A tire blowout wreck can be much more dangerous when a commercial truck is the cause of the blowout. A blowout occurs when the tire bursts or ruptures, often when the truck is traveling at high speed. Large strips or pieces of rubber can be strewn across the road or highway, increasing the risk that unsuspecting drivers will suffer additional injuries in a crash as they attempt to avoid these obstacles. Many parties can be at fault in causing a tire blowout collision.
Who Could Be Responsible for Compensating You in a Truck Tire Blowout Accident?
Truck tire blowouts rarely happen for no reason. Negligence of some party is usually the reason behind the tires’ failure. Who is liable in your case will depend on the reason that for the tire blowout. Potential parties that you may be able to hold responsible include:
- Truck driver. Under federal regulations, the truck driver was required to conduct a pre-trip inspection of the tires and other components of the truck and may also have been responsible for conducting additional inspections during the trip. The trucker should have inspected the tires for wear, cracks, and tire pressure to be certain that it was not over- or under-inflated. In addition, he was prohibited from driving the truck if he discovered that the tires were in need of repair or replacement. Failure to inspect or ignoring defects are common claims against truck drivers in tire blowout cases that could apply in your case.
- Trucking company. The trucking company has its own responsibilities for inspecting and maintaining the truck and also faces vicarious liability for its trucker’s negligence. In many cases, victims are able to hold the trucking company as well as the negligent trucker responsible for compensating them.
- Maintenance company. Many trucking companies now contract with maintenance companies to perform inspections and repairs. When a technician fails to repair or replace a truck tire when necessary, the maintenance company could face liability if you suffer injuries in a tire blowout accident.
- Tire manufacturer. The tire manufacturer could be liable if a manufacturing or design defect in the truck’s tire was the cause of its blowout. If this was the cause of your accident, you could have a products liability claim against the tire manufacturer.
Were you the victim of a truck tire blowout wreck? Our experienced truck accident attorneys can identify the negligent parties and negotiate settlements with them on your behalf so that you receive the compensation that you deserve. Call our office today to schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about how we can assist you.
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