Defective Tires and Car Accidents

    ORLANDO, FL, June 26, 2010 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A tire failure is often a terrifying ordeal. When your tire blows out while you are driving, especially at a high speed, it can be alarming and cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Each year in the United States, defective tires are responsible for nearly 8,000 motor vehicle accidents, many being serious. There have been a number of high-profile tire recalls in the past few years, which demonstrate the severity of defective tires. Since the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was passed in 1966, there have been more than 24 million tires recalled because of safety defects.

Types of Tire Defects

There are several types of tire failures, including:

Tread Separation

Tread separation is the leading cause of most tire recalls, including the high-profile Bridgestone/Firestone recalls of 2000 and 2001. These tire defects were responsible for more than 270 deaths, and over 800 injuries. Tread separation is when the tread of your tire peels off because of poor design. This causes drivers to lose control, causing range of personal injuries, through no fault of the driver.

Tire Blowout

Design or manufacturing defects can also cause a tire blowout for no apparent reason. Blowouts occur when the tire quickly falls apart, resulting in an immediate loss of air pressure. Because it happens so fast, tire blowouts often lead to devastating accidents and catastrophic injuries. Statistics reveal that more than 500 fatalities are caused by tire blowouts each year, and around 23,000 motor vehicle accidents.

Tire or Rim Explosion

Rims and tires must be an exact match. If tires are placed on the wrong size rim, even a rim that is half-an-inch off, a tire can explode en route. Tire explosions are very dangerous occurrences, as they catch the driver by surprise, giving him or her very little time to react. This instant loss of control can lead to calamitous injures, and even death.

What to Do if Your Tire Blows

Tire blowouts are frightening experiences, but you can help prevent a potentially deadly situation by staying calm if your tire blows. Hold your wheel firm and steer your vehicle straight. Try to resist the urge to brake or jerk your steering wheel in the opposite direction of the blowout. Once your vehicle is under control, slowly decelerate and pull onto the shoulder.

Increase Your Tire Knowledge

By learning more about tires, you can help protect yourself and the occupants in your vehicle. Few drivers realize that tires deteriorate over time. Even if your tread looks sufficient, or if the tire has never been used, their shelf life is about six years. If you experience a blowout or tire separation before that and you did not hit an object on the road, the tire manufacturer may be to blame.

Ways to Prevent a Tire Injury

Here are several tips to help decrease your chance of a tire failure:

- When you purchase new tires, make sure the dealer has your accurate contact information so they can contact you if there is a tire recall.
- Check periodically for tire recalls at: www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recall_links.cfm
- Maintain appropriate tire maintenance: keep your tires properly inflated and frequently check for signs of damage and wear.
- Be especially cautious when inflating older tires, because they can be weak and may explode if over-filled.
- If you are inflating or mounting a tire, make sure that you understand the safe and proper way to do so.

If you have been involved in an accident and you believe a tire defect is to blame, you should speak to a qualified Florida personal injury lawyer. If you live in the Central Florida area, please visit the Web site for Orlando automobile accident attorney Michael Barszcz, M.D., J.D. today at www.themdjd.com.

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