Tire Defects

Defective tires can lead to fatal automobile crashes. A fatal Texas accident this month was caused by a tire blowout. According to troopers, the driver of an 18-wheeler lost control after a tire blew out. The semi went into oncoming traffic and collided head on with a truck. The driver of the truck died on impact.

A blown tire is being blamed for a rollover accident that killed 3 children last month in a Missouri truck accident. The accident occurred this month near Hayti, Missouri. The Ford Expedition was heading south when the tire blew. The vehicle then ran off the road and rolled multiple times. A 13-year-old, 10-year-old and an infant were killed and 7 others were injured. All occupants were ejected. 

Also, it's important that consumers know that car tires get weaker as they get older. And when tires blow out, the consequences for drivers can be grave. In fact this spring a 26-year old man was killed instantly when his car was in motion and a rear tire blew out causing it to veer off the roadway and roll over two times. He died in spite of wearing a seat belt.

Similarly, earlier this year a tire blowout in Missouri was expected to be part of the cause of an accident that sent three people to the hospital when a P.T. Cruiser driven by a 22-year-old woman was traveling at a high rate of speed. When the tire blew out, the vehicle ran off the road and overturned. The young driver was wearing a seatbelt and had minor injuries, but two passengers were not wearing seatbelts and were airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries. 

A Michigan van accident this year that led to numerous injuries occured when an 18-year-old man was killed and numerous others injured, when a rear tire blew out of a 2002 Chevy Express Van carrying 16 passengers in the Grand Rapids area. The van clipped another vehicle before rolling several times. Many of the passengers were ejected but are expected to survive. 

On average, the federal government issues three tire recalls a month. In fact it was recently announced that Goodyear is recalling around 40,000 truck, van and SUV tires due to possible de-treading. Six versions of Wrangler Silent Armor tires, made between March 31 and May 31 of 2009 are affected by the recall. Goodyear will be replacing the recalled tires with new ones for no cost. The recall will start March 22, 2012.

Goodyear was prompted to recall the tires after two people died last August in Texas. An 18- and 21-year old were driving back to Sul Ross State University when the tread separated from the right front tire of the driver's Ford F-150 truck. The de-treading caused the pickup truck to side-skid and then over turn. 

In general, manufacturers themselves issue even more recalls. Unfortunately, manufacturing defects are often hidden until the moment when a tire actually fails. Tire failure can cause loss of vehicle control, leading to collisions with other vehicles, impacts with stationary objects, or rollovers, causing serious injury or even death.

Additionally, while consumers may remain unaware of the shelf life of tires, tire manufacturers have known for decades that tires should not be used after six years, regardless of tread wear. And after six years, even a brand new tire that has never been used before is too dangerous to install on a vehicle. Nevertheless, retailers continue to sell aged tires.

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The personal injury trial attorneys at Langdon & Emison have helped people nationwide in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits arising from defective products, including faulty and defective tires. If you or someone you love has been injured in an automobile accident, contact the products liability lawyers at Langdon & Emison today to help evaluate whether a defective tire may have been responsible.