The driver in the car with the blown tire would usually still be liable for causing an accident. However, in some cases, a tire manufacturer, a City, County, or state transportation department, or a tire shop could also be held liable.
Maison Law helps victims who are hurt when struck by cars that suffer tire blowouts. We can hold negligent drivers who didn’t keep up their tires liable for all medical bills and lost time at work. Please contact a California Car Accident Lawyer for a free case review to find out about every benefit available.
Determining Who’s to Blame for a Tire Blowout Accident
California drivers are required to keep their vehicles in good working condition. That includes monitoring tire wear and replacing damaged or bald tires.
The duty is explained in the California Vehicle Code (CVC) beginning here:
“(a) It is unlawful to operate any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in an unsafe condition, or which is not safely loaded, and which presents an immediate safety hazard.”
In a tire blowout, a driver found to have put others in danger by riding around on unsafe tires could be held responsible for the damage caused in any resulting collisions. They can be liable for vehicle damage and any injuries victims in other vehicles (or pedestrians and cyclists) suffered.
But in some cases, other parties can be forced to accept responsibility for crashes caused by a tire issue.
- Tire manufacturer. A tire maker could be liable if a defect in the tire is found to have caused a blowout and accident. It’s possible that a company should have put out a recall on a tire discovered as unsafe, but failed to do so.
- Government Department. A pothole. Any road hazard that pops a tire could leave City, County, or State DOT officials liable for an accident. Usually, drivers have to show that the city knew about a dangerous pothole. If other drivers have reported a dangerous gap in a California road, drivers have a better chance of blaming an accident on a government agency.
- Owner of an Auto Shop. If a tire business installed tires improperly or sold a tire that had a nail in it, the installer may face blame and accountability in an accident. A shop that puts unbalanced tires on a car could be held at fault.
- Trucking Business Owner. A local farm, retailer, or delivery company that sent drivers and vehicles out on the road might have to take responsibility for a truck or van that had a blowout and smashed into other vehicles. The business owner could be liable for failing to upkeep its fleet of vehicles. The business might also have overloaded a vehicle or placed an unbalanced load in a trailer, adding extra strain on a tire.
Proving a tire blowout caused a crash, and demonstrating why a tire exploded will require a lot of evidence and expertise.
A skilled Maison Law attorney can fully investigate what happened and back a strong case with documentation, expert testimony, and other evidence. It’s the best way to help accident victims secure the full support they need to heal and rebuild their lives.
Support for Victims Hurt in an Accident Caused by a Blown Tire
If you’ve suffered a serious injury, you’ll have enough to do just trying to manage a difficult recovery. It should be the negligent driver with faulty tires who caused a crash who should have to worry about how medical costs and other bills get paid.
Your Maison Law attorney would demand these and other benefits for your recovery.
- Full payment of existing medical bills and those expected in the future.
- Any expenses associated with a permanent disability. The cost of support over a lifetime.
- The toll of physical pain.
- The toll of emotional trauma, including the anxiety and depression that can accompany a difficult recovery.
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to an injury, including having to give up hobbies and time with family.
- Travel costs of making doctor’s appointments and seeing out-of-town specialists while unable to drive.
- The cost to get your vehicle working again or the money to replace it.
- All income and job benefits reimbursed for victims who haven’t been able to work.
- Wrongful death benefits for families who lose a loved one to an accident
Drivers who are in vehicles when a tire explodes, causing an accident, may be able to seek damages of their own. If a tire shop or a tire manufacturer provided tires that weren’t safe, these companies might have to take responsibility for every recovery cost.
It’s always smart to talk over your case with a real California attorney in a free consultation to see if you could get help as you heal from an injury.
Contact a California Car Accident Attorney
If another driver caused your accident, it’s that driver and their car insurance company that should be stressing about recovery costs.
To find out what’s possible, take advantage of a free case review with a real lawyer at Maison Law. This evaluation comes with no obligation to you or your family and is available to all California accident victims. Find out what your injury is worth and how to make insurance companies pay what’s fair.
There’s no obligation for your free case review, but if you feel Maison Law can help you earn more for your claim, you don’t have to worry about having money to hire us. There are no upfront costs. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement money you and your family receive.
