There are a variety of reasons that truck accidents take place. Collisions may be caused by negligent truck drivers, including in cases involving driver fatigue, traffic violations, or distracted driving. Truck accidents can also be caused by equipment failure on a truck, including situations where tires blow out and cause a truck driver to lose control of their vehicle. In these cases, it is not always clear who is at fault, but by working with an attorney, victims of these types of accidents can identify the liable parties and pursue compensation for their injuries.
Liability for Truck Tire Blowouts
Truck drivers and their employers are responsible for making sure all equipment on a truck is properly maintained. Truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties may be responsible for tire blowout accidents that occur because of:
- Underinflation – Tires must be inflated to the proper pressure to ensure that they can handle the full weight of a truck and any cargo it is carrying. Underinflated tires may flex beyond their limits, causing them to blow out.
- Worn tires – Truck tires should be inspected regularly, and they should be replaced when they have deteriorated. In addition to the risk of blowouts, worn tires may not provide enough traction, and they may cause a truck driver to lose control.
- Overloading – Loading too much cargo on a truck and exceeding weight limits can put additional pressure on the truck’s tires that may cause them to explode.
- Excessive braking – If a truck’s brakes are applied too frequently or otherwise used improperly, this can cause the treads on the truck’s tires to wear down quickly, leading to blowouts.
- Failure to respond correctly to a blown tire – In some cases, blowouts occur because of circumstances beyond a truck driver’s control, such as potholes in the road or weather conditions. However, drivers should make sure to respond correctly to ensure that they do not lose control. Following a blowout, a driver should apply full throttle to ensure that they can continue traveling forward, make corrections to address any steering issues, and then slow down and pull over in a safe place. Drivers who do not take the proper actions may lose control, causing them to drift into other lanes, run off the road, or cross a highway median. In some cases, a jackknife accident or rollover accident may occur, creating obstacles in the road that may lead to multi-vehicle pileups.
Contact an Appleton Truck Accident Lawyer
If you have been injured in a truck accident involving a tire blowout or other forms of equipment failure or driver negligence, Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. can help you take legal action to recover financial compensation. We will investigate the circumstances of the crash to determine whether a truck driver, trucking company, equipment manufacturer, or other parties were responsible. We will work to make sure you are fully compensated for all of the ways your injury has affected you and your family. Contact our Green Bay commercial truck accident attorneys at 920-739-7366 to arrange a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.truckinginfo.com/312339/tire-blowouts-dont-have-to-be-deadly