Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers
The Dedicated Personal Injury Attorneys at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. Will Fight For Your Rights After An Accident
A tire blowout occurs when a tire suddenly loses all of its air. Tire blowouts can lead to serious accidents because a moving vehicle can become difficult – even impossible – to control with a blown tire. A blowout can lead to an immediate loss of traction and braking power and can send a vehicle into a dangerous spin. This can cause it to strike other vehicles, rollover, or even dangerously fall off the roadway. If you or a loved one was involved in a tire blowout accident, reach out to our Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers here.
The effects of a blowout can ripple to other drivers as well. If you suffer a tire blowout, the vehicles traveling behind you may slam their brakes, and others may over-correct their vehicles to avoid a collision. This can lead to serious frontal and rear-end accidents for other drivers.
The legal team at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. handles personal injury and motor vehicle accidents of all kinds and we can help you navigate the complexities of personal injury and vehicle accident law. We can also help you put together a compensation claim and handle negotiations with insurance adjusters and other parties on your behalf.
Our Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers Will Investigate The Cause Of Your Tire Blowouts Accident
Tire blowouts occur in the blink of an eye, giving you and other road users little to no time to react. Tire blowouts are loud, and they can easily distract other drivers as well, leading to dangerous conditions on the road.
The factors below can cause or contribute to a tire blowout.
- Road damage: Cracked roadways, potholes, and other forms of road damage can wear down your tires over time. Once your tires have reached their usable limit, if they strike a dangerous pothole at a high enough speed, they can suddenly burst. As your vehicle passes over damaged roads and potholes, the internal pressure of your tires fluctuates and changes rapidly, further increasing the chances of suffering a blowout.
- Poor maintenance: Underinflated, overinflated, and worn tires can lead to a blowout. You must always fill your tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure setting for the tire size, vehicle size, and weight of your vehicle. Overloading your vehicle can lead to excessive pressure even if you inflate your tires to the correct standard pressure, so be sure to calculate for extra weight when inflating your tires.
- Wear, tear, and small punctures: With use, your tires can erode, and they may develop small punctures that can lead to leakages. This typically occurs slowly over a long time and can be missed if you are not careful about regularly checking your tire pressure.
- Road debris or objects: Even with the correct air pressure, regular maintenance, and safe driving, you can strike debris or objects on the road that can cut right through the many cords and layers of your tire, leading to an immediate blowout.
- Manufacturer defects: In some cases, a manufacturer may inadvertently produce – and a retailer or dealer may inadvertently sell or install – defective tires. Tires are produced to very precise specifications, and tires that are made with walls that are too thin or that are not allowed to cure for long enough for an adequate bond to develop between the rubber and steel cords or internal fabric of your tire, the tire can come loose while in operation, leading to a blowout.
What to do After a Tire Blowout Accident
Even if you drive safely and maintain and regularly service your tires, you may unexpectedly suffer a tire blowout. If this happens, our auto accident attorneys recommend you do the following.
- Remain at the scene of the accident. Only leave if it is to protect yourself or for seeking medical attention. In all other cases, you should wait for law enforcement officials to arrive. The police will compose a report that contains important facts about the accident. This report can be used to substantiate your claims when you file for compensation.
- Seek medical attention. Many injuries such as nerve damage, whiplash, and certain brain injuries do not manifest right after an injury. Instead, they become apparent a few days or even a few weeks later. Undergoing a medical checkup is important to determine whether you sustained any injuries. Doing this is important if you are to file for compensation for medical bills after an accident. A failure to file for these damages soon after your accident can lead to a forfeiture of your right to a claim.
- Contact your insurer. Different insurance companies have different reporting deadlines, but in most cases, you must inform your insurer about your accident within 30 days of the event. Our Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers can help you determine the damages that are covered and those that are not based on the policies you hold.
- Recover your tire if you can. This can help determine the cause – and assign liability – for your accident. The remnants of your tire can be used to identify whether a road hazard, wear and tear, overloading, pressure issues, manufacturer defects, or installation errors caused or contributed to your accident.
- Contact an attorney. Tire blowout accidents can lead to serious injuries and significant financial losses. The Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers with Goodrich & Geist, P.C. can help you file for the compensation you are entitled to and can help protect you from lowball compensation offers and the intimidation and underhanded tactics that insurers may resort to in an effort to minimize the payout they must make to you.
Contact Goodrich & Geist, P.C. And Our Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers Today
For a free case evaluation, contact the Pittsburgh Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers at Goodrich & Geist, P.C. today. We know vehicle accident and personal injury law and will fight for your right to compensation. Do not hesitate to reach out to us today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tire Blowouts
Check your tire pressure regularly and fill your tires to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. Replace old or worn tires as needed and learn how to identify the signs of wear and tear. Make safe driving a habit, and avoid road hazards, potholes, and damaged roads. If you must drive over a damaged road, slow down as you do so.
Unfortunately, yes. Vehicle service and maintenance issues are leading causes of vehicle accidents in the United States, and tire blowouts can affect passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, motorcycles, delivery vans, heavy construction vehicles, and more. Protect yourself by proactively checking your tires, understanding the dangers associated with blowout accidents, and knowing what to do in the event of an accident.