Who is Liable if I Was Injured by a Semi-Truck Tire Blowout?

Tires wear down over time. This is particularly true for tires on large commercial trucks. If truck drivers and truck companies are not vigilant in their inspection and maintenance, truck tire blowouts can lead to significant accidents and injuries. Here, we want to discuss who could be held liable if someone is injured in a semi-truck tire blowout.

How Tire Blowouts Occur on Larger Trucks

Tire blowouts occur regularly when it comes to larger commercial trucks, and they happen due to various causes. The reality is that these trucks are incredibly large, and they can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Large vehicles inherently put more pressure on tires than other types of vehicles on the roadway. Additionally, tire blowouts are more likely to occur as the weather heats up, as the additional heat puts more pressure on the tire.

Some of the top causes of truck tire blowouts include:

• Underinflation or overinflation. Truck tires must be properly inflated in order to adequately carry the weight of the truck and the cargo. Underinflated truck tires could lead to the internal components of the tire flexing beyond their capacity, which will eventually lead to a blowout. Additionally, over-inflating the tire puts entirely too much pressure on the components of the tire and can also lead to a blowout.
• Overloading. Trucks are only supposed to carry a certain amount of weight set forth under the law. If larger truck tires are overloaded beyond capacity, this will increase the chance that a blowout occurs.
• Potholes. Poorly maintained roadways are disastrous for any type of tire, particularly tires on larger trucks. Striking a pothole hard enough can lead to structural damage for a large truck tire and increase the likelihood that a blowout will happen.
• The “slow death”. Trucking companies are required to regularly inspect and maintain every truck, including the tires. Failing to adequately maintain truck tires, including replacing them as they become worn out, will increase the chance of a blowout.

Who Will Pay Compensation in a Tire Blowout Claim?

There could be various parties held liable in the event a tire blowout occurs and causes an accident on the roadway. Typically, liability will fall to the truck owner, any company responsible for truck maintenance, or even the manufacturer of the tire.

Truck companies and or owner-operators are required to regularly inspect every component of the truck, including the tires. If these individuals or entities fail to inspect and maintain the tires and a tire blowout causes an accident, they could be held responsible for injuries and property damage.

Additionally, there are times when tires are defective and end up on trucks in Oregon. Defective tires can occur in a wide variety of ways, including design defects, damage during the manufacturing process, or a failure by the manufacturer to warn or instruct individuals without proper tire use.

If you or somebody you care about has been injured or sustained property damage as a result of a large commercial truck tire blowout, reach out to a Portland truck accident attorney immediately. A lawyer will investigate every aspect of these claims and work diligently to recover the evidence needed to prove liability. You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering damages, property damage expenses, and lost wages.