Tire Defect Lawyer

The recent recall of millions of tires is a huge problem for tire manufacturers, but it can also be dangerous to consumers. A blowout auto accident has the potential to cause serious injuries and even death.

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC, our personal injury attorneys are legal advocates for injured victims harmed by defective tires and malfunctioning automotive components. Our trial lawyers will fight aggressively on behalf of our clients to ensure they receive the maximum compensation while seeking justice for those who caused them harm.

Contact a product liability attorney today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form today to schedule a free case consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with our tire defect attorneys remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Tire Defect

Tires tend to be one of the most overlooked pieces of equipment on a vehicle even though they bear the entire weight of the vehicle, and without them, the vehicle would not be able to go anywhere.

The safety of a vehicle's occupants relies on the quality and dependability of both its rear tire and front tire. But, unfortunately, companies are hiding that their tires are far more prone to failure than people believe.

Tire blowouts and tread separation are the cause of thousands of accidents each year. Unfortunately, the tires were well maintained in many cases and blew out due to a defective tire, tread separation, or damaged material rather than improper maintenance.

The Main Causes of Tire Failures in Cars

The most common tire defects all point to the ability of the tire to bond or adhere to the rim. In addition, defective adhesives, impurities in the materials that the tire comprises, and the tire's age all play a role in the effectiveness of the tire, how it wears while on the road, and the likelihood that it will blow out.

In some tire defect cases, customers are sold old tires and have been exposed to the elements. Heat and friction can cause the materials to degrade, and many tires are stored outdoors where the weather and other factors can negatively affect them.

Common factors that contribute to tire blowouts include:

• Slow air leaks
• Hauling overweight loads
• Defective tires
• Adverse road conditions
• Improper tire maintenance
• Running over objects

Common Defective Tires

Many tire blowouts are the result of defective tires sold by the manufacturers. Some of these defects include:

• Inner liner tire defect: Tire makers manufacture tires with an inner liner to protect the tires inside while maintaining air pressure. This layer is typically made from a special rubber designed to maintain the air inside the tire. If this inner liner corrodes or deteriorates, it can cause air leaks and lead to tire failure.
• Inner belt defect: Tire makers use a belt between the tire's inner liner and its outer rubber exterior to ensure that the unitary tire maintains its shape and has adequate support. If the belt is defective or degrades due to improper adhesives, the tire's integrity will be compromised, leading to air loss and blowouts.
• Wet weather defect: These tire defects occur when there are impurities in the rubber made from the mixture used to make tires. These impurities can make it difficult for the tire to cut through the water, resulting in skidding, leading to blowouts.
• Poor adhesion: Some tires are manufactured with a defective or poor adhesive that fails to bind the rubber layers properly. This defect allows the materials to separate during use, putting people at greater risk of serious accidents.
• Improper tire design: Tires are designed to be used on certain roads and under certain conditions. If the tires are not suitable for the type of road or weather used, it can lead to serious accidents, including blowouts.
• Defective body plies: Tires must have body plies to function, allowing them to maintain their shape and support. If the body plies are defective, the quality of the tire will be compromised, which can lead to blowouts.
• Defective steel belts: Steel belted radial tires are used in tires to provide strength and support in high-stress areas. If the steel belt is defective, it can lead to blowouts in different ways, including causing the tire to deform at high speeds, leading to fatal accidents.
• Defective belt skims stock: It must be constructed from the correct materials for a tire to function properly. Suppose the belt skim stock is defective or made from inappropriate materials. It can lead to blowouts and loss of control over a vehicle which puts drivers and passengers at risk of suffering serious injuries in accidents.
• Oil-soaked tires: Tires are manufactured using special oils that are designed to keep them flexible. If these oils are not fully washed out before the tire is made, they can cause blowouts.
• Improper inflation: Tires must be properly inflated to work correctly and minimize the risk of failure. Under-inflated tires have an increased risk of failure, which can result in accidents that cause injuries.
• Missing or defective safety belts: Safety belts are used as a quality control device to ensure the quality of a tire. These devices should be properly installed and working correctly to minimize the risk of failure, which can lead to accidents and blowouts.
• Improper installation: Tires are fitted with various internal components to ensure correct installation and minimize the risk of failure during tire production. If these components are not installed correctly, it can cause a variety of tire failures that may result in accidents.
• Improper balancing: Tires must be properly balanced to function well and minimize the risk of failure. Uneven tire wear can lead to blowouts because of increased friction and stress on different tire parts.
• Lack of warning labels: Tires must be labeled with various warnings and instructions to protect consumers from tire defects that lead to accidents and injuries. If tires are produced without these labels, they cannot be determined to be safe for use, putting people at risk of serious injury.
• Defective inner belt gauges: Inner belt gauges are used to test manufacturing defects and measure tire pressure. If the gauge is defective, it can lead to blowouts or other tire failures that put drivers in danger of suffering serious injuries in accidents.
• Improper casing ply labeling: Tires are labeled with information about when they were made by the company during production. If these labels are not properly attached, they can be pulled off during use, leading to tire failures.
• Improper tread compound: The treads are designed to engage the grooves on the road and provide traction. If the tread compound is defective or improperly manufactured, it can result in uneven wear, which increases the risk of blowouts that cause accidents.
• Incorrect sizing: Tires are measured for width, circumference, and diameter to test quality during production. If these measurements are incorrect, it can lead to blowouts or other tire failures that cause fatal accidents.
• Improper bead seating: The tire beads work with the body plies to provide strength and support during use. If the bead seating is defective, it can lead to blowouts which cause accidents.
• Improper curing: Tires are cured to remove all oils and other materials that may be harmful during use. If this process fails or is improperly done, it can result in tires that have a higher risk of failure.
• Inadequate wall flex: The sidewalls of tires need to flex under stress and pressure to function properly. If the wall flex is not sufficient, it can increase the risk of failure, resulting in accidents.
• Improper wheel coating: Tires need a wheel coating that protects their inner components and provides grip to the road during use. If the coating is defective, it can lead to blowouts during use which causes fatal accidents.
• Improper bead wire plating: Tires are plated with bead wire which provides them with increased strength. If this process is defective or not done properly, it can result in tires that have a higher risk of failure.
• Discoloration: Scuffs, spills, and other normal wear and tear can cause tires to discolor over time, leading to reduced adhesion and blowouts.
• Fuel-efficient tires: Tires manufactured with less rubber tend to age poorly, making them more likely to deteriorate and result in accidents, including tire blowouts. That is an issue, particularly for commercial truckers who use fuel-efficient tires on long hauls without adequate time for tire replacement.
• Chemical exposure: Tires exposed to the elements or chemicals wear out faster and may be more likely to fail. It is a problem for tires used in areas with salt in the winter, reducing tire life and making them much more dangerous.

Tires are a vital part of vehicle safety in driving and accidents. A tire is a ring-shaped covering fitted around the rim of a wheel on vehicles such as automobiles, bicycles, trucks, and tractors. Many tires have treads that provide traction for moving vehicles.

The basic materials that make up most car tires are synthetic or natural rubber, carbon black, and chemical additives. These construction materials have to be mixed carefully for the tire to function properly.

Blowout prevention is one area where every tire manufacturer has failed consumers time and again.

The Age of a Tire Matters

Tire companies also fail to tell customers that their tires' age makes a big difference in tires and rim safety—age of tires from the moment they are made, as the rubber and chemicals degrade over time. But unlike a banana, which gets mushy and brown as it ages, a car tire becomes more dangerous.

So what happens when a blowout occurs? The driver loses control of the vehicle and may crash. Add to this speeding, driver inattention, and wet roads, and you have a disaster in the making.

Who Is at Fault for a Tire Blowout?

A blowout happens because of a defect in the tire. The tires have not been designed or manufactured properly, either because of poor materials or neglect during the manufacturing process. A damaged wheel rim can also cause a tire blowout which will lead to an accident.

The tires on your vehicle are safety-critical components and should be routinely checked. If a tire is old, has been under-inflated, has been subject to abuse or neglect in storage and use, or shows signs of damage causing a blowout, immediately replacing it is advised.

Prevent Tire Blowouts

While tire blowouts are typically unexpected and unpreventable, there are steps that someone can take to protect their vehicle, passengers, and others.

To ensure tires safety, routinely check for any problems with your tires that could include:

• Damaged cord
• Visible damages
• Internal damage exposing bulges and bumps
• Rubber cracks and cuts
• Fabric breaks

Should you experience a defective tire blowout, never slam on the brakes. Instead, take your foot likely off the gas pedal and:

• Ease your foot off the accelerator and gently apply pressure to the brake.
• Steer in a straight line. If you have to steer, use minimal input on the steering wheel to control the vehicle.
• Do not attempt to stop until you have a clear area ahead of you, free from obstructions or structures.
• Never change tires on the roadside. It is a safety hazard and should only be done in an emergency.

Blown tires could cause the driver to lose control, flip, or roll over, and if the driver is not wearing their seat belt, they will be ejected from the vehicle. In addition, in many defective tire cases, those involved in an accident due to a defective tire have suffered serious injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injuries.

Our defective tire lawyers will fight to help those seriously injured due to a tire blowout or tire failure recover compensation for medical bills and lost wages.

Having your case handled by our team of experienced tire defect attorneys provides you with the personalized attention your claim deserves and having us seek any other recovery you deserve.

Our defective tire attorneys will examine all aspects of your case during the free consultation to determine how best to resolve your claims so that you can receive maximum compensation for financial loss and personal injury.

The Impact of Tire Failure on Vehicle Control

Tests have been conducted in which professional drivers were given advance notice of an impending tire blowout and could not safely maintain control of the vehicle even though they had been anticipating the tire failure.

If professionals cannot maintain control of a vehicle in such a situation, regular people who are not expecting a tire blowout cannot be expected either. When a tire blows out, it can make it nearly impossible to steer the vehicle, and it may even cause the vehicle to roll over.

Important First Steps to Take After a Car Accident Caused by Tire Failure

Whenever you are in an accident, it is important to preserve as much evidence as possible so that your legal representative can determine the cause of the accident. It is even more important to do this in a tire failure because without physical evidence. It can be extremely difficult to prove your case.

Do not allow your vehicle or tires to be destroyed or sent to a junkyard after your tire blowout accident. Instead, make sure to talk to whoever you need to preserve the car for examination by your defective tire attorneys.

Tire explosions can cause devastating rollover accidents that inflict serious or fatal injuries upon the vehicle's occupants and innocent bystanders.

Holding Tire Manufacturers Financially and Legally Accountable

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tire manufacturers are responsible for unexpected tire tread separation that could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, especially at highway speeds.

Tread separation occurs due to defective tread design, structural failures within the faulty tire or materials, and age. A tire manufacturer is responsible for ensuring that their tires hold up under all weather conditions and during prolonged use and ensure that they can maintain safe speeds.

Many tire manufacturers will deflect the responsibility by blaming the driver, accusing them of not keeping tire pressure at the manufacturer's recommendations. However, low tire pressure decreases optimal fuel mileage and increases the risk of a tire blowout accident.

Even so, tire recalls have been a major problem for decades, involving major tire brands, including BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, Dunlap, Firestone, Cooper, Continental, Michelin, and others.

Hiring Tire Defect Lawyers to Resolve a Compensation Case

Did your faulty tires fail unexpectedly, leading to a catastrophic accident? The product liability attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC can fight on your behalf to hold tire companies accountable and ensure that your financial needs are met.

Recovering from your injuries will be challenging enough without the need to overcome the financial burden that comes to medical care, physical therapy, and time off of work.

Call our product liability firm today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone number) or use the contact form to schedule a free case evaluation. Then, let our personal injury lawyers begin working on your case right away.

We accept all tire defect cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This promise ensures you pay us nothing until our law firm resolves your case through a negotiated settlement or jury award.

Resource

• NIH - High-Precision Detection of Defects of Tire Texture Through X-ray Imaging Based on Local Inverse Difference Moment Features
• NIH - Tire aging: a human factors analysis of failure to warn and inform