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Every motorist’s worst nightmare is driving along the road and suddenly experiencing a blow-out, especially when traveling at high speeds. When blowouts happen, drivers lose control of their vehicles. Should this happen when there are multiple vehicles in the area, the single blow-out can result in a major multi-vehicle accident. Single-vehicle accidents are dangerous, but not as dangerous as multi-vehicle accidents where injuries and damage can be more extensive. 

Primary causes of tire blow-out or failure: 

1. Tire over or under inflation - The owner of a local tire company in Lehigh Acres advises, “First and foremost, it needs to be properly inflated.” A tire industry survey found nearly 70 percent of vehicles have under-inflated tires. The NHTSA recommends that motorists check their tire pressure at least monthly and before starting a long road trip. Every day motorists should make a quick visual check of all four tires before driving. Tires that are visibly low should be taken to a garage, examined for punctures or holes, and repaired when necessary.

2. Aging bald or worn tires - The tread of a tire wears down over time. A bald tire occurs when the tread is completely worn down. Driving with bald tires can make driving perilous. Tires may also experience tread and/or sidewall separation. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) analyzed cases of tire tread separation and sidewall separation and weighted the results to arrive at a national estimate. It determined that about 23 percent of tow-away or police-reported crashes related to tires problems.Rubber deteriorates over time and dries out causing tires to decompose.  The NHTSA places a short (6 year) useful life limitation on tires depending on surface conditions and the environment in which they operate.

3. Overloading - If a vehicle is overloaded and the tires do not meet the load rating requirements, NHTSA says drivers are asking for trouble. Weight problems are even more of an issue with pickup trucks, vans, SUVs, and utility vehicles because these vehicles tend to haul heavier loads such as building materials. Tire load ratings should be checked to be sure the tires being used meet the application.

4. Defective or badly designed tires - Manufacturing and design problems can also cause blowouts. Most tires today are steel belted radial tires. These tires have a recurring problem of tread separation. Tread separations have been implicated in rollover crashes according to SmartMotorist.com. 

Blow-outs can usually be prevented with regular maintenance, tire rotation and inspections. However, the tires may simply be defective. Defective tires can lead to multi-vehicle crashes. 

“It is important to have an attorney involved in the complexity of multi-vehicle crashes. Establishing who did what takes an experienced team,” said Fort Myers Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. 

Fort Myers Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.