Getting a flat tire is undoubtedly an annoying and inconvenient occurrence. But when one of your tires suddenly blows out, it can cause a major car accident. And if someone else’s tire blows out and they lose control of their vehicle, you might be severely hurt. That said, if your injuries weren’t your fault, you shouldn’t be held financially responsible.
If you’ve been hurt because of a tire blowout, you may be entitled to financial compensation. An experienced tire blowout lawyer who represents clients throughout Central and Middle Georgia can ensure that the people responsible for your injuries are held accountable. Contact Gautreaux Law today to discover how we might be able to help you.
Who (or what) is responsible for a tire blowout accident?
Many car accidents are caused by obvious negligence, which can take the form of texting and driving, speeding, ignoring traffic laws, and so on.
Tire blowouts, in comparison, might seem like genuine accidents in comparison. But contrary to that belief, someone’s negligence may directly contribute in certain cases. And a tire blowout attorney can help you hold that person (or group of people) accountable.
Still, you might ask, “How exactly can someone’s negligence cause a tire blowout?” Here are some potential causes:
Underinflation
Underinflation is one of the main causes of tire blowouts. Plenty of people are busy and distracted enough that they forget to regularly check their tire pressure. Slow, slight leaks can significantly deflate a tire over time, making it more likely to burst when drivers least expect it.
Poor Car Maintenance
Some car owners (and even trucking companies) don’t rotate their tires or have their alignment checked as needed. That can cause uneven wear and make a blowout much more likely. If it turns out the vehicle that experienced the blowout wasn’t maintained properly, you and your legal team may have a solid case against the owner or driver.
Old Tires
Just as tires must regularly be rotated, drivers should make sure they replace old tires before they become hazardous. Over time, they’ll start to lose their tread, and their walls will start to get thinner. As a result, it suddenly takes very little to cause a blowout on the road.
Failing to replace old tires is negligent, as it puts other drivers (and the driver of the vehicle in question) in danger. If the blowout that caused your accident happened because of an old tire, you might be able to pursue a case.
Defective Tires
Though defective tires aren’t a very common cause of tire blowouts, they aren’t unheard of. If the tire manufacturer has made a mistake in designing or making the tires in question, it might be held responsible for any subsequent tire blowout(s).
Overloading
If the car that suffered the blowout and caused the accident is a passenger vehicle, it’s unlikely that overloading was the cause. On the other hand, if it was a commercial truck that caused the crash, it’s certainly a possibility.
There’s only so much weight that a set of tires can carry before doing so becomes risky. And if a trucking company loaded a truck with more cargo than was safe, it might be responsible for any accidents that occur.
Road Hazards
Poorly maintained roads are often bumpy and unpleasant to drive on. But on top of that discomfort, they can also be dangerous.
If a pothole or other major road hazard causes a tire blowout, the organization responsible for road maintenance may be held legally responsible. However, such a case is generally only valid if the maintenance organization knew (or reasonably should have known) about the road hazard in the first place. And there are often special requirements for suing a governmental agency that was responsible for any road defects.
How the Legal Process Works
If you’ve gotten hurt in a tire blowout accident, it’s fair to say that you know to consult with a lawyer. Still, many people don’t have a grasp of how the process works beyond that.
Here’s a quick rundown of what will happen after an accident:
- You’ll schedule a free consultation/case review with an attorney
- You’ll bring as much documentation as you can to the consultation
- An attorney will review your case and determine whether there’s enough evidence to build a case against the responsible party
- If you agree to work with each other, your attorney will start putting together your case.
It’s important to note that a tire blowout lawyer won’t take every possible case they encounter. Because these attorneys only get paid if you receive a settlement, there must be a good chance you will get significant compensation. Of course, if one tire blowout attorney refuses your case, it doesn’t hurt to set up a consultation with another.
Contact Gautreaux Law Today
Tire blowouts don’t always result in car crashes. But when they do, they can be absolutely devastating. If the tire blowout that caused your accident was caused by the negligence of a person or organization, you may be able to recover monetary compensation.
At Gautreaux Law, our attorneys have been pursuing justice for injured Middle Georgia residents for more than 20 years. If you’ve been injured because of a tire blowout, we might be able to help. Contact us today to speak with a tire blowout attorney.