Semi-Truck Tire Blowout Lawyer

CALL (800) 863-5312 TO SPEAK WITH SEMI-TRUCK BLOWOUT LAWYERS

It is estimated that 78,000 accidents occur every year due to unsafe tires.   In 2017, unsafe tires killed 738 people.  A truck tire blowout can happen in a second, leaving drivers unable to avoid an accident.  When a truck or tire hits your car, it can cause a serious accident and significant physical injuries and damage to your car.

The semi-truck blowout attorneys at Zinda Law Group have experience representing truck accident victims and fighting for the compensation they deserve.  Call us today at (800) 863-5312 for a free attorney consultation with an 18-wheeler blowout lawyer.

What Should I do if an 18-Wheeler’s Tires Blow out?

A tire blowout can occur expectedly.  One minute you may be driving down the highway and the next minute a tire is barreling into your windshield. Worse, a semi-truck may suddenly lose control and veer into your lane of traffic.

A tire blowout can be unexpected and dangerous for semi-truck drivers and the cars around them on the road.  There are different ways that a tire blowout should be dealt with, depending on if you are the driver of the 18-wheeler, witness the tire blowout, or are directly injured as the result of the failed tire.

How to Handle a Tire Blowout as the Semi-Truck Driver

As an 18-wheeler driver, it’s important to recognize when a tire blowout occurs.  Usually, a loud bang will accompany a tire blowout.  If a tire fails in the front, the steering wheel may feel heavy.  If the rear tire is blown, the trailer may fishtail.  No matter where a blowout occurs, it can be scary and leave truck drivers feeling out of control.

To minimize the effects of a tire blowout, it is important for the semi-truck driver to remain calm, not apply full braking, and tightly grip the steering wheel.  When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, turn on your hazards, and call for assistance.

What to Do When a Tire Blowout Happens in Front of You

Witnessing a tire blowout can shock drivers even when they are not involved in an accident. If you see a semi-truck tire blowout in front of you, be sure to give the truck plenty of room, as it may fishtail or swerve. If you’re on the highway, tapping your brakes lightly and repeatedly can alert drivers behind you to the potential danger.

After a tire blowout occurs, be sure to be cautious of shredded tires that may litter the road and cause an accident. Slowing down and giving trucks space on the road can help prevent further accidents and damage.

What If an 18-wheeler Tire Blowout Hits My Car?

A tire blowout can happen quickly and unexpectedly, making it impossible to avoid.  When a tire strikes your car, it can cause serious damage and injuries.  Right after an accident, you should take the following steps if a blowout hits your car.

1. Pull over

After a semi-truck tire blowout hits your car, pull off the road as soon as you are safely able to do so.  If a tire blowout caused a serious accident, call the police.  Ideally, after an 18-wheeler driver recognizes that they have caused an accident, they will pull off the road and the police can fill out a report with the truck driver’s contact information.  Be sure you and your passengers receive medical treatment at the scene for any serious accident injuries.

2. File a police report

Truckers may not immediately realize their tire has blown and injured you and your vehicle.  If the driver of an 18-wheeler drives off, be sure to contact the police and file a police report.  This will help document the damage that you suffered from the tire blowout.

3. Contact the trucking company

If you are not critically injured at the scene of the accident, try to obtain the trucking company’s information. If you, your passengers, or your vehicle were injured in the accident, then the trucking company should be contacted. An experienced semi-truck accident lawyer may help you call the company and notify them of the damage one of their trucks caused.

CAUSES OF TRUCK TIRE BLOWOUTS

While some tire blowouts are truly unavoidable, there are many preventative measures that truck drivers can take to prevent the chances of a tire blowing out.  There are many potential causes of truck tire blowouts, including:

Improper Tire Maintenance

When tires are not properly maintained, they are more susceptible to blowing out.  Regular wear and tear mean that tires need to be replaced regularly.  When tire treads are low or nonexistent, tires are more likely to blow out.

Road Hazards

Potholes, construction cones, and debris can all increase the likelihood of an accident.  Because semi-truck drivers need more time to slow down or swerve than cars, when trucks are forced to quickly brake or dodge an object, tires can blow out.

Tire Pressure

When tires are not correctly inflated, they may be more likely to blow out. The temperature should be considered when determining the correct tire pressure, as it can affect whether tires are underinflated or overinflated.

Truck Overloading

Semi-truck transport weight limits are intended to prevent tire blowouts and many other accidents that can occur from an overloaded truck.  When companies try to save money on transportation costs, they may overload their trucks, increasing the chances of a truck accident.

Poor Inspection

Before every trip, semi-truck drivers are required to inspect their vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration also requires that semi-trucks be inspected regularly and that records be kept documenting the inspection.  When trucks are poorly inspected or not inspected at all, defects that may lead to tire blowouts are not identified or corrected.

Improperly Installed Tires

Tires should be installed by trained mechanics.  When tires are poorly fitted and mismatched for the size of the truck, blowouts are more likely to occur.

Defective Tires

Occasionally, tires are incorrectly manufactured.  Even when tires are properly fitted and inspected, a defective tire can still blow out as a result of poor design or manufacturing.

Truck Driver Error

When drivers are unable to avoid potholes or hit a curb, a tire is more likely to be damaged and blow out.  Excessive braking can also put more strain on truck tires.  When drivers fail to notice that a tire is losing pressure and should be taken off the road, a blowout is more likely to occur.

RECOVERING FROM A TIRE BLOWOUT

After a tire blowout, you may be left with physical and emotional trauma from the effects of the accident.  You may still feel shaken and overwhelmed in the days and weeks after the accident.  The below steps outline what you should do following a tire blowout accident.

Medical Help

If you do not receive medical treatment at the scene of the accident, visit your doctor as soon as possible to determine if you need medical treatment. After you leave the hospital or doctor’s office, be sure to watch for any additional signs or symptoms that occur in the days following the accident because you can experience the effects of an accident several days after it happens.

Document Your Damage

You may have been too injured or shaken to take photos of the damage at the scene of an accident.  As soon as possible, be sure to take photos of the damage to your car and any injuries you sustained in the accident.  You should also keep track of all receipts and paperwork related to your accident.  These may include:

• Hospital and doctor bills
• Insurance coverage and payments
• Physical therapy
• Chiropractor bills
• Dental bills
• Documented time taken off from work due to any injuries
• Receipts for the repair or replacement of your car
• Receipts for a rental car while yours is being repaired

Investigation

One of the most important steps after a tire blowout will involve investigating the accident.  This may include determining the cause of the tire blowout.  The investigation could involve checking to see if a driver failed to inspect the tires before driving, determining if the truck was overloaded, and examining the history of the truck’s tire maintenance.  An experienced semi-truck accident lawyer may be able to help you conduct the many pieces involved in a tire blowout investigation.

Filing a Claim

After a tire blowout, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault party, such as the driver, the trucking company, or the tire manufacturer.  An experienced semi-truck accident lawyer may help you negotiate a settlement with the parties’ insurance company to seek compensation for your physical and emotional injuries.  If you are unable to settle, your lawyer may even take your truck accident case to trial.

OUR 18-WHEELER ACCIDENT LAWYERS MAY HELP

At Zinda Law Group, our semi-truck blowout accident attorneys have helped many victims get the compensation they deserved.  We have the knowledge and resources to help put you back on the road to physical, emotional, and financial recovery.  We fight for our clients’ right to compensation for hospital bills, car damage, pain and suffering, and much more.

We believe a truck accident victim should never have to worry about being able to afford legal representation.  That is why we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe us anything unless we win your case.

Call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our experienced tire blowout accident attorneys.

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