Preventing Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts are one of the leading causes of car accidents, causing approximately 11,000 accidents each year. There are a couple of things outside of your control such as tire design or manufacturing defects, but the majority of the time, you can take steps to prevent blowouts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that tire blowouts and other tire-related problems, including tread separation or loss of tire tread, are a major cause for rollover accidents– one of the most deadly forms of car accident. Blowouts can cause cars and trucks to lose control, sending them into nearby vehicles or causing property damage.
How to Prevent Tire Blowouts
Your car may seem fine to drive until seemingly out of the blue, it's not. From May to October, you are at a higher risk of blowouts due to hot weather, although of course, they can happen at any time.
There are several ways you can help prevent accidents caused by tire blowouts:
1) Be sure that your tires are always inflated to the manufacturer-recommended amount of pressure.
2) Don’t overload your car with excessive weight, such as by attempting to haul a car packed full of heavy materials, as this can excessively strain your tires.
3) Avoid potholes and other roadway damage, which can fray tires internally and damage tire treads over time. Drivers have an obligation to ensure that their cars are road safe, and this includes regular tire maintenance. Should a driver fail to replace low-treaded or thread-bare tires and blowout results, that driver could be liable for the injuries caused in a crash caused by a resulting blowout. Additionally, if the condition of a public road is so poor that a blowout resulted from a large pothole or other debris on the road, then the local municipality may be liable for all or part of your resulting costs.
What to Do if You Find Yourself in an Accident Due to a Blowout
When a blowout occurs, your vehicle will slow down and pull to the side of the blown tire. It is important to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, and avoid braking, just letting your car slow down gradually. Only attempt to pull over once you have reached a safe speed to do so.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a tire blowout and believe that negligently-maintained tires may have caused the incident, contact the knowledgeable car accident attorneys at Basch & Keegan for a consultation on your possible personal injury lawsuit, at (845) 403-7813.