In 2020, more than 600 people died in crashes related to tire failures in the United States. While a defective tire won’t always prove lethal, victims of blowouts and tire split incidents should receive compensation for the risk.
Who’s at fault when a tire sends a driver careening out of control? What can manufacturers do to make injured parties whole?
If you have to contend with tread separation, tire manufacturers should compensate you for the risk. A tire split incident can have significant legal implications.
Keep reading, and we’ll walk you through those implications. We’ll also tell you why you should get a defective tires lawyer and pursue justice for your experience.
What Constitutes a Tire Split?
Tire separation happens inside the tire. Every tire consists of several layers of material, and a split occurs when one of these layers disconnects from the others.
Once the tire’s layers no longer hold together, it can lose its grip on the road. This can lead to secondary problems like tire falloff or rollover accidents.
Who Is Liable?
In the event of a tire-related car accident, the manufacturer or retailer could be liable for damages. We’ll walk you through examples of both.
Manufacturer Issues
When a tire split occurs, the manufacturer often plays a major role. Newer tire manufacturers will sometimes cut costs on bonding the layers of tires together. This, in turn, leads to more separations.
Defects can occur at several stages in the process. Defects can be split into two categories: design and manufacturing. When defects become frequent, they can lead to a tire recall.
A design defect occurs when the tire’s structure won’t work for reasonable use. A tire for a family vehicle that separates during highway driving might have a design defect. Even if the company produced the tire to specifications, it doesn’t suit its recommended purpose.
A manufacturing defect happens when the process of making the tire introduces a problem. A tire with a weak sidewall not found on other tires in the line would serve as a good example of a manufacturing defect.
Retailer Issues
Sometimes retailers can be held liable for tire failure. When retailers sell you a car part, you should expect that part to come in serviceable condition.
Retailer liability comes into play when a tire is stored improperly or sold damaged. This can be difficult to prove unless you have good documentation of the circumstances.
Contact a Tire Defect Attorney
A tire split is a serious failure of one of the most important parts of your vehicle. A car accident caused by such a defect can maim or even kill you, your passengers, or other people on the road.
Don’t let yourself accept anything less than justice. If you’ve been in an accident related to tire failure in Florida, give us a call. If you’re on the fence, take a look at our case results.