A defective tire equipped to your vehicle could one day cause you to lose control of your vehicle and end up in a serious accident. If this happens, any person would want to know who is responsible for their accident. If you or a family member was injured in a car accident due to a defective tire, you should consult with an experienced Philadelphia defective tire accident lawyer.
The Reiff Law Firm has seen how a defective tire can cause a victim to suffer serious injuries, and we are here for you in your time of need. Our firm can help evaluate your claim and determine who is responsible for your injuries. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940, or contact us online.
Common Causes of Defective Tire Accidents in Philadelphia, PA
Defective tire accidents can occur for many reasons. If you are involved in an accident due to a tire defect, you will want to ensure you know who is responsible for your injuries. This can help if you decide to file a product liability or personal injury lawsuit against the parties that manufactured the tires.
The following is a list of common causes of defective tire accidents.
Manufacturing Defect
Tread separation occurs when the steel belt in a radial tire fails to properly adhere to the rubber tread or other tire components. Poor adhesion may be caused by manufacturers using old and expired adhesives, unclean facilities, and improper or incorrect temperatures to cure the adhesive. To add insult to injury, we have discovered many instances where tires had not been inspected properly, and tire producers had skimped on quality control, with defective tires ending up on thousands of vehicles, sometimes resulting in bead failures, sidewall cracking, tread chunking, and rim explosion.
Manufacturing defects can affect a tire in several ways. For example, if a tire manufacturer has not mastered their process for producing tires, a tire could be made poorly. Impurities can be welded into the tire, or the overall quality of the tire could be inadequate for its purpose. Other issues that could be considered a manufacturing defect include:
- Improper fastening of the tire to steel belt
- Use of over-aged rubber
- Failure to perform a final inspection of tire
When a manufacturing defect occurs, it is possible that it could have affected multiple tires. As a result, the manufacturer may have to issue a recall as there could be a number of drivers that are using the defective tires.
Design Flaws
Design flaws like using a deficient skim sock, or failing to use important nylon overlays, which help the steel belts adhere to the rubber treads, make tires more prone to tread separation and blowout. Tire manufacturers have long understood that the defective design and placement of the rubber tread and steel belts on tires are one of the main causes of tread separation, but have continued to use solvents, chemicals, and materials that can bring about port compounding and tread separation.
A tire manufacturer must ensure that their products are designed for the intended purpose of a motorist. For example, if a tire manufacturer produced a tire to drive on snow or ice, consumers will use it for this purpose. However, if the tires do not function as they should, a consumer can be involved in an accident if the tires cause them to lose control in a snowstorm.
Lack of Product Warnings
If a tire manufacturer intended for their tires not to be used in a certain way or to be equipped in a certain fashion, it would be wise of them to include a product warning. Unfortunately, some tire manufacturers may not issue adequate product warnings with their products. As a result, consumers that read the insufficient product instructions are at a higher risk of using the product incorrectly, which could be dangerous.
It is also important for a driver to ensure that perform frequent maintenance on their tires. If a driver does not perform maintenance on their tires and a tire blowout or other issues occur, the driver could be blamed for causing the accident. Issues like under-inflation and flat spots are just some of the potential tire defects that a consumer should look out for.
To learn more about filing a product liability lawsuit against a tire manufacturer, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney.
Injuries Resulting From Tire Defects
Beyond tire defects and improper tire manufacturing, other preventable factors may cause tire blowouts and serious car accidents. Many people take their cars to garages and mechanics to get their tires changed and examined, but improper installation, installing the wrong size tire for the vehicle, and filling tires to an incorrect pressure may cause serious and often fatal car crashes and rollovers. These accidents can cause serious injury to drivers, passengers and those traveling in other vehicles. Injuries that typically result in compensation include:
- Lost limbs
- Paralysis
- Permanent disfigurement
- Brain injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Severe burns
- Death
Many people have severe headaches after a crash. Neck injuries can cause headaches, but long-lasting headaches could be a sign of brain injury. It’s essential to have a doctor check for signs of concussions and brain trauma. Anything that will have a permanent effect on your life (or causes death) will often entitle you to compensation. If you or a loved one have been injured due to a tire defect, it is critical to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to maximize your chances of recovering against negligent third parties.
When to File a Product Liability Lawsuit
If you wish to file a product liability lawsuit for a defective tire in Philadelphia, you should be aware that your claim is subject to a filing deadline. Specifically, the statute of limitations determines the amount of time that a person has to file a particular type of lawsuit. In Pennsylvania, plaintiffs that wish to file a product liability lawsuit have two years from the date of their injury to file their claim.
Note, however, that if a plaintiff does not file their case within the two-year deadline, they will be barred from filing their case in the future. In some cases, it may be possible to delay the filing deadline for your lawsuit. However, there are a number of requirements that must be met for this opportunity.
Our firm has handled a variety of tire defect claims, and we are prepared to work with you.
Tire Defects, Recalls, and Malfunctions
Only a few years ago, Firestone found itself in hot water when millions of their tires were found to have defects causing tread separation, which led to a massive recall of 6.5 million Firestone tires. Frighteningly, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. estimates that 200,000 tires subject to the recall have not been recovered and may still be traveling on roads everyday. Other major tire manufacturers and distributors have also recalled thousands of tires, and have been held accountable when their mistakes and negligence caused catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Recently, the Michelin tire company was slammed with an $11.96 million verdict against them after finding a defective tire was the catalyst for a tragic car wreck that killed six people and left a 12 year old boy paralyzed.
Work with Our Experienced Philadelphia Tire Defect Attorneys Today
If you or a family member was injured in a serious car crash, contact an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer today. At the Reiff Law Firm, our injury lawyers possess decades of combined legal experience, and we are prepared to offer you the legal representation that you deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation to discuss your legal situation, contact the Reiff Law Firm at (215) 709-6940.
