A tire blowout can happen in an instant, turning a simple trip into a serious accident. Many people assume a tire blowout is only accidental; however, that is not always the case. In some cases, a closer inspection can show that some other factors contributed to the crash.
Determining what caused the tire to fail
Tire blowouts can happen for many reasons. Road debris, poor maintenance, improper maintenance, a manufacturing defect or a combination may have contributed to the blowout. The question of worn tires or missed inspection may arise in the case of vehicle blowouts.
As there are so many possible reasons for tire failure, the process of determining the cause is very important in evaluating a personal injury claim.
More than one party can share responsibility
Depending on the situation, liability might extend beyond the driver of the vehicle. A tire manufacturer, repair shop, maintenance provider or a commercial trucking company can also potentially be a part of the investigation. If any evidence is available that points to their actions leading to the blowout of the tire.
Every case is different, and identification of the potentially liable party might need the review of maintenance records, inspection reports, photos of the damaged tire and other available evidence. In some cases, investigators might be able to determine whether the tire was subject to a safety recall or had a known defect.
A thorough investigation can make a difference
After a serious crash, it can be difficult to pinpoint what caused the tire failure. A prompt investigation can help preserve important evidence before it is lost or discarded.
Understanding how the blowout happened can help determine whether another party shares responsibility for the injury that happened.
