Tips To Avoid a Tire Blowout
For as common as they are, tire blowouts are extremely serious. When a tire gives out on the road at high speed, the driver can lose control of the vehicle and swerve into the path of other cars, bicyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians.
Tire blowouts usually happen in older cars (with older tires) on high-speed roadways like highways and interstates. Since heat can be a factor in a tire blowout, it is more common for them to happen in the summer months. Tire blowouts may be caused by a combination of issues, such as:
- Tire underinflation (insufficient air pressure)
- Tire overinflation
- Overloaded vehicles
- High speeds
- Poor road conditions
- Uneven wear on tread
- Punctures
- Low tread
- Poor quality or defective manufacturing
- Worn-out tire walls
- Wheel and rim damage
- Road debris
A tire blowout can be prevented and, in many cases, can be handled safely if it occurs. Follow our top tips to avoid a tire blowout if you want to avert this dangerous vehicle problem before it happens to you.
How Do You Avoid Tire Blowouts?
Most tire blowouts are caused by air pressure issues, overuse, or excessive wear and tear, so simple maintenance practices can go a long way in preserving the integrity of your tires.
To keep yourself, passengers, and others sharing the road with you safe, follow these tips to avoid a tire blowout:
- Check the condition of your tires regularly
- Do a quick visual scan of your tires each time before you drive
- Periodically check tire pressure with a hand-held tire pressure gauge to make sure it is within the range specified by the manufacturer
- Make sure the pressure is within range on your spare tire as well
- Do not overload the weight of your vehicle
- Do not haul trailers or another large object beyond your vehicle’s capacity
- Try to avoid roadways with loose gravel, debris, and potholes
- Change your tires in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, usually every six years or every 25,000 to 50,000 miles
- Repair any damage to wheel rims as soon as it happens
- Avoid taking sharp corners at high speeds, running over curbs, or driving in any way that can cause structural damage to wheels and tires
- Don’t try to save money by purchasing cheap or used tires
- Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or as often as advised in your vehicle owner’s manual
What To Do if a Tire Blowout Happens While Driving
Having a tire blow suddenly on the highway is a terrifying experience. Many people’s natural reaction is to slam on the brakes and yank the wheel hard against the pull created by the tire explosion. But these actions can make an already-bad situation much worse.
To minimize your chances of becoming involved in a collision after a tire blowout, take these steps to get your car to safety:
- Remain calm.
- Activate your hazard lights.
- Don’t jerk the steering wheel. Keep it pointed in the direction you want to go.
- Don’t brake suddenly.
- Reduce speed slowly by easing off the accelerator.
- Move your vehicle to the side of the road when accessible.
- Park in a safe area with a wide shoulder.
- Put triangles or lights around your vehicle if you have them.
- Change your tire or call for assistance if needed.
Who Is at Fault for a Tire Blowout?
Some tire blowouts are just bad luck. But in many cases, a blowout could have been prevented with reasonable care. If that’s the case, your tire blowout accident may have been caused by negligence, making you eligible to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
When tire blowouts are caused by negligence, it is typically one of two types of negligence: motorist negligence or manufacturing company negligence. Less commonly, a blowout may also have been caused by the negligence of a government entity (like a municipal government body) that was responsible for designing or maintaining roads.
Motorist Negligence
When a motorist is responsible for a tire blowout, it is because they failed to uphold a duty they had as a vehicle owner. Owning a car means making sure it is road-safe every time you take it out on the streets and highways of Mississippi. If a car owner neglects to ensure the safety of their vehicle, they may be held accountable for the injuries it causes to others.
A car accident attorney can help you investigate the actions of the vehicle owner to determine if they are liable for your accident and related losses.
Manufacturing Company Negligence
When a manufacturing company is responsible for a tire blowout, it is because they created a faulty product that was bound to fail. No matter how safely the driver operated their vehicle or how frequently they checked the tires, a defective tire can still give out at any moment. If a manufacturer puts a tire on the market that was designed or produced with a defect, the company may be held liable for injuries and property damage caused by the failure.
A product liability lawyer can represent you in taking legal action against a corporation that put a dangerous product into consumer hands.
What Happens When You’re Injured in a Tire Blowout Accident?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 600 people a year lose their lives in tire-related motor vehicle traffic incidents. If we all follow the best tips to avoid a tire blowout, we can help lower these numbers.
Being injured in a preventable accident caused by a tire blowout has a severe impact on your life. You may be facing medical bills, lost wages, a loss of transportation, physical pain, and emotional health injuries after a serious accident. When your accident was caused by the negligence of another person or party, we can help.
Contact Corban Gunn, Attorney at Law to begin a conversation about your future. We have what it takes to put your life back on track. There’s never any charge for you to come speak with a qualified Mississippi attorney at our law firm. We’ll match you with an experienced legal advocate who can take your car accident or product liability claim to a successful outcome.
