A big rig tire blowout results in a dramatic shift in motion and trajectory that can have catastrophic repercussions for anyone within proximity. Fully loaded 18-wheelers can total a mass of up to 40 tons or 80,000 pounds, generating deadly force if the driver loses control due to rapid loss of pressure in a single tire. If you were injured in an accident, make sure to speak with an experienced Bakersfield truck accident lawyer for legal guidance.
Often the result of negligent maintenance, overuse, overloading, or improper loading, as well as poor road conditions, big rig tire blowouts happen suddenly and without warning. When a truck swerves, overturns, jackknives, or is launched across several lanes of traffic, causing a serious accident, victims are within their legal rights to pursue damages.
According to a 2017 report from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Analysis Division, tire-related issues were the second most common vehicle-related factor for large trucks in fatal crashes. As economic pressures require more trucks on major roads, the frequency of fatal crashes involving large trucks has increased. A 2023 report from the National Safety Council shows a 43% increase in truck-related fatalities over the last decade.
Due to the increased risk of tire blowouts and accidents, the trucking industry is tightly regulated. Specific rules surrounding manufacturing, loading limits, and driving time are in place to ensure public safety. However, careless actions and disregard for safety measures by trucking companies, tire or parts manufacturers, freight loaders, or drivers can cause catastrophic harm to others on the road.
If you have been severely injured in an accident resulting from a big rig tire blowout, you deserve complete compensation for any harm caused by negligence. Cases involving trucking companies and their aggressive insurance policies are notoriously long and legally complex. Hiring an experienced Bakersfield personal injury lawyer that has a reputation for taking on some of the largest trucking companies and insurance carriers in the country and securing life-changing verdicts and settlements for clients is crucial to your claim.
“We know exactly what is required in a truck accident, and how it should be properly handled. That is what makes us unique.”
-Danay Gonzalez, Partner, Rodriguez & Associates
What is a Tire Blowout?
A tire blowout refers to a sudden change in air pressure that causes the tire to explode. Drivers may hear a large boom and feel the vehicle suddenly pull to one side or lose balance.
A big rig tire blowout can cause the driver to instantly lose control of their overlarge vehicle and crash into other cars, guardrails, cross into oncoming traffic, or rollover. Alternatively, tire debris can fly out from beneath the truck and create hazardous obstacles for other vehicles on the road.
What Causes a Tire Blowout?
- Poor vehicle maintenance: A common cause of tire blowouts is low tire pressure. If the driver or trucking company fails to ensure tires are properly inflated, they may blow and lead to an accident.
- Overloaded vehicles: Excessive weight in the truck’s cargo hold may put too much pressure on tires or cause a dangerous pressure imbalance.
- Weather conditions: Excessive heat may cause the air inside the tire to expand. If not properly monitored and addressed, this change can cause a blowout.
- Road conditions: Big rigs already have excessive strain on their tires because of sheer weight and size. If a truck or the roadway is improperly maintained or fails to follow regulations, potholes, curbs, road debris, or a lack of signage could be catastrophic.
- Speeding: Driving over the speed limit is dangerous for any vehicle, but big rig trucks require a much longer distance to stop. If a blowout occurs on a speeding truck, the results could be even more dangerous.
- Driving long hours: Legally, drivers are limited to the number of hours they can spend on the road, and trucks are required to undergo regular maintenance. When under shipping deadlines, drivers may be pressured to drive longer hours and ignore maintenance requirements.
Common Injuries Resulting from Tire Blowouts
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): TBIs are a type of severe brain trauma caused by a blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or an object penetrating the brain. They can cause lifelong damage such as limited mobility, memory loss, or even death.
- Burns: If a tire blowout results in a fiery crash, the resulting burns can be devastating. Depending on the depth of damage, burns can leave behind extensive scarring, nerve and tissue damage, as well as emotional distress.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Truck accidents can cause debilitating spinal damage to victims in smaller vehicles due to the size and mass of the truck. Injuries in these instances can be excruciating, with long-term results including altered sensation, difficulty breathing, loss of muscular function, and paralysis.
- Amputations: Pinning or crushing injuries, in which a victim is trapped beneath a truck, can result in extreme damage to limbs, including partial amputation, requiring the limb to be removed.
- Wrongful Death: Due to the force that large vehicles can generate, truck accidents are among the leading causes of wrongful death in the United States.
If you have suffered catastrophic injury or lost a loved one in an accident following a big rig tire blowout, it’s critical to seek legal guidance so you and your accident attorney in Bakersfield can hold the negligent parties accountable for their actions and help you seek compensation for damages.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Big Rig Tire Blowout Accident?
When pursuing a truck accident lawsuit, your attorney should conduct a thorough and independent investigation, taking into consideration the numerous parties potentially involved. Beyond investigating the crash scene’s attributes, your legal team should consider factors such as parts manufacturers, installation practices, maintenance records, trucking company practices, and more.
In California, shared liability holds multiple parties liable for any negligence that led to harm in a single incident, adding layers of complexity to a truck accident claim. The following parties are commonly involved in negligence that can result in an accident:
- The truck driver: If a driver engages in reckless driving habits such as speeding, driving under the influence, or taking unnecessary risks when their tire blows, they can be held liable for an accident.
- The trucking company or owner: The trucking company is responsible for several key tasks, including driver training, ensuring drivers are properly licensed and following regulations, and maintaining vehicles, which includes ensuring that the tires are in working condition. If a blowout is proven to have resulted from the company’s negligence, they can be held liable.
- The truck manufacturer: If a tire blowout is found to be caused by defective parts or incorrect construction or installation, the manufacturer may be found partly responsible for the accident.
Proving liability following a big rig tire blowout case is extremely difficult. Investigations are extensive and require in-depth knowledge of state trucking regulations when it comes to driver training, truck maintenance, and loading procedures.
Our president and founder, Daniel Rodriguez, offers decades of experience in personal injury law, as well as a background in electrical engineering that gives him a unique technical perspective when it comes to trucking accidents.
Types of Damages You Can Pursue
If injured in a truck accident in California, you have the right to sue an individual or organization, including the government, for compensation or damages to cover medical expenses, loss of wages, ongoing care, pain and suffering, and more. There are three main types of damages you may pursue following a devastating truck accident. It’s essential to consult a truck accident attorney to understand the damages you are entitled to.
- Economic Damages: These are the monetary losses suffered as a result of an accident, including medical expenses, lost wages from time off work, and lost earning capacity if your injuries have affected your ability to work in the future.
- Non-economic Damages: Also known as personal damages, these are the intangible losses experienced following an accident, including pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and loss of consortium. Placing monetary value on these damages can be extremely difficult and requires a keen legal and medical understanding.
- Punitive Damages: In cases of extreme negligence or carelessness, punitive damages are intended to punish the at-fault party. Punitive damages are not awarded to the victim, but instead take the form of hefty fines that the trucking company may have to pay. These punishments set a tone in the industry for following regulations and maintaining road safety.
Pursuing damages against a trucking company is highly complex and time-consuming. National and international companies have massive insurance policies and in-house legal teams looking to avoid a large payout. Working with an experienced truck accident firm, equipped with the talent and resources to aggressively protect your rights in trial, is essential to the success of your case.
Truck Accident Attorneys You Can Trust
At Rodriguez & Associates, we understand the trauma and confusion that follows a catastrophic auto accident, especially at the hands of another’s negligence.
Put your trust in a firm that obtains record-high settlements, including the top three highest personal injury verdicts in Kern County history. With over $1 billion secured for our clients, an in-depth understanding of the trucking industry, and access to expert witnesses, Rodriguez & Associates is prepared to face aggressive trucking insurance companies in the courtroom and fight for the justice you deserve.
In 2024, Rodriguez & Associates went to trial on behalf of a young woman who obtained a traumatic brain injury and life-long damage in a truck accident. Our trial team worked tirelessly until she was justly awarded a record settlement of over $35 million, the highest motor vehicle jury verdict in Iowa history.
Rodriguez & Associates is conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, California. We are available for free consultations in English or Spanish, including weekend or evening appointments. To schedule your consultation with a truck accident attorney, contact us online or call (661)777-7575 or (800)585-9262 Toll-Free.