You may not give your tires much thought beyond making sure they’re inflated and occasionally checking the tread for wear. However, you rely on your tires to keep you safe on the road. Unfortunately, thousands of drivers are unaware they are driving on faulty or defective tires until they are in a car accident.
Have you been involved in an accident in Baltimore, MD, that you suspect was caused by faulty tires? An experienced Baltimore personal injury attorney can help you investigate your accident and hold the negligent manufacturer accountable.
Since 1977, WGK Personal Injury Lawyers has represented countless accident victims in cases involving product liability. Contact our law office at (410) 837-2144 for a free consultation with a Baltimore defective tire car accident lawyer to discuss how we can help you.
How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help You After a Defective Tire Car Accident in Baltimore
Cases involving defective products are notoriously complex. This is particularly true when a defective product causes a car accident. Multiple parties may share blame, including another driver, manufacturer, auto shop, or tire shop. An experienced Baltimore defective tire car accident attorney understands the avenues to pursue to gather evidence and prove liability.
WGK Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions in financial compensation for our clients since 1977. We have over 100 years of combined personal injury law experience to leverage on your behalf. Our firm includes three generations of Baltimore personal injury lawyers ready to help you.
When you hire our Baltimore, Maryland, personal injury law firm to represent you, we will:
- Perform a careful independent investigation into your accident
- Identify all parties who may be financially responsible
- Work with experts to document your damages and prove liability
- Calculate the full value of your current and long-term damages
- Handle all negotiations on your behalf
- Protect your legal rights and offer guidance at every stage
- Take your case to court if a fair settlement agreement isn’t reached
We are ready to help you pursue the fair compensation you are counting on. Call our law office today to schedule a free case review with a Baltimore car accident attorney to discuss your case and legal options.
Types of Tire Defects That Cause Accidents in Baltimore, Maryland
In 2021, there were 622 deaths caused by tire-related crashes in the U.S. These accidents were caused by flat tires, blowouts, manufacturer defects, and other types of tire failure. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tire failure or defects before a crash increase the risk of a rollover accident, one of the most dangerous types of crashes.
Many types of tire problems can cause a serious accident. Common examples of tire defects include:
- Faulty tire belt design
- Inferior materials that degrade quickly or do not perform as expected
- Inadequate quality control over contamination in the rubber, inner liner purity, or thickness
- Tire sidewall and tread extrusion defects
- Improper curing and molding process
- Treadwear that does not show properly
- Tire tread separation
- Tread and steel belt separation
- Poor repair or patch of a puncture
- Irregular or rapid wear due to a mechanical defect like a worn suspension or misalignment
- Improper mounting
- Wrong size for the vehicle
Tire failure or tire defects can cause you to suddenly lose control of your vehicle.
What Makes Tires Defective?
To determine who may be liable for your accident, an experienced car accident attorney will carefully investigate your accident. Experts will be consulted to examine photos and any physical evidence. Below are common causes of tire defects and failure.
Mechanical Issues
Improper vehicle maintenance or even defective auto parts can cause dangerous tire defects. The most common issues are misalignment and worn struts and shocks in the suspension system.
Each of these issues can cause uneven and accelerated tire wear and defects like scalloping and cupping. This can lead to tread separation and other issues that increase the risk of tire failure.
Overfilled or Underfilled Tires
Underinflated tires experience too much flex in the sidewall, which overheats the tire. This causes the tire to degrade faster and may cause separation.
Overinflation can also be dangerous as it makes the tire more susceptible to damage with a higher risk of a blowout. Both underinflation and overinflation also reduce braking distance.
Expired Tires
Many drivers are surprised to learn that tires get old and expire. Even when you buy new tires, they may have been sitting in a warehouse or storage for too long, potentially in poor conditions.
If you have ever tried to stretch an old rubber band, you can imagine the dangers of driving on expired tires with weak rubber.
Some manufacturers warn you to replace tires when they are six years old. Your tire is marked with its manufacture date. You can find your tire’s age by checking the sidewall.
Improper Installation or Repair
Sometimes, a defect is caused by errors in how the tire was installed or repaired. If the tire was not patched correctly, lug nuts were not tightened, or even the wrong size tires were installed, it can lead to poor performance, tire failure, or a blowout.
Manufacturing or Design Defects
Many tire defects occur in the design or manufacturing process. This can include poor design of the tire belt, incorrect compounding or curing, inadequate quality control, and poor tire bead preparation.
For example, improper bonding of the steel belting and tread to the casing during manufacturing can cause tread separation during use.
Who Is Liable for a Defective Tire Car Accident in Maryland?
When a defective tire causes an accident, multiple parties may share liability for the damages. Parties who can be held liable for an accident caused by a tire defect include:
- Tire manufacturer. Manufacturers are held strictly liable for defects in manufacturing or design. They can also be liable for negligence in storing and transporting tires.
- Car dealership. A dealership may be liable if they sell a vehicle after a recall is issued for the car or any part. They can also be responsible for causing a defect.
- Tire shop. The shop can be liable for selling old and unsafe tires as new, even if they were unused. They can also be liable if they incorrectly installed the tires.
- Mechanic. A mechanic or automotive repair shop can be liable for improper installation or repair of a tire that causes a defect or dangerous condition.
- Rental car company. They can be liable for knowingly renting a car with a defective tire, causing a defect, or failing to take reasonable steps to detect defects.
Manufacturers are subject to strict liability, which means they are responsible for dangerous or defective products even if they were not negligent or careless. Many other parties may be liable for negligence in the handling, sale, inspection, storage, installation, or repair of tires when they cause a defect or fail to take reasonable steps to detect flaws.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Baltimore Defective Tire Car Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured in a crash caused by a defective tire in Baltimore, Maryland? You may be entitled to compensation. WGK Personal Injury Lawyers is here to help you fight for the money you deserve to move forward with your life.
Our law firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. We will put more than 100 years of combined experience to work on your case.
Contact our law office to schedule a free case review with a Baltimore defective tire car accident lawyer to discuss your case and how we can help.
