Georgia is among the states with the largest 
percentage of large trucks involved in fatal crashes. Many different factors contribute to truck accidents, including operator error, such as distracted driving; environmental causes, like icy road conditions; and mechanical conditions, such as tire defects. Tire defects are often overlooked and can lead to serious crashes with deadly consequences.
When Operators Fail in Inspection and Proper Maintenance
The majority of truck tire failures are preventable. Truck owners and operators are required by law to routinely inspect and properly maintain vehicle tires.
However, sometimes inspections are completed hastily or not at all, and maintenance, when performed, often fails to address the full scope of a problem. In these situations, important issues can be missed, and vehicles that aren't fully safe are taken on the road. Failed inspections and maintenance often miss common, fixable problems, such as:
Excessively Worn Tires
Tread depth violations were among the most cited during roadside inspections in 2015. Experts recommend replacing tires when they reach a 4/32-inch tread depth. Violations are issued for a depth of less than 2/32 inches.
Improper Tire Inflation
Over- or under-inflated tires make it more difficult to safely drive a commercial vehicle. Underinflation also increases the risk of tires overheating.
Mismatched Tires
In some cases, operators replace only one tire on an axle. Tires of a different size or wear affect the stability of a large truck. Different tires also place uneven pressure on the other wheels and mechanical parts, causing trucks to be more prone to rollovers and impacting a driver's safe distance reaction time to avoid an accident.
Overloaded Tires
Tires are meant to bear a certain weight. When a truck is overloaded, too much pressure is put on tires, increasing the chance of under-inflation, overheating, and blowouts.
Bias and Radial Tires on the Same Axle
Experts do not recommend mixing bias and radial tires, because they have different structures. Therefore, they wear and handle differently. Mounting them together causes uneven wear and instability.
Manufacturing Defects Contribute to Dangerous Accidents
Just as it is the duty of owners and operators to ensure the safety of their vehicles, tire manufacturers are also held to specific standards in the production of the tires. When they fail to meet these mandates, they may be held accountable. In some situations, the federal government issues recalls on specific defective tires. To help encourage driver safety, the NHTSA maintains a list of all recalled tires.
Defects May Cause Accidents and Serious Injuries
When manufacturers, owners, or operators do not maintain safe tires, there's a danger to everyone who shares the road. Statistics indicate that when a commercial vehicle is involved in a traffic crash, other drivers and passengers suffer the most. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, of people killed in large truck crashes in 2014, approximately 68 percent were passengers in the smaller vehicles. Truck occupants accounted for just 16 percent of fatalities.
Truck tire defects impact the likelihood of accidents in the following ways:
Tire Blowout
We’ve all seen long strips of rubber littering the road. A tire blowout occurs when the tire essentially rips apart. This causes the vehicle to pull very strongly to one side and makes it more difficult to handle. The driver may not be able to overcome the pull of large truck and veer into the path of another vehicle.
Rollover
The NHTSA states that nearly 2/3 of all truck fatalities occur in rollover crashes. When a large truck rolls over, it's completely out of control. Its height and weight create a wide path of destruction and can inflict severe injuries, including death.
Indirect Causes
In some cases, the tire itself does not directly cause an accident. Rather, a driver may be pulled over to the side of the road to address a problem with it. When other drivers slow down to observe them, traffic can become congested and accidents may occur. Additionally, people working on the tire can be struck by oncoming vehicles. In some cases, not only are those individuals harmed, but the initial accident can cause a chain reaction. Had the driver or trucking company addressed the tire problem at the proper time off-road, the truck may not have had to pull over while in transit.
Speak to a Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a truck crash due to defective tires, the experienced lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak may be able to help. Call our Atlanta office today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn about your rights and legal options.
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