Runaway Wheels and Other Tire Defects

We tend to take our vehicle’s tires for granted, and you might not even think about them until it comes time to change a flat or replace them when they become worn. On a large commercial truck, however, tires are a critical safety component, and they must be inspected at regular intervals to make sure that they are in safe operating condition.

Because a commercial truck has 18 tires, there is a greater opportunity for damage and uneven wear which can lead to accidents. When the driver of a large truck such as an 18-wheeler does not keep up with proper maintenance and inspections of the tires, they can actually come loose and go flying into the road, hitting other vehicles and causing injuries and even death.

Truck tire damage that can cause accidents

Truck tires are designed to be far more durable than the tires of passenger vehicles due to the fact that they will travel thousands of miles every month carrying massive loads under every type of weather condition. Still, a defective truck tire or poor maintenance can lead to problems that, if left unfixed, may cause a catastrophic accident. Detached tread can be caused by under inflation of the tire, damage from potholes, improper mounting or retreading. Aging tires can fail from dry rot and treads that are worn away completely leaving smooth rubber that lacks traction.

There are also several factors that could cause a wheel to come loose on a tractor trailer, including:

• Over-tightening of the bolts
• Not tightening the bolts sufficiently
• Inferior quality parts
• Incorrect parts
• Broken bolts

Tire safety requirements for large, commercial trucks

All truck drivers and trucking companies are required by law to perform pre-trip inspections of the truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rules for minimum period inspection standards for commercial vehicles. The rules contain meticulous safety standards for vehicle inspections that include inspections of each tire, wheels and rims, the tread depth, fasteners and every other aspect of the wheels and tires.

When a truck accident is caused by a runaway wheel or tire blowout

In those instances where a truck tire has a blowout or a wheel comes loose and goes careening into traffic causing an accident, the injured parties may be able to bring a lawsuit against the truck driver and the trucking company. There are also instances where the tire itself could be defective. In such a situation, there could be a products liability case against the tire’s manufacturer as well. One of our personal injury attorneys who has years of experience investigating trucking accidents will get to work trying to discover which party is at fault and liable for your injuries and losses.

If you or someone you care about was injured in a trucking accident, the experienced West Tennessee trucking accident attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will discuss your case, and they will fight for your right to damages. We invite you to contact us to schedule a meeting at our office in Memphis or Jackson.