A tire-related auto accident can happen because drivers have failed to properly maintain their tires. Safe drivers keep their car or truck in good working order. Checking your tires often is a good habit to develop, because problems with your tires can have significant repercussions, including causing an auto accident. When checking your tires, you should pay attention to the following:

Tire pressure.
The state of the tire tread.
Whether any foreign objects are present in the tire tread.
Whether there are any cracks in the tire.
Whether the valve cap is still on the tire valve.

HOW BAD TREADS AND OLD TIRES CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES

As a tire ages, it may develop a variety of dangerous conditions which can lead to an auto accident. The hazard that most people associate with worn tires is a worn-down, flat tread. This causes the tire to lose traction and may in turn reduce the vehicle’s ability to stop or turn safely, and could lead to frightening losses of control such as skids and hydroplaning.

FLAT, WORN TREADS AREN’T THE ONLY TREAD ISSUES

A defective tire is another potential cause a tire-related auto accident, as defects could compromise important aspects of the tire. Sometimes brand new tires are dangerous simply due to factory defects or design flaws. That is why it is so important to pay attention to tire recalls.

HAULING A HEAVY LOAD CAN ALSO CAUSE AUTO ACCIDENTS

Hauling more weight than the vehicle is designed to haul also creates dangerous tire problems. The extra weight can result in more weight being put on a tire than the tire is meant to handle. You should always check to see what you vehicle’s maximum suggested load is and to be careful not exceed this recommended load. You should also check the maximum load rated for your tires.

The bad news is that even if you do everything possible within your control to prevent a tire-related auto accident, you may still end up in one. You have no control over what other drivers are doing with their own tires. However, you may have legal recourse depending on the situation.

If you experience a tire-related auto accident due to a defective tire someone sold you, you may be able to sue if the tire was advertized as new and is later discovered to have been used or defective. If the tire is the original from the factory and your vehicle is still under warranty, you may have a case against the manufacturer who sold you the faulty tire. If you are in a tire-related auto accident with a commercial vehicle, you may have a case against the trucking company for not properly maintaining the tire.

An experienced auto accident attorney can help you look into possible causes of action from a tire-related auto accident. If you, a family member, or friend have found yourself in the unfortunate position of being involved in an auto accident feel free to contact us or call us at (573)686-2459. We are here for you when you need us.