Americans spend much of their lives behind the wheels of cars and trucks, traversing America’s roads and highways on a daily basis. That freedom of mobility has helped to define the nation’s character and offers a wide range of benefits for its citizens. At the same time, however, all of that driving can come at a cost in terms of accidents and collisions that result in thousands of injuries and deaths each year. Sadly, far too many of those accidents are the result of tire failures. For that reason, it is important to understand tire blowouts and how to handle them.
What is a Tire Blowout?
When drivers and technicians talk about the term “blowout” they are typically referring to a phenomenon where a tire bursts and then quickly loses its air pressure. The common perception among many people is that this happens as the result of too much pressure inside the tire, coupled with an area of weakness that cannot stand the strain of that air. In reality, most tire blowouts are the result of not having enough air pressure. When air pressure is low, tires flex in ways that exceed their design, stretch the limits of their elasticity, and overheat. That causes the bonds that form the tire’s rubber structure to weaken and break free from the steel cord that reinforces it.
Other Hazards that Can Contribute to Blowouts
Of course, low air pressure is but one contributing factor that can result in a blowout. One of the other major concerns involves something that most drivers are all too keenly aware of – road conditions. It is common to hear people in cities and towns across America complain about the state of road maintenance in their areas. As it turns out, that concern is more deserving of attention than many people might have imagined.
According to a study conducted by AAA, potholes have been responsible for about $15 billion in vehicle repair costs for American drivers in the last five years alone. That averages out to about $3 billion each year – a staggering cost to consumers that helps to explain why roughly two-thirds of surveyed citizens express at least some level of concern over the state of America’s roads and highways.
Danger in Texas
Texas is one of the few states in the country that have more open laws when it comes to speed limits. In Texas, drivers will find speed limits ranging from 75 to 85 miles per hour. While that is a great thing for everyone who appreciates such freedom, there are some risks associated with those higher speed limits, and trucks are especially vulnerable. The fact is that truck tires are typically designed to accommodate speed up to 75 miles per hour.
The problem is that high speeds, in combination with higher environmental temperatures, can result in increased pressure on the structural integrity of a tire. In Texas summers – and indeed, summers across the Western United States, a combination of factors can result in blowouts that can have devastating impacts on lives and property.
What Drivers Know
Drivers sometimes seem to know less than they probably should when it comes to tire safety. For example, surveyed drivers recognized worn treads and flat tires as obvious problems, but less than a third identified low tire pressure as a danger.
Obviously, tire safety is a concern that deserves more attention from the public. The NHTSA understands the importance of education in this area and has initiated a campaign across the nation to improve public education about safety. That campaign – “Tire Safety: Everything Rides on It” – is designed to educate drivers about the important role of tire maintenance, proper inflation, and things like load limits for cars and trucks.
AAA has its own take on tire safety as well and has stressed driver knowledge about basic tire management. Even things like knowing how to change a tire can make a tremendous difference when it comes to protecting drivers and saving lives. Sadly, however, that skill is one that has deteriorated over the years to the point where an estimated twenty percent of all millennial drivers lack basic knowledge about how to change a tire.
Slightly more than ten percent of drivers between the ages of 35 and 54 also lack the ability to perform this simple task. However, the starkest difference is seen when men and women are compared. While only 3% of men claim to not know how to change tires, nearly a third of women lack that same knowledge.
The important thing to do is to practice good tire maintenance and be alert while driving. Check your air pressure regularly to ensure that tires are properly inflated, and visually inspect your tires. Stay within your vehicle weight limits to avoid excess pressure, and maintain moderate speeds – especially during periods of extreme heat. Finally, know how to respond when a blowout occurs. Remain calm, briefly accelerate the vehicle to avoid a loss of momentum, and then allow the vehicle to slow down naturally. At that point, you can start to gradually pull to the side of the road, where you can either change your tire or call for roadside assistance.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
With over 100 years of combined experience among the legal team of Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our Texas personal injury attorneys have successfully resolved over 20,000 cases. When representing injured Texas residents, we fight for justice against wrongdoing and aggressively pursue the best resolution to complex personal injury claims.
If you or a loved one was injured, please get in touch with us for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., is a locally based law firm that holds negligent individuals and companies accountable for their wrongdoing. We are not a personal injury mill that advertises nationwide. We provide individualized advocacy in attending to all aspects of claims that involve. Our firm has offices in the following locations: Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi South Side, Dallas, Brownsville, McAllen, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Ft. Worth, TX.
We remain by our client’s side, handling all aspects of their claims and attending to all legal, medical, and financial needs. That dedication combines experience, legal knowledge, and insight from a former insurance adjuster and several former insurance defense attorneys. Whether our clients suffer from physical pain from an accident or the emotional grief of death, we treat clients with compassion. We put their mind at ease during difficult times by answering their questions concerning the length of their claim, medical bills, financial compensation, and their overall need for a lawyer.
