Tire Blowout Accidents in Texas: Uncovering Negligence and Pursuing Damages - Perspectives from a Dallas Attorney

The typical occurrence of a blown tire can cause serious vehicle accidents. When 18-wheelers are involved, the results may be catastrophic. Truck drivers regularly lose control of their trucks due to tire blowouts. Cargo from a swerving truck may be thrown into oncoming traffic or off the road, increasing the likelihood of collisions.

Jackknifing and rolling are two more outcomes of tire blowouts. The potential for injury increases dramatically when combustible or otherwise dangerous goods are transported in a truck.

If you've been hurt in a truck crash through no fault of your own and you suspect the cause was a tire blowout, contact an attorney right away. In the meantime, read below to learn more about how to move forward with a claim in the aftermath.

How is Fault Determined in a Texas Truck Accident Claim?

Because of the regulations overseeing companies and truck drivers, most of them are safe and competent behind the wheel. However, some drive recklessly, or factors outside their control, such as a tire blowout, may contribute to a crash.

Fault for a semi-truck accident in Texas is more difficult to place than in other vehicle accidents because there can be multiple parties that share fault. This can include:

• The truck driver
• The trucking company
• The company that loaded the truck
• The manufacturer of the truck
• The truck maintenance company

If you have been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler in the state of Texas, contact one of our Dallas truck accident attorneys at Rasansky Law Firm to learn about your options.

Liability of Tire Blowout Accidents

Liability in a trucking accident can often fall upon more than one party. Proving liability can be even more difficult with so many entities involved.

If negligence is involved, this must be proven. Everyone has a "duty of care" when driving, which means that we must all follow the rules given to us to keep others safe. If a driver or company has failed their duty of care, they can be charged with negligence. Moreover, the Texas statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the time of the accident, so victims must file as soon as they can.

Truck drivers and the companies they work with also have strict rules and regulations they must follow through the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA). If any of these regulations are broken, it can be much easier to determine which party is liable for the injuries accrued.

Generally, an attorney has access to investigators and forensic professionals who can figure out what caused the tire blowout and who was at fault. An attorney can determine if carelessness was the consequence of:

• A driver who neglected to do standard pre-trip checks on his truck.
• Tires that were too worn or faulty to be replaced by the mechanic.
• A trucking company's neglect caused the vehicles not to be regularly inspected.
• A manufacturer produced tires they know are substandard.
• A trucking company's refusal to repair damaged tires despite recalls

What Causes Tire Blowouts?

At any given moment, truck tires are subjected to a pressure of about 75,000 lbs. The extreme pressure causes extensive wear and tear on the rubber, rendering it vulnerable to a blowout. A tire may explode if the pressure within it becomes too high.

The following factors may lead to a tire blowout:

• Overinflated tires might explode due to the rapid expansion of the air trapped within them, caused by the tire's exposure to high temperatures (from the sun, asphalt, and friction).
• Underinflated tires are subjected to additional stress, which is transferred to the tire's internal components and causes them to flex beyond their design limits. Simultaneously, the tires overheat, and the rubber cracks and explodes.
• Overloaded trucks are a common issue in the transportation sector. When tires are overloaded, their pressure increases even more, and even the best tires might burst.
• Truckers regularly encounter road dangers, including fractured road surfaces and potholes, which may shred and destroy tires over time. A damaged tire might also quickly explode when subjected to additional pressure or heat.

Steps to Take After a Truck Accident

After a truck accident, contact 911 immediately and help the police officer with their investigation. Be careful to notify the proper authorities if you suspect negligence on the part of the truck driver or trucking company.

You may be eligible for substantial compensation if you can show that the truck driver's negligence or breaches contributed to your collision. If you delay, evidence like electronic logbooks and dash cam recordings may be lost.

There are other lines of evidence that truck accident attorneys might pursue, regardless of the cause of the crash:

• Electronic logging devices (ELDs) keep track of their drivers' work hours, including when they're on the road and taking breaks. A lawyer for a truck accident victim might request this data to see whether the driver worked more than the legally permissible amount of hours. The Hours of Service rules are intended to reduce driver fatigue, rather than affecting tire blowouts, but this is important to keep in mind for any truck accident claim.
• Driver's logs, which may be paper or digital documents on which the driver recorded his or her duty hours, can also be helpful. Using these records, authorities may check whether a motorist has worked more than the legal limit.
• Reports from police officers who responded to the site of the accident may include observations of the driver or the condition of the truck after a tire blo

Contact the Truck Accident Lawyers at Rasansky Law Firm

If you've been injured or lost a loved one in a trucking accident in Texas, you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Our truck accident attorneys have decades of experience helping victims through their claims process. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm today at (214) 651-6100 or fill out the contact form on this page for a free consultation so that we can help you receive the compensation you deserve.