A tire blowout can be a terrifying experience for any driver. When a tire fails due to a rapid loss of pressure or tread separation at higher speeds, the driver may lose control of the vehicle, causing an accident and injuries. If you were hurt in a tire blowout accident, a Las Vegas car accident lawyer might be able to help you pursue compensation for the losses you have suffered.
At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we believe that you deserve What’s Right. That means having an experienced car accident attorney who stands by your side as you recover from your injuries and seek compensation to pay your medical costs and other related expenses. We get to know you on a first-name basis, make sure we understand your needs, and pursue the results you deserve.
After you have been injured in a car accident that resulted from a tire blowout, turn to Sam & Ash Injury Law for a free, no-obligation case review in Las Vegas. We look forward to meeting you and finding out how we can help.
Tire Blowout Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are roughly 11,000 tire-related traffic collisions resulting in about 600 deaths every year in the United States. The NHTSA estimates that Americans put about 3.24 trillion miles of wear and tear on their tires annually.
Worn tires are more prone to blowouts. High road surface temperature during hot weather months in Nevada quickens the aging process of the chemical compounds in tire rubber. Tire treads are more likely to separate when exposed to high temperatures, leading to a blowout. Tread separation is especially common with steel-belted radial tires.
Manufacturing and design defects can lead to tire failure. Unfortunately, many automotive tires that manufacturers have recalled remain on the road because the vehicle owner did not get a notice of the recall.
The National Transportation Safety Board has said the system for recalling defective tires needs to be overhauled. Investigators with the NTSB found that only one in five defective tires is taken off the road through a recall and more than half of unsafe tires remain on the road.
When tires from independent dealers aren’t properly registered, manufacturers have no way to contact consumers when tires are recalled. This is another source of defective tires that remain on the road.
Common Causes of Tire Blowouts
The most common cause of tire blowouts is underinflation, which subjects the tire rubber to excessive flexing. This leads to overheating, tread separation, and blowouts. Some of the other common tire blowout causes include:
- Old and worn tires
- Defective design or manufacturing of the tires
- Road damage, including potholes or broken pavement
- Hitting sharp objects
- Putting too much weight on the tires
- Mechanical problems relating to worn suspension, wheel bearings, or axles
The results of a tire blowout accident can be devastating regardless of the cause. It’s important to contact a Las Vegas car accident lawyer right away if you’ve been involved in a tire blowout accident in Nevada. An attorney can investigate the causes of your accident and determine who was at fault.
Is a Tire Blowout an At-fault Accident in Las Vegas?
In some cases, a motor vehicle accident caused by tire failure may be considered an at-fault accident. This typically occurs when a lack of maintenance or a manufacturing defect causes the blowout.
Drivers should regularly inspect their vehicles, including checking their tire pressure and tire treads for signs of wear. It’s important to replace tires that have become worn or damaged. If a driver hasn’t maintained their tires and is driving on dangerously worn tires, the driver may be held liable for a tire blowout accident in Nevada.
Tire manufacturers have a legal duty to make products that are safe and free of defects and to provide adequate warning of any known defects.
Who Is Liable?
The liability for a tire blowout accident will depend on the circumstances of the accident. Liable parties may include the following:
- The owner of the vehicle that had the blowout, if the accident was caused by a failure to properly maintain the car and its tires, or by the driver’s unsafe driving
- The tire manufacturer, if the crash was due to design or manufacturing defects that caused a tire to fail
- The vehicle’s manufacturer, if the tire blowout was attributed to a design or manufacturing defect of the vehicle itself which caused excessive stress on tires
- A tire or auto shop, if they installed old or damaged tires on a customer’s vehicle or failed to perform agreed-upon tire maintenance services such as rotation or balancing
- Road work crews, if they left hazardous objects or debris on the roadway that punctured the tires and caused a blowout.
- Local and state governments, if they failed to repair hazardous road conditions like potholes
What Should You Do if You Have an Accident Due to a Defective Tire in Las Vegas?
If you have been injured in a tire blowout accident in Nevada, you should take the following steps to ensure your safety and protect your ability to seek compensation:
- Take photos and video of the accident scene, including the affected tire, vehicle damage, tire skid marks, debris on the road, and road conditions.
- See a doctor as soon as possible to be examined for any
injuries you may have sustained in the accident. Follow any treatment instructions your doctor gives you. - Keep copies of receipts, invoices, and bills for medical expenses you incur due to the accident. Make sure to save your pay stubs or other income records if you miss time from work due to your injuries.
- Document your recovery process, including the pain and limitations you experience due to your injuries. A good way to do this is through a daily journal, which tracks how you are feeling both physically and emotionally on a day-to-day basis. This provides a valuable record of the losses you have suffered due to the accident.
- Avoid social media. Any posts you make about the accident or photos or videos you post of yourself during your recovery process may later be used against your claim by the insurance company. Insurers will look for reasons to deny or discount your injury claim.
- Contact a Las Vegas car accident lawyer to discuss the crash’s details and learn what steps you can take to pursue a financial recovery for your injuries and losses.
Defective Tire Settlement Amount
Through a tire blowout accident settlement, you may be able to recover compensation for expenses and losses from your injuries and property damage. At Sam & Ash Injury Law, we are ready to fight for a just settlement that provides you compensation for your accident-related expenses and losses, such as:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, prescription medication, medical equipment such as wheelchairs, and physical therapy
- Long-term care expenses, such as home health services to help with disabilities that result from your injuries
- Loss of income from missed work
- Loss of earning capacity due to permanent disabilities
- Physical pain and emotional distress from the accident, your injuries, and subsequent treatment and rehabilitation
- Reduced quality of life because of disabilities or permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Repair and replacement costs for your vehicle or other property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident
Contact Sam & Ash Injury Law Today
Following any tire blowout car accident, contact a Las Vegas defective tire lawyer at Sam & Ash Injury Law. The help you need is just one phone call away. We offer a free, confidential consultation to discuss how we can help you recover the money you’re owed for your injuries, your damaged property, and your related expenses.
When you work with Sam & Ash Injury Law, you’re represented by attorneys who genuinely care about your future. We’ve seen the tactics insurers use to avoid paying claims. Our experience representing thousands of injured people in Nevada and California helps us stand up to the insurance companies and demand accountability and fair compensation for our clients.
We believe that attorneys who truly care about their clients secure the best settlements. By putting that belief into practice, our attorneys have recovered more than $400 million for clients in Nevada and California. You deserve What’s Right. At Sam & Ash, we are ready to help you seek the compensation you need to move forward with your life.
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