a problem in California.
Road Hazards
Sometimes, there’s no avoiding a poorly maintained road. Potholes, debris, sharp objects, and broken-down vehicles can cause chaos at a moment’s notice, leaving everyone on the road at an increased risk of accidents. If you couple road hazards with another common cause of truck tire explosions, such as overloading, catastrophic damage can occur.
Types of Accidents Caused by Truck Tire Blowouts
Truck tire blowouts cause various types of accidents, each having different legal repercussions. Here are some to look out for:
Rollover accidents: A truck rolls onto its side or is flipped over, causing other drivers to be injured.
Falling cargo accidents: Debris and/or cargo fall off a truck, causing additional accidents or injury.
Rear-end collisions: A truck loses control and crashes into another vehicle from behind.
Head-on collisions: The front of a truck and another vehicle collide.
Legal Liability in Truck Tire Blowout Accidents
Legal liability can become murky in truck tire blowouts. Multiple parties can be held responsible for your injuries, and an at-fault party is sometimes an entity you wouldn’t expect, like a government agency or road commission.
Common at-fault parties include the truck driver, the trucking company, the truck manufacturer, and cargo loaders. Determining who is responsible hinges on the facts of the accident, which is usually determined by witness testimony, forensic evidence, and accident reconstruction.
For example, if an imbalanced cargo load was the main cause, the cargo loaders could be at fault. If the truck was manufactured with a serious defect, the manufacturer could be at fault. If the truck driver was neglecting their tires, then they may be at fault. The list goes on. Legal liability can be tough to determine at first glance, but with an experienced truck accident attorney by your side, you’ll understand who to file a claim or lawsuit against.
How to Stay Safe and Prevent Truck Tire Blowouts
There are several ways for truck drivers to be responsible and prevent a truck tire blowout. It mostly comes down to performing the proper maintenance duties and paying attention while on the road. Truck drivers don’t intend to cause harm. Most of them are extraordinarily safe drivers and are doing their part to keep America running. A responsible driver will practice the following:
Performs daily tire inspections
Maintains proper tire pressure
Avoids overloading and speeding
Watches for road hazards
What to Do if You’re Involved in a Truck Tire Blowout Accident
If you find yourself near a truck tire explosion, you need to think on your feet. This may be tough to do at the moment, so it’s important to stay prepared. Keep the following items in mind when witnessing a truck tire blowout:
Stay calm and maintain control
Slow down and pull over safely
Avoid panic braking
Keep your distance and steer clear
These are great practices when witnessing any type of accident. By taking the above actions, you can avoid serious injury or damage to your vehicle.
Seeking Legal Recourse After a Truck Tire Blowout Accident
If you’ve been injured after a truck tire blowout accident, you have rights. The attorneys at Compass Law Group can help you identify these rights and pursue fair compensation.
Safety should be your first concern after an accident. If you have been injured, be sure you receive proper medical care from an on-site responder. If you are physically safe, you will want to preserve evidence from the crash site. If safe and possible, take photos of vehicle damage and the exploded tire. Then, check if witnesses can provide testimony of the accident.
When police arrive, you will want to make sure they file a report. Give them the facts, but DO NOT admit fault. Admitting fault can compromise the strength of your case and reduce compensation for your injuries and property damage. You will also want to contact your insurance company and describe the situation. Again, DO NOT admit fault.
After leaving the crash site, you should seek proper medical care from a hospital or urgent care facility. Be sure to save copies of the medical expenses, as these can be used as evidence when filing a claim. These expenses will be reimbursed if your claim is successful.
A personal injury attorney can help you file a strong claim after a tire blowout accident, informing you of your eligible compensation and determining the best strategies for landing a fair settlement. If your insurance company fails to offer proper compensation, we can help you in the courtroom, fighting to protect your rights and earn you maximum reward.
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Protect Yourself After a Truck Tire Blowout — Contact Compass Law Group for Help
Poor maintenance, hazardous road conditions, and manufacturer error can lead to life-changing disasters on the road. If you find yourself at the mercy of a truck tire blowout, you deserve to be protected and compensated. This is where Compass Law Group comes in.
Our expert attorneys know what it’s like to be in a tough accident. You need to be heard. You need to be understood. The legal process can seem like a complex maze, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You deserve some time to focus on recovery, so we’ll do the heavy lifting.
Our nationally recognized staff can guide you through the ins and outs of making a claim or filing a lawsuit, and we can collect all the necessary information for making a watertight argument. Everyone deserves expert, honest, helpful legal representation. At Compass Law Group, we make sure proper representation isn’t just a luxury. It’s for everyone.
With Joseph Shirazi and Simon Esfandi at the helm, our firm is a trusted name in accident law in California.
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After 10 accidents and 9 attorneys, the client met Simon, who stood out for his honesty and clear communication. Years later, after another accident, the client called Simon and was impressed by his professionalism and follow-through. Simon explained everything, connected him with top doctors, and kept every promise. It was the first time the client felt truly supported—highly recommending Simon and Joseph for their integrity and dedication.
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Jacob was rear-ended by a big rig and left nearly paralyzed for a year. He found Cooper Law Group, and Joseph and Simon personally helped him through the legal process. Over two years, they ensured he got the medical care and surgeries he needed, helped repair his car, and secured the compensation he deserved. He highly recommends them for truly fighting for their clients.
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