Large truck accidents can have tragic outcomes. So many times, a catastrophic injury is sustained, if not a fatal injury. For commuter vehicles, the dangers posed by tractor-trailers needs to be taken seriously. Our Bartow, FL truck accident attorneys can help following an accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence.
Driver error is a common cause of many auto collisions, yet it is not the only factor. In some cases, tire problems can lead to loss of vehicle control and other dangerous situations. With this in mind, we want to consider the potential hazards of tire blowouts in large trucks.
Miles Traveled by Large Trucks
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, commercial vehicles traveled an estimated 296 billion miles in 2015. Given the miles covered, it should come as no surprise that the tires on these vehicles experience a great deal of wear and tear on a daily basis.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 433,000 large trucks were involved in a police-reported collision in 2015. These crashes resulted in 116,000 injuries and 4,067 fatalities. There were 215 fatal truck accidents in the state of Florida in 2015.
Large Trucks Losing Control
When a tire blows out, there’s a major risk of a driver losing control of their vehicle. These dangers are obviously worse when that vehicle happens to be a large truck. The driver of a large truck may swerve to regain control, increasing the risk of sideswipe accidents and worse.
Risk of Jackknife Accidents
Jackknifing is another risk to consider when a driver loses vehicle control. A jackknife accident refers to the trailer of a large truck folding in toward the cab, a motion similar to the knife this accident is named after. As the trailer spreads into other lanes, the risk of affecting multiple vehicles increases.
Potential for Multi-Car Collisions
Whenever there is a risk of multiple vehicles being involved in an accident, this tends to increase the risk of catastrophic accidents and fatalities. In essence, the more vehicles involved in a crash, the greater the likelihood of harm befalling an occupant in a passenger vehicle.
Hazards from Flying Tire Tread
In addition to the loss of vehicle control, the tire tread can pose a number of dangers when its torn off or come loose. The tread could be flung off the tire, which can harm vehicles that are near the tire. The tread can shatter windows, and result in catastrophic injuries if it strikes a motorcyclist.
Even if the tread does not strike anything, it can still be hazardous as debris on the road. Motorists may instinctually swerve to avoid the tire tread, which increases the risk of collisions. If a vehicle runs over the tire tread, there is the risk of losing control.
Problems with the Tire Itself
Even if a trucking company regularly changes and rotates tires on their fleet of vehicles, other issues could result in tire blowouts. Poor tire design or manufacturing defects could increase the risk of blowouts. In these cases, the tire company may be liable for the trucking accident.
Learn About Your Legal Options
If you would like more information about your legal rights and options following a collision with a large truck, we encourage you to contact our team of auto accident attorneys. The legal team at Saunders Law Group is here to help you in your time of legal need.
