Semi-trucks and other large commercial vehicles require specialized training to operate. They can be challenging to control in inclement weather, on damaged roads, or in other less-than-ideal conditions. When a truck driver experiences a tire blowout, they are at risk of losing control or the vehicle could overturn, often resulting in a catastrophic accident.
If you were injured in a semi-trailer truck accident involving a tire blowout, contact the New Braunfels truck accident lawyers at the Troy Burch Law Firm. We have decades of experience with personal injury cases and provide our clients the one-on-one attention they deserve.
Furthermore, our history of success shows that we know how to get our clients fair compensation for their injuries. To learn more about how we can help with your tire blowout accident, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
Common Causes of Tire Blowouts
Here are a few of the most common reasons semi-trucks experience a tire blowout:
- Under-inflation – Semi truck tires must be properly inflated to safely handle the combined weight of the truck and its trailer. When a tire is underinflated, the tire’s internal components flex more than they should. The intense weight of a truck and trailer can cause an underinflated tire to burst, leading to an accident.
- Treadburn – “Treadburn” is a phenomenon that occurs when a tire’s tread breaks down due to overheating and the friction of the road surface. As the tire heats up, treadburn can cause it to burst or malfunction in another way, resulting in a tire blowout accident.
- Tread separation – Tread separation describes a situation in which the rubber tread of a tire separates from the tire’s metal. Shredded pieces of the tread can become trapped under the moving truck, doing additional damage. The tread can also fall onto the road behind the truck, causing other vehicles to swerve to avoid damaging their own vehicle. In either case, the result is often an accident.
- Potholes – Most potholes are annoying but relatively harmless, producing little more than a jolt as the vehicle drives over the pothole. But in some cases, the jolt caused by a pothole is severe enough to cause a tire blowout. Older tires and a lack of proper maintenance make pothole blowouts more likely.
- Heat – Tractor trailer tires accumulate wear and tear quickly because of the weight they bear and the long distances trucks travel. When a tire becomes overheated, it’s more susceptible to a blowout, which can cause a collision.
- Driving on spare tires – Trucks go through tires more quickly than passenger cars, which means trucks sometimes operate with spare tires. These spare tires are not meant for long-term use. If the truck driver or their employer fails to replace the spare tire, it’s much more likely that they will experience a blowout on the road.
How To Prove a Tire Blowout Caused Your Accident
To claim financial compensation after a truck tire blowout crash, you’ll need to prove that the blown tire caused the accident. Some types of evidence that can help you prove your case include:
- Police accident reports
- Photos and videos from the accident scene, especially if they show the blown tire or fragments of the tread
- Eyewitness accounts
- Forensic accident investigations
- The truck’s maintenance records
- Records from the truck’s electronic data recorder
- The truck driver’s logs
The more evidence you have documenting the truck’s bald tires or the tires were worn in some way, the better your chances of recovering fair compensation for your injuries. An experienced Texas truck accident attorney can help you gather the evidence you need to pursue the compensation you need.
Possible Compensation for a Tire Blowout
If you were injured in a tire blowout crash, Texas law allows you to demand compensation for a wide range of losses. This can include compensation for:
- Any medical bills related to the accident, including the cost of future treatment you may need
- Lost wages from missed work while you were recovering from your injuries
- Reduced earning capacity if your injuries impact your ability to work
- Damaged personal property
- Your pain and suffering from the accident, including both the physical and psychological pain you’ve suffered
One of the most common questions we hear at our firm is what to do if your car was damaged by tire debris after a blowout. Initially, this damage may be covered by your auto insurance policy. However, through a claim against the truck driver and their employer, you may be able to recover compensation for the cost of your repairs.
Another thing to note about truck tire blowouts is that parties other than the truck driver may be liable. For example, the trucking company or maintenance workers may be partially liable if the evidence shows that the vehicle’s tires weren’t properly maintained. Similarly, the manufacturer of the tires may be liable for a crash if a tire design or manufacturing defect contributed to the accident.
How Troy Burch Can Help
Recovering full compensation for your injuries after a truck tire blowout accident takes work. There’s evidence to gather, forms to fill out, and negotiations with multiple potentially liable parties. Luckily, an experienced personal injury lawyer knows how to get it done and done well.
Troy Burch and the team at the Troy Burch Law Firm can help. We can work on your truck accident claim while you focus on healing and putting your life back together. We’re ready to investigate the crash, identify who might be liable, and build a strong case for compensation. And if necessary, we’re not afraid to bring your case to trial to demand the money you need and deserve from whoever caused the crash.
Don’t wait. There’s a strict deadline for truck accident cases in Texas.
Our New Braunfels truck accident lawyers are available to speak with you in more detail about whatever questions you have. Contact our New Braunfels office today for a free initial consultation.
