If you’ve been hit in a truck tire blowout accident in Texas, you are likely due a settlement to compensate your damages.
But who should be held liable?
It often depends on who or what caused the accident to happen. The truck driver, trucking company, or even the tire manufacturer could be determined as the responsible party under different circumstances.
Truck accident claims can get complicated fast, involving multiple parties and insurance. In this case, we recommend getting a free consultation with No Bull Law to learn about your legal options and ways to maximize your potential payout.
In the meantime, read on to know the possible reasons for the accident, the parties that could be held liable, and the damages you can claim.
Before we dive into the parties that may be held responsible, we should consider why the tire blew out in the first place. The cause could help determine whose fault the accident was.
So let’s go through some common scenarios.
1. Wear and Tear
Improper tire maintenance is the most common cause of tire blowouts. Over time, tires naturally wear down. Without regular replacement, the tread becomes dangerously thin, and cuts or bulges may develop.
These issues make worn tires more prone to damage from road hazards like potholes, increasing the risk of punctures or blowouts.
In severe cases, the rubber tread may separate from the tire’s metal structure. When this happens, shredded pieces of rubber from defective tires can scatter across the road, posing risks to other drivers.
2. Underinflated Tire
When tires aren’t properly inflated, they wear down faster, similar to a marathon runner wearing the wrong shoes. That wear and tear makes the underinflated tire easier to cut or puncture, as described in point #1.
Additionally, under-inflated tires build up heat, especially at highway speeds. Over time, that heat can dry out the rubber and cause cracks. Once the rubber starts to give, it sets the stage for a blowout that can cause a truck wreck.
3. Overinflated Tire
When tires are overinflated, the center portion of the tread bulges, reducing the contact area with the road. That smaller contact patch puts extra pressure on the center of the tread and adds strain to the tire’s internal components.
With that added stress, the tires are more susceptible to impact damage from potholes or road debris.
4. Defective Manufacturing
Sometimes, a blown tire isn’t the driver’s fault at all. Truck tires can have design flaws or production issues, making them more likely to fail.
Whether it’s the use of low-quality materials, an error on the assembly line, or a missed step in quality control, these mistakes can weaken a tire from the inside out and raise the risk of a blowout.
5. Overloaded Truck
Adding cargo that exceeds a truck's weight limit puts more pressure on the tires than they’re built to handle.
When driving at high speeds, the added stress from the overloaded truck can cause the tires to heat up significantly, raising the risk of a blowout, even if they’re otherwise in good condition.
6. Improperly Installed Tires
While installing tires, the maintenance team might have used mismatched tires for the truck.
Tires are considered mismatched when they differ in size or come from different manufacturers. This can throw off the truck’s balance, leading to uneven wear and increasing the likelihood of a blowout.
7. Weather Conditions
Summer heat, especially in hot states like Texas, can increase the chances of blowouts. As temperatures run high, the air inside the tires expands, increasing the tire pressure — potentially leading to blowouts or flats.
But it’s not just summer that truck drivers need to watch for. Strong winds can cause a semi to sway or lean, putting extra strain on the tires. And when roads are wet or icy, traction takes a hit, making it easier to lose grip and stay in control. This can make the tires wear out quicker, increasing the risk of an 18-wheeler accident.
8. Poor Driving
If the truck drivers drive carelessly or without proper training, they can put undue stress on the truck tires, resulting in excessive wear and potential tire failure.
For instance, hitting the brakes too hard or too often can damage the tread in no time. In some cases, it can even cause a defective tire to blow.
Now that we know why blowouts happen, we’ll examine who might be at fault for these accidents.
When a blowout leads to a crash, the cause isn’t always apparent at first glance. It takes a thorough investigation to connect the dots, which is something a truck accident lawyer are generally trained to do, but they may also call in expert witnesses in certain cases.
Depending on what they find, any of the following parties could be held responsible:
1. Trucking Company and Truck Driver
The company may be held responsible for a tire blowout accident if tire inspections weren’t performed properly and a large truck ended up running on defective tires.
Trucking companies are also at fault if they operate a commercial vehicle with tires carrying more weight than what's indicated on the tire sidewall (unless they obtain a special state-issued permit). Failing to meet state and federal safety standards puts the company and others at risk.
But that’s not all. Under the principle of vicarious liability, the company can be held liable if their driver engaged in dangerous behavior when performing their duties. This can include:
- Driving above the speed limit
- Changing lanes carelessly
- Multitasking while driving (texting, talking on the phone, eating, etc.)
- Driving when fatigued
How to Prove Liability
Proving that a truck driver’s negligence led to a blowout accident involves gathering evidence at the accident scene. This includes witness statements, dashcam or traffic footage, and data from the truck’s black box that may reveal reckless driving or other dangerous behavior. Be sure to document the location of the blown tire, take photos of the tire itself, any shreds or debris left behind, and note who picked up the tire and where it was brought.
An experienced attorney will also check the driver’s history to see if there’s a pattern of past incidents, safety violations, or anything else that raises red flags.
However, holding the trucking company responsible requires a deeper dive.
That means looking at how they operate behind the scenes. This includes inspecting the following:
- Maintenance records, inspection reports, and safety logs to determine whether the truck was in road-safe condition.
- The driver’s schedule, route history, and hours-of-service logs that reveal whether the company was pushing its employees past the limit.
- Documents related to hiring, training, or fleet upkeep can show where the company could have compromised tire safety.
2. Tire Manufacturers
If tire defects were caused by a reason outside the truck driver’s or company’s control, the tire manufacturer would probably be responsible for a blowout-related crash. For instance, issues like warped treads or unusually thin walls can lead to a defective tire bursting while the truck is moving.
How To Prove Liability
Your lawyer would need to show that the tire had an issue in manufacturing, design, or marketing.
To do this, they would need access to the tire and work with an expert to examine it closely. This usually involves forensic analysis and detailed lab testing. They’d also compare the tire to industry standards, look into any recall history, and speak with other industry experts to build evidence of possible negligence by the manufacturer.
3. Other Parties
Besides the tire manufacturers and trucking companies, the following parties can be held responsible for a blowout accident:
- Retailers: If they knowingly sold a defective tire, based on its condition at the point of sale.
- Tire installers: If they used mismatched tires or did not install them correctly.
- Mechanics: If they serviced the vehicle and failed to replace the worn tires or warn the driver about them.
- Cargo loaders: If they created an uneven weight distribution while loading cargo, it could lead to tire failure.
Figuring out who’s responsible for a trucking accident isn’t straightforward, as in many cases, more than one party may be to blame.
To maximize your payout, a truck accident lawyer will look at every possible source of liability. However, this is just one of the countless duties a lawyer takes on when they handle your case.
A lawyer wears many hats when dealing with truck accident cases. Here’s how they support and guide you through the process:
- Gathering evidence: An attorney can collect the accident report, witness statements, trucking company logs, tire maintenance records, and black box data while working with accident reconstruction professionals and tire experts.
- Determining liability: As mentioned earlier, a lawyer can use evidence to identify which party’s negligence compromised tire safety and led to the accident.
- Calculating the value of your claim: Lawyers can assess the property damage, injuries, and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life) and put a monetary value on your losses.
- Filing a claim: As multiple parties may be involved, a lawyer knows which insurance to file claims against.
- Negotiating with insurers: Insurance companies often try to minimize what they pay out, but a good lawyer knows how to spot those tactics and push back to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.
- Filing a lawsuit: If the tire manufacturer was liable for the accident, the injured party could file a product liability lawsuit against them.
- Representing you in court: If required, a lawyer can file the necessary paperwork, manage depositions, and stand up for your best interests at trial.
If you’re looking for a Texas truck accident lawyer, we can help you take charge of your case.
Truck tire blowouts happen in an instant, but the injuries and impact can last a lifetime. Getting compensation for these injuries requires a legal team with deep knowledge of Texas law and experience handling complex truck accident cases, like us at No Bull Law.
Here’s how we work:
- We start with a free consultation call, where you share the details, and we offer honest, risk-free advice.
- We assess the crash details and see if you have a case.
- If we proceed with your case, we’ll fight to get you every dollar you deserve — nothing less.
And the best part is that you pay no fees, ‘less we win.
Ready to charge forward towards justice? Contact our Texas truck accident lawyers today.
Here are a few more things you should know about truck-related accidents:
Depending on the situation, your party may be compensated for the following damages:
- Economic damages: These include getting compensated for property damage, medical bills, prescription costs, physical therapy, trauma counseling, and lost wages.
- Non-economic damages: These cover the emotional and psychological impact of the accident. This includes emotional distress, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
- Wrongful death: If a loved one dies due to a truck blowout accident, their family may be able to recover costs for emergency medical care, funeral or cremation, emotional pain, loss of companionship, and lost income.
- Punitive damages: If the truck driver acted with malicious intent, such as driving drunk, you may be entitled to the greater of $200,000 or non-economic damages up to $750,000, as per Texas law.
2. What Kinds of Accidents Can Happen Due to Truck Tire Blowouts?
A semi-truck tire blowout at high speeds can lead to the following types of accidents:
- Jackknife accident: The sudden drag from a blown tire can cause the trailer to swing sharply away from the cab, spreading across several lanes and potentially leading to serious multi-vehicle collisions.
- Rollover accident: A blowout can cause the truck to roll over, especially if it happens at a high speed or in a curve.
- Cargo spills: Loose cargo from the truck can scatter across the road and may lead to a car accident when drivers swerve to avoid it.
- Head-on collisions: A tire blowout can cause a large truck to drift into oncoming traffic, resulting in a devastating head-on car accident.
- Debris strikes: Pieces of the blown tire or tread can strike nearby vehicles, damaging windshields, causing drivers to lose control, or triggering secondary accidents.
