When tire blowouts occur while driving, they can lead to serious and even deadly consequences. Cars traveling at medium to high speeds are even more likely to end up in a crash because of the sudden loss of pressure when the tire loses all its air. Blowouts can be the result of a tire that has been used beyond its recommended mileage limit. However, there are other times when blowout accidents are the result of a manufacturer defect. If you or someone you love has been injured in a tire blowout accident, speak with an experienced Chicago product liability attorney that can examine your case, advise you of your rights, and help you determine the best way forward to secure just compensation for your injuries.
What Causes Tire Blowouts?
In Illinois and throughout the country, there are thousands of defective tires on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes a list of the latest recalls and defects reported by auto manufacturers. Frequently, a new tire model ends up on the recall list for some kind of defect. The problem is that many consumers often do not become aware of the recall until it is too late and the tire defect has contributed to a serious accident on the road. Sidewall cracking, broken ply cords and other manufacturing and design defects can create tread separation. The separation can occur suddenly or over time, and at some point it causes the tire to lose so much air pressure that it blows out. Tire blowouts can also be the fault of the dealership or another retailer in cases where they put on a tire that did not fit the vehicle properly and/or failed to inflate the tire to the proper level of air pressure.
Because the blowout takes the driver by surprise, the results can be hard to predict. For example, when the driver is moving at a healthy speed down a highway or interstate, a tire blowout can cause the vehicle to crash into the median or flip around into oncoming traffic causing a head-on collision. In certain vehicles such as SUVs and pickup trucks, the weight imbalance created by the blowout can result in a rollover, causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries to the driver and/or passengers in the vehicle.
If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a tire blowout accident, it is important to get to the bottom of what happened right away. Tire defect reports are updated frequently, so even if the model involved in the accident is not currently on the recall list, it does not necessarily mean the tire was not defective. At Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C., we have been litigating product liability cases in Chicago, Cook County and nationwide for over 20 years. Our experienced legal team works with the police and investigators to determine the root cause of the blowout and who is really at fault. If we find that it is either the fault of the manufacturer or retailer, we build a strong case and fight hard to obtain full compensation for our clients’ injuries. Contact an aggressive Chicago tire blowouts attorney at HM&M today for your free consultation.
For a free consultation, contact Hurley McKenna & Mertz, P.C. today at 312-553-4900 or fill out our online form to have a lawyer contact you.
