This blog was posted by Shaw-Cowart Personal Injury Attorneys in Austin – Truck/18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers, representing clients in Austin and the surrounding areas
Truck Tire Blowout Accidents and Defective Equipment Claims
Truck tire blowout accidents create sudden emergencies on Texas highways that endanger everyone nearby. When an 18-wheeler’s tire explodes at highway speeds, the driver may lose control, debris flies across lanes, and nearby vehicles face immediate danger. Truck tire blowout accidents result from defective tires, negligent maintenance, and improper loading that responsible trucking companies should prevent. Victims of these preventable crashes deserve compensation from those who failed to maintain safe equipment. More about our truck / 18 wheeler accident lawyers Austin here
Commercial trucks place enormous stress on their tires. Each tire on an 80,000-pound truck supports thousands of pounds while traveling hundreds of miles daily in Texas heat. Truck tire blowout accidents happen when tires fail under this stress due to manufacturing defects, worn treads, improper inflation, or overloading. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires regular tire inspections precisely because truck tire blowout accidents pose such serious risks.
Texas highways see numerous truck tire blowout accidents every year, particularly during hot summer months when pavement temperatures exceed 150 degrees. Heat accelerates tire degradation and increases blowout risk. Truck tire blowout accidents on I-10, I-35, and other major corridors frequently cause multi-vehicle pileups and serious injuries.
Causes of Truck Tire Blowouts
Several factors contribute to truck tire failures. Understanding these causes helps identify responsible parties when blowouts cause accidents.
Underinflation weakens tire sidewalls and generates excessive heat. Tires running below recommended pressure flex more with each rotation, building heat that degrades rubber compounds. Chronically underinflated tires eventually fail catastrophically. Pre-trip inspections should catch underinflation before trucks leave terminals.
Overinflation makes tires rigid and vulnerable to impact damage. Overinflated tires cannot absorb road irregularities properly. Hitting potholes, debris, or curbs may cause immediate blowouts in overinflated tires.
Worn treads reduce tire integrity and heat dissipation. Federal regulations require minimum tread depths for commercial truck tires. Bald or nearly bald tires are far more likely to blow out than properly maintained tires. Visual inspections should identify worn treads.
Overloading places excess stress on tires beyond their rated capacity. Each tire has a maximum load rating that trucking companies must respect. Overloaded trucks accelerate tire wear and dramatically increase blowout risk. Weight distribution also matters because uneven loads stress some tires more than others.
Manufacturing defects cause some tires to fail despite proper maintenance. Tread separation, sidewall defects, and bonding failures result from manufacturing problems. Defective tires may blow out suddenly without warning signs.
Road hazards contribute to blowouts when sharp debris punctures tires or impacts cause sudden failures. However, properly maintained tires resist road hazards better than worn or defective tires.
Age deterioration affects tires even when they appear to have adequate tread. Rubber compounds degrade over time regardless of use. Old tires become brittle and prone to failure. Industry guidelines recommend replacing truck tires after certain age thresholds.
How Tire Blowouts Cause Accidents
Tire blowouts create immediate control challenges that even experienced truck drivers struggle to manage. Several accident patterns result from blowouts.
Loss of steering control happens when front tire blowouts suddenly pull trucks toward the failed tire. Drivers may overcorrect or be unable to maintain lane position. Trucks may cross centerlines or veer onto shoulders.
Jackknife accidents result when trailer tires blow out and trailers swing perpendicular to cabs. The sudden drag from a blown tire destabilizes the trailer. Jackknifed trailers block multiple lanes and cause chain-reaction collisions.
Debris strikes occur when blown tire pieces fly across highways. Large chunks of tire tread become dangerous projectiles at highway speeds. Following vehicles may not have time to avoid debris. Motorcyclists face particular danger from tire debris.
Secondary collisions happen when drivers swerve to avoid trucks experiencing blowouts. Evasive maneuvers cause drivers to strike guardrails, other vehicles, or leave roadways. The chaos created by blowouts endangers everyone nearby.
Liability for Tire Blowout Accidents
Multiple parties may share responsibility when truck tire blowouts cause accidents. Thorough investigation identifies all liable defendants.
Trucking companies bear responsibility for tire maintenance and inspection. Companies must implement inspection protocols that catch tire problems before failures occur. Failure to maintain tires properly constitutes negligence.
Truck drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections that include tire checks. Drivers who skip inspections or ignore obvious tire problems share liability for resulting accidents. Federal regulations mandate specific inspection requirements.
Tire manufacturers face product liability claims when defective tires cause blowouts. Design defects affecting entire tire models and manufacturing defects in specific tires both support claims. Tire recalls may provide evidence of known defects.
Maintenance providers who service truck tires may be liable for negligent work. Improper mounting, failure to identify wear, and incorrect inflation all constitute negligence. Third-party maintenance companies must meet professional standards.
Cargo loaders share liability when overloading contributed to tire failure. Exceeding weight limits or distributing cargo improperly stresses tires beyond safe limits. Loading companies must follow weight restrictions.
Evidence in Tire Blowout Cases
Building strong tire blowout accident claims requires preserving and analyzing specific evidence.
The failed tire itself provides crucial evidence about why it blew out. Examination by tire experts can identify manufacturing defects, wear patterns, and maintenance failures. Preserving the tire prevents spoliation of this key evidence.
Maintenance records show whether the trucking company followed proper inspection and replacement protocols. Gaps in records or evidence of ignored problems support negligence claims.
Driver logs reveal whether pre-trip inspections occurred as required. Logs showing inspections that missed obvious tire problems suggest inadequate inspection procedures.
Weight tickets establish whether the truck was overloaded at the time of the blowout. Weigh station records and loading documentation prove excess weight contributed to tire failure.
Get Help After a Tire Blowout Accident
The truck accident attorneys at Shaw Cowart investigate tire blowout accidents thoroughly to identify all responsible parties. We work with tire experts, accident reconstructionists, and industry specialists to build strong cases. If a truck tire blowout caused your injuries, contact Shaw Cowart today for a free consultation.