Whatever vehicle you drive – a car, minivan, truck or sport utility vehicle (SUV) – the tires on your vehicle are a vital part of its ability to operate in a safe manner. Literally, tires are the rubber that stands between you and the roadway. As a consumer, you should exercise initiative when comparing vehicle ratings and safety features.
However, the importance of tire performance, integrity and quality in preventing catastrophic and fatal highway accidents should not be overlooked. Depending on where you are traveling such as city streets, highways or scenic roads, the ability to stop and safely maneuver your vehicle is critical to avoiding or preventing traffic accidents. Tires play a crucial role in how your car operates, whether you are traveling under standard conditions or in increment weather. Unfortunately, however, if and when a defective tire fails, there is often no warning.
If you or someone you love have been injured in an accident and you feel the collision was due to defective tires or current tire recalls, contact Attorney Group to learn more about your legal rights.
Why You Should Check Your Tires Regularly
Not many consider the components of our vehicles before we embark on our daily drives. However, in order to understand the importance of tire safety, it is vital to be aware of how tires function. Tires are constructed in layers, with the tire tread existing as the outermost rubber layer – the portion you can see on your vehicle. Tread separation occurs when this outermost tread separates without warning from the layers underneath it, causing the tire to blowout or a rapid decrease in the tire’s air pressure.
The Serious Nature of Tire Recalls
Defective tires and tire recalls are a major concern of industry watchdogs and consumer safety advocates who point to their involvement in several vehicle collisions and fatalities. A defective tire can, without warning, tear apart at the treads or blow out, sending the driver and vehicle spinning out of control.
In recent years, several high-profile cases involving defective tire and tire recalls and the fatal car crashes attributed to these tires have made headlines across the country. In 2000, the Bridgestone Firestone mandatory fire recall once against brought the issue of defective tires and tire recalls to the national public spotlight. In this case, drivers of Ford Explorers and other SUVs were seriously injured or killed in rollover accidents, and the tire manufacturer recalled over 6.5 million units. Several lawsuits were brought forth, alleging that the failure of the tires caused the accidents.
The problem of tire safety and defective tires did not end in 2000 with the Bridgestone Firestone recall. Tire recalls continue to be issued by dealers and manufacturers, and regulatory and government safety groups continue to investigate problems with tires.
Most recently, Hercules tires have been involved in multiple tire recalls across the U.S. In February 2013, the company issued its latest recall due to the potential for its defective tires to experience in-service belt and tread separations. If a vehicle is in motion and the tires separate from the tread, the driver could be at risk of losing control of the vehicle without any warning.
When an accident occurs and aged or defective tires may be the cause, the tire retailer, tire manufacturer or dealer may be held accountable for the crash. If you have been injured in an accident that you feel was caused by defective tires, seek legal counsel to learn more about your rights and filing a claim for compensation.
Attorney Group Can Answer Your Questions Today
If you have been injured in an accident due to a defective tire or you have questions about recent or pending tire recalls in your state, contact Attorney Group for more information. We can evaluate your case, free of charge, if you have been injured in an accident and connect you with an attorney experienced in handling lawsuits involving tire recalls. Your legal counsel will work to help you seek the compensation to which you may be entitled.
