Waldorf, MD Truck Tire Blowout Accident Attorneys

Lawyers for Truck Crashes Caused by Tire Blowouts in Waldorf, Maryland

A tire blowout on a commercial truck is not a minor problem. When a tire fails on a vehicle that weighs tens of thousands of pounds, the consequences can be catastrophic. The truck driver may lose control and collide with other vehicles, leading to serious injuries for multiple people. People injured in these types of truck accidents will need to understand their legal options and the steps they can take to obtain financial compensation for their damages.

Legal representation from a skilled attorney can help ensure that a truck accident victim's case will be handled correctly. At Farmer & Klopfer, we have a great deal of experience representing clients in truck accident litigation, and we fight to make sure the proper compensation will be paid for a person's financial losses and other damages. We can identify negligence that led to a tire blowout, and we can work to hold a driver, trucking company, maintenance provider, or tire manufacturer responsible.

How Tire Blowouts Can Cause Truck Accidents

The failure of a tire can lead to multiple serious issues that may result in a collision between a commercial truck and one or more other vehicles, including:

Loss of Control for a Truck Driver

When a tire fails on a truck, the driver may be unable to maintain control of their vehicle. A tire blowout may cause a truck to pull sharply in one direction, and a driver may not have enough time to adjust their steering before they collide with another vehicle. The loss of control may cause a driver to cross into other lanes, run off the road, or fail to stop in time to avoid striking another car from behind.

Tire Debris

When a truck tire fails, it may not simply deflate. The sudden release of pressure may cause a tire to shred into multiple large, heavy pieces. Sections of a truck tire may be sent flying away from the truck. They can strike other vehicles and cause damage, or tires may come to rest in the road and create obstacles for other drivers. This could lead to additional accidents if drivers are forced to brake or swerve suddenly.

Jackknife and Rollover Accidents

A tire blowout can reduce traction on one side of a truck's trailer. This could cause the trailer to swing to the side, leading to a jackknife accident. The loss of control and balance may also result in a rollover accident. These accidents can be dangerous when they block traffic or cause a truck or its trailer to collide with other vehicles.

Reasons Truck Tires May Fail

Inadequate Tire Maintenance and Inspection

Truck drivers are required to inspect their trucks, examine parts that may wear down, and make sure the proper repairs or maintenance are performed. These inspections should include checks of tires, looking for damage, worn treads, or improper inflation. Trucking companies will need to make sure the proper maintenance is performed for trucks, including replacing worn tires and making sure all tires are properly inflated. If truck drivers or trucking companies are negligent in performing inspections and maintenance, repairs may not be performed, and tires will be more likely to fail.

Improper Tire Inflation

Proper tire pressure is critical to ensure that tires can provide traction and bear the weight of a truck and its cargo. Tires that are underinflated or overinflated may wear down more quickly, causing them to fail and blow out.

Excessive Tread Wear

Tires wear down due to constant contact with the road. When a tire becomes worn, it may not provide the proper traction, and it will be more likely to blow out when coming into contact with sharp objects.

Road Hazard Damage

Potholes, road debris, or other hazards may cause damage to a truck's tires. If a truck driver strikes a road hazard and does not stop to inspect their tires, or if they continue driving after a tire has been damaged, they may be responsible for a tire blowout that occurs as a result.

Overloading

When trucks are overloaded, their cargo will place excessive weight on their tires. This can cause tires to break down more quickly, which could lead to a blowout. Overloaded trucks may already be hard to control, and blowouts can add to the problems, preventing drivers from being able to avoid accidents.

Defective Tires

In some cases, truck tires may fail because they were defective when they left the factory. Flaws in the manufacturing process may have weakened the structure of a tire and caused it to blow out even when it had been inflated and maintained correctly. When a tire fails because of a manufacturing defect, the tire manufacturer may be held liable for a truck accident through a product liability claim.

Contact Our Waldorf Truck Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers

When a truck tire fails, this may set off a chain of events that can lead to injuries for multiple people. These types of truck accidents can usually be prevented by performing the proper inspections and maintenance. When truck drivers, trucking companies, or other parties have failed to follow the proper procedures, they may be held liable for accidents that occur due to tire blowouts.

At Farmer & Klopfer, we can help people who have been injured in truck accidents determine whether tire blowouts were to blame. We will investigate these accidents and determine who may be held responsible for the damages our clients have suffered. Contact our Waldorf, MD tire blowout truck accident attorneys at 301-843-3890 and schedule a free consultation.