Tire Blowout Accidents

While a tire blowout can often seem like more of an inconvenience than a real danger, serious auto accidents are a very common hazard of tire blowouts. In fact, a recent study revealed that about 6.7 percent of accidents are caused by tire blowouts. What happens is that the violent blowout causes the driver to lose control of the vehicle and collide into another vehicle or damage stationary property. A tire blowout could even cause a driver to swerve into an innocent pedestrian.

Luckily, only 13 percent of tire blowout accidents involve multiple vehicles. On the other hand, these crashes, unfortunately, tend to have serious injuries—or even fatalities—and take both drivers by surprise. Since tire blowouts happen suddenly and can cause a driver to swerve without warning, it is difficult to drive defensively and prevent collision. Unless a driver can quickly react to the blowout and quickly pull off the road, there is little chance of preventing collision.

Preventing Tire Blowout Accidents

Because of the risks of tire blowouts and the difficulty in controlling the car to prevent an accident from following in the wake of the blowout, it is important to do everything you can to prevent tire blowouts from happening in the first place. These six preventative steps will help you avoid costly tire blowout damage and accidents.

• Avoid risky driving zones. These include very rough roads, which can cause weaker tires to blow or flatten (which can cause a later blowout). This is especially true if your tires are not new or the tread is starting to wear. Construction zones can also be risky, as you could drive over a nail, puncturing the tire.
• Get your tires inspected by a professional at least once a year. A mechanic can let you know if your tires are too worn out or have suffered a puncture or other damage causing a slow leak that could lead to a blowout.
• Change your tires regularly. Even if no wear is visible, tires undergo a lot of pressure every day, which makes them more vulnerable to exploding over time. Generally, you should change them out every 35,000 miles or every few years. As soon as you can see cracks, serious tread wear, or other damage, you also need to change the tires out.
• Check your tires weekly. Look for any cracks, irregular sidewall, dents, bumps, or weakened areas on the tires. Also, make sure that the tire pressure is ideal by putting air in the tires as needed.
• Check over your tires after every accident or incident. Even just bumping the curb a bit can cause a leak that leads to a blowout. As soon as possible after an incident that could affect the tires, check for damage.
• Stay updated on recalls. Defective tires cause a significant proportion of tire blowouts. Keep yourself up-to-date on any recalls on your brand of tires, and if there is a recall, follow all instructions given by the manufacturer.

If you take proper care of your tires by doing these things, you will be much less likely to have a tire blowout accident. Unfortunately, some people are negligent about caring for their tires, putting you at risk. Other times, a defective tire itself or poor workmanship by a mechanic can make you more likely to get into a tire blowout accident. When this happens, it can be difficult to hold the responsible party liable.

You may deserve compensation for accidents caused by the negligence of another driver or a third party. That’s why the experienced personal injury attorneys at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. have dedicated themselves to fighting for your rights. Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Chicago area, including Aurora, Elgin, Hinsdale, Joliet, Naperville, and Waukegan. If you have been in a tire blowout accident or other collision, call us today at (312) 236-2900 for a free consultation on your case.