If you have been injured in a tire blowout accident in New Jersey, the car accident attorneys at Nagel Rice LLP are well-prepared to fight for your right to just compensation. If harm has come to you as a result of someone else’s negligence, whether you were the driver of the car with the blowout or not, the law entitles you to recover damages for your costs and losses. For over 30 years, our competent, compassionate trial attorneys have fought for victims of car accidents, giving us an impressive record of successful outcomes.
What Are Tire Blowouts and Why Are They So Dangerous?
Tire blowouts, when a tire suddenly “explodes,” losing all its air at once, are more common than you might think. Each year, according to the NHTSA, these events cause many traffic accidents, a large number of injuries, and well over 700 fatalities in the U.S. In addition to making a loud, distracting noise that affects all drivers in proximity, tire blowouts cause the driver of the affected vehicle to lose control, creating a serious hazard. This is particularly true because the majority of blowouts occur while the vehicle is traveling at a high rate of speed.
Blowouts are always a surprise, so some drivers slam on the brakes, causing a collision with the car behind them. Others jerk the wheel and swerve into traffic. A few lucky drivers, at a distance from other cars, manage to limp onto the shoulder without crashing into anything.
Common Causes of Tire Blowouts
There are many reasons for tire blowouts and while some are the driver’s (or vehicle owner’s) fault, many are the result of another party’s negligence. If your case is in the latter category, Nagel Rice is ready to file a lawsuit to pursue damages on your behalf. Reasons for tire blowouts include:
Potholes
When a car hits a pothole, the tires may bear the brunt of the impact. Some potholes have sharp edges that puncture the tire. In some situations, the sudden drop into the pothole causes a rapid change in pressure as the tire falls.
Pavement Irregularities or Debris
If a car hits a hard object on the road, runs over a piece of glass (jagged side up), or a nail that punctures one of its tires, this may cause a blowout. This is more apt to happen if the tires are already worn.
Underinflated or Overinflated Tires
Tires should be inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Under-inflation causes tires to wear thin on the side until eventually, they wear right through. Overinflation, though rare, can result in a rupture. Tire pressure should be checked regularly, especially if there is a drastic change in external air temperature or the car is known to have undergone a forceful impact.
Overloading the Car
Putting excessive weight in the body or trunk of the car puts too much pressure on the tires, particularly if the tires are worn, possibly causing a blowout.
Failing to Check or Rotate Tires Regularly
During regular checkups, tires should be rotated as recommended by the manufacturer. If not, uneven wear will put one or more tires at risk of a blowout. Also, it is important to check for punctures the driver may not be aware of, such as a nail embedded in the tread, that may weaken the spot until it wears through.
Manufacturing Defects
Tires, like other car parts, can be defective. In some cases, the manufacturer will recall them, but in others, the company has not become aware of the defect or may have recklessly failed to report it. If so, the car company is liable for damages.
Old or Worn Tires
Tires, like everything else, wear out, so they have to be inspected and replaced when necessary to avoid a blowout.
How Tire Blowouts Cause Injuries or Death
Tire blowouts may seriously injure, or result in the death of, the driver or passengers in the car that has the blowout or the drivers or passengers of one or more adjacent vehicles. Terrible injuries can also occur during one car’s collision with a tree, wall, or road divider.
Whether you were the driver or a passenger of the car with the tire blowout or the driver or passenger of another vehicle if you have been seriously injured Nagel Rice is here to help.
Injuries that Result from Tire Blowouts
Just about any injury may be caused by an accident involving a tire blowout, including:
- Bone fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burns
- Scars and other disfigurements
- Neuromuscular damage
- Internal bleeding or organ loss
Such injuries are all painful and incapacitating to some degree, but some can result in permanent disability or even wrongful death. This is why it is so important to have a knowledgeable, highly skilled attorney on your side.
We Will Work Hard for You and Your Loved Ones
While you are healing from your physical and emotional injuries, we will be fighting to win you compensation for all you have been through, including
- Medical and rehabilitation costs
- Lost income, present, and future
- Property damage or loss
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
- Extended nursing care
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If you have lost a close family member in a tire blowout accident, we know we can do nothing to lessen your grief. We will, however, fight fiercely to obtain damages for your final medical costs, funeral costs, and loss of financial and emotional support.
Contact Our Experienced New Jersey & New York Car Accident Lawyers
No matter what your particular circumstances, we will provide you with a free initial consultation to evaluate your case. Once we take you on as a client, we will use our knowledge and legal skill for you both in and out of the courtroom by:
- Communicating directly with opposing attorneys and insurance adjusters
- Examining information about the tires involved, their manufacture, and inspections
- Examining police records and medical reports
- Consulting with experts in tire manufacture/maintenance who may testify on your behalf
Above all, we will work tirelessly to provide you and your family with the legal advocacy you need and deserve, charging you no attorneys’ fees until we win you damages. Contact our car accident attorney at Nagel Rice LLP today to schedule an initial consultation.
Nagel Rice LLP helps their clients with their tire blowout car accident claims throughout New Jersey including Bergen County, Essex County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, Morris County, Passaic County, and Sussex County.