Car Accidents Following The Use of Defective Tires in Miami
Every year, over 5,000 car accidents which are caused by defects in the vehicle’s tires take place in Florida alone.
In Miami, defective tires often cause serious car accidents, resulting in major injuries, such as rollovers, with a 50% fatality rate. When the tire sidewall deforms, cars and trucks can tip over.
Tire sidewall deformity is a problem that can also lead to another major tire defect: blowouts. These can cause drivers to easily lose control in heavy traffic. You and your passengers can be severely injured and you may injure innocent pedestrians and passengers in other vehicles as well.
Who Is Responsible for Defective Tires Car Accidents in Florida?
Tire manufacturers have the legal responsibility to deliver safe and reliable products to their customers. When design or manufacturing defects affect the tire’s performance and thereby lead to a car accident, negligent tire manufacturers can be held liable. A claim may also be filed against the car manufacturer if the tires are part of the original equipment of the vehicle.
The following companies which manufacture car tires have recently faced recalls for their defective products:
- Michelin
- Triangle
- Primewell
- Kenda
- Dunlop
- Cooper
- General Tire
- Pirelli
- Continental
However, claims can also be brought against retailers who knowingly sold defective tires. When a tire has been stacked in the inventory for many years, the retailer knows that it cannot be safely used and should therefore not sell it. The rubber in a tire weakens and oxidizes over time. Consequently, an unsuspecting driver could be driving at highway speed when the tire suddenly de-treads, causing them to lose control of the car and possibly crash.
Defective car tires cases we handle and investigate in Miami Florida
With over 20 years of experience as a law firm specializing in defective product cases, we have recovered financial compensation for numerous drivers who were wrongfully injured by malfunctioning tires. If you find yourself in this situation, we strongly encourage you to contact our attorney, Sean M. Cleary, for a prompt case review.
There are multiple ways in which the use of a defective tire can result in a severe car accident. Investigating the circumstances in which the car accident took place is always necessary before establishing liability and the amount of compensation the victim should receive.
Our technicians and car accident reconstruction specialists will carefully investigate the causes of every car accident, as well as the components of the car, including the tires. Regardless of how renowned the tire or car manufacturer is, if their negligence led to physical and emotional injury, they must be held responsible for the defective car components they put on the market.
We know exactly what to look for in a car accident caused by a defective tire, such as:
- Faulty construction
- Mistakes in the manufacturing of the tire
- Skim stock defects
- Bad design leading to explosion or blowout
- Defects leading to tire sidewall deterioration
- Tire bead failure
- Bad tread or retreaded tires
- Failure to disclose a tire’s age
- Missing tire markings
Why Do Car Tires Fail?
Both design and manufacturing defects can contribute to tire failure. One of the most common causes is tread separation. It mainly occurs when tire components are poorly glued together. During the manufacturing process, foreign materials such as moisture or impurities may get into the tire, affecting the way rubber and steel bond. The risk is mainly present because:
- Tires are made manually, so perspiration and dirt can contaminate the materials
- Most tire manufacturers refuse to use nylon overlays which make tread separation less likely to occur
- Final tire inspections are not properly conducted, so defects are not always identified
Another common defect that can lead to tire failure is the partial or complete separation of the tire from its rim, resulting in immediate loss of tire pressure. Therefore, an underinflated tire is more likely to de-bead during sudden turns and cause a rollover.
Inadequately speed-rated tires are also likely to lead to car accidents. Despite the fact that most manufacturers equip their vehicles with tires that are speed-rated at something greater than the maximum speed capability of the car, this type of tire failure can still occur in one of the following circumstances:
- The temperature is excessively high
- The car is heavily loaded
- The car is traveling at a speed close to the maximum limit
Other common causes of tire failure include:
- Oversized tires: these raise the height of the gravity center, thereby increasing the risks of the vehicle tipping over
- Aged tires: after six years, a tire’s risk of failure increases significantly
- Mismatched tires: different tires have different characteristics and will perform differently in similar situations
- Misplaced tires: new tires in front of the vehicle and old ones in the rear can lead to hydroplaning
Despite the fact that structural defects or installation errors often increase the chances of being involved in a traffic collision, car accidents that happen in Miami and Florida need to be carefully investigated before establishing liability. If you were involved in a car accident and you suspect it may have been the result of a defective tire, you should seek legal assistance immediately. We can accurately investigate the circumstances of your car accident and determine whether you have a case.
What Can You Recover After a Car Accident Caused by Defective Tires?
The amount of compensation you are eligible for highly depends on the details of the car accident and the injuries you sustained. We will need to carefully review the circumstances of your car accident. Sean Cleary, our product liability lawyer, will build your case based on expert analysis and prove that the car accident was the result of a defective tire, as well as that the tire manufacturer failed to provide you with safe and reliable products. We will file a claim for negligence on your behalf and you will recover compensation for the health issues you are struggling with due to a car accident that could have been avoided.
In product liability cases, we can file claims to recover the following:
- Medical expenses, including future medical costs
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Loss of wages, including future wages
- Pain and suffering
