Defective tires may play a role in motor vehicle accidents

March 02, 2013

Defective tires may play a role in motor vehicle accidents

Nearly every motorist has been involved in a car or truck accident at some point, or have at least seen one while driving. Many of these crashes result only in minor inconveniences to the drivers, as they may be without a vehicle until the damages are repaired.

Each motor vehicle accident gives law enforcement officers and other safety agencies an opportunity to learn about the factors that led to the crash. The information that these investigations uncover can help to make roadways safer for all drivers.

The condition of the vehicles involved in the accident is one of the items that will be examined. Officials are looking for any defects that may have caused the collision. This includes inspecting the vehicle's tires, as these failures often lead to drivers being unable to control their vehicles.

A 2012 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed accident data to determine the rate of tire-related motor vehicle accidents. NHTSA reviewed accidents that occurred over a two-year time period and estimated that tires played a major role in nine percent of the crashes. Half of the tire-related accidents were single-vehicle crashes.

Some of these accidents occur because the tires were manufactured improperly. Tire-tread defects, for example, are particularly dangerous to motorists because they can impact any tire at any time, even those right out of the store. Manufacturers, under pressure to meet demand, may produce tires that are not manufactured or designed to perform the tasks that they need to perform. The tire then breaks apart when an individual is driving, leading to the accident.

If a tire separates while a motorist is traveling at highway speeds, it can lead to serious accidents. According to the NHTSA study, 45 percent of the SUVs involved in tire tread separation crashes rolled over, increasing the potential that the vehicle's occupants may be more severely injured or killed.

If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, you should contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Your accident will need to be reviewed to determine who is responsible in order to determine if you will be eligible for compensation.

Insurance companies are sometimes not on your side. They may offer you much less than your claim is worth in the hopes you will settle with them early. It is important that you know exactly what your potential damages may be, so that you receive the compensation you are entitled to receive under the law.

Article provided by The Huver Law Firm
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