Bald Tires and Tire Blowouts

Bald tires and tire blowouts are a leading cause of truck accidents in the United States. Bald tires make it very difficult for cars and large trucks to stop, especially when such vehicles are traveling at high rates of speed on slippery surfaces. Even when automobiles and large trucks take the proper precautions while traveling on wet roads or other hazardous conditions, bald tires may complicate a driver’s effort to stop or otherwise maintain control over the vehicle, oftentimes causing accidents and severe injuries. After suffering an injury in a truck accident caused by a tire blowout, it is important to retain an experienced Lafayette truck accident lawyer who will help protect your legal rights.

Hazardous conditions need not be present for bald tires to cause a loss of control over your automobile or truck. Many accidents which occur as the direct result of bald tires occur in the absence of hazardous conditions. For these reasons, federal regulations require truck drivers to routinely inspect their tires and log these inspections. Unfortunately, drivers make mistakes and fail to perceive bald tires, putting themselves and other drivers on the road at risk. Based in the Lafayette area, our truck accident attorneys are ready to help you try to hold a careless trucker accountable. 

Because commercial trucks travel long distances, commercial tires wear down faster than tires on passenger vehicles. Several factors can lead to a bald tire or tire blowout:

• Alignment problems
• Equipment failure
• Overloaded or overweight trucks
• Speeding
• Aggressive driving
• Failure to adequately inspect the tires
• Extreme hot or cold weather
• Debris in the road
• Potholes

A tire blowout is a terrifying experience for both a truck driver and for other drivers on the road. When a tire blows out on a commercial truck, the driver may be unable to control the truck, especially if the driver is transporting a heavy load. Even smaller automobiles traveling at higher rates of speed may experience a severe loss of control as the result of a tire blowout, which has the potential to result in serious accidents and serious injuries by everyone involved. In these types of situations, the driver often panics and fails to follow standard operating procedures. If the truck driver loses control, he may crash into other vehicles or otherwise create a hazardous condition to other drivers on the road. He may also cause surrounding vehicles to swerve to avoid colliding with the truck, which can lead to other accidents.

Flying debris from the blowout may also lead to subsequent accidents. 18-wheeler tires are very large, and the debris from a blowout may create road hazards for other drivers. Oftentimes, debris from a blown out tire can remain on the road long after the tire falls off the truck and may cause subsequent accidents. This type of accident may present complicated questions of causation for an injured victim.

A qualified Lafayette truck accident attorney understands that several actors can lead to a tire blowout and truck accident. Our lawyers at Broussard, David & Moroux know what it takes to fully investigate a truck accident and make sure all negligent actors are held legally responsible for an accident victim’s injuries or a family’s loss.

To schedule a free initial consultation with a truck accident lawyer in the Lafayette area, contact Broussard, David & Moroux at 888-337-2323 (toll-free) or 337-233-2323 (local).