When a truck’s tire bursts, causing the driver to lose control, serious accidents and injuries can follow. Under New Jersey state law, multiple parties can face shared liability for an accident like this depending on the specifics of the situation. To learn who can be held responsible after a tire blowout, read on and speak with a Bergen County truck accident lawyer today.
What is a Tire Blowout?
A tire blowout occurs when a tire on a vehicle suddenly loses air pressure, often resulting in the tire exploding or bursting. This can be extremely dangerous, especially when the vehicle is a large commercial truck. Tire blowouts can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle and result in a collision with surrounding cars or property.
These blowouts are commonly caused by a variety of factors including under-inflation, over-inflation, overloading the trailer, wear and tear, debris, road conditions, and more. Anything that places significant weight on the tire, causes it to heat excessively, affects the tread, etc. can lead to failure and a blowout.
At the very least, a tire blowout on a truck can lead to damage to the vehicle and cargo. In severe cases, however, the driver can lose control of the truck and cause an accident resulting in significant property damage, injuries, and even fatalities.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for a Truck Accident Caused By a Tire Blowout?
The individuals or entities that may be held responsible for a tire blowout and therefore the ensuing damages vary depending on the details of the situation and the vehicle involved. One or more of the following can be held liable for a victim’s injuries and damages.
- The truck driver: If the truck driver did not properly inspect their vehicle or contributed to the blowout through speeding or reckless driving, they can be held liable.
- The trucking company: Trucking companies are required to conduct inspections and maintenance to ensure safe transportation. If they neglected to do so and it led to the blowout they can be held responsible for the accident.
- Local governments: If poor road conditions like debris and potholes caused the blowout, the local municipalities could face shared responsibility for neglecting the roadways.
- Road maintenance workers: If the government did attempt to fix the road issues but the work was done improperly, the road maintenance company could find themselves taking partial fault for the damages.
- Tire manufacturer: The tire itself could have been the problem, in which case the manufacturer could be held liable for the accident. If a design or manufacturing flaw made the tire unsafe to drive on the blame could fall on the tire manufacturer.
- Third parties: If the trucking company outsourced work to a third-party repair shop or auto maintenance company, there is a chance that they were negligent in their work. If they failed to identify or fix worn or hazardous tires, they could have caused or contributed to the blowout and therefore the accident.
For more information and legal advice when filing a claim or lawsuit, reach out to a knowledgeable personal injury attorney at Feitlin, Youngman, Karas & Gerson, LLC today.
