Most people take to the roads in Missouri, Illinois and across the nation trusting that the tires on their vehicles are safe to use, especially in the event that the tires were original to the car when they purchased it from a dealership. The dangerous truth, however, is that some tires being driven on the road are at risk of something known as tire detread or delamination. A tire detread occurs when the bottom layer of steel belts on the
tire detaches from both the second layer of steel belts and the outside tread. This often results in a big piece of the tread, and potentially multiple small pieces, coming off of the tire itself. A tire detread can cause a vehicle to spin out of control, often causing catastrophic car accidents that may lead to tire defect cases being filed by a St. Louis personal injury attorney.
One horrific tire defect case recently occurred in a southwestern state. The car accident reportedly occurred after a tire detread on the front left tire sent a pickup truck careening into a semi-truck. That pickup truck, carrying six people, received significant damage in the truck accident. Five of the six people — three of whom were children under the age of 12 — died in the crash. The only survivor from the pickup truck, the driver, suffered serious injuries and was transported to receive medical treatment. This devastating fatal accident has undoubtedly left a family mourning the senseless loss of life of several members, not to mention facing unexpected funeral bills for more than one person.
Tire defect cases can prove deadly for innocent families
Arizona officials revealed that the driver of the semi-truck fortunately suffered only minor injuries. They also reported that the cause of the accident was believed to be a tire delamination. While they did not reveal specifics about the pickup truck or its tires, victims in car accidents like this one often have potential legal avenues to pursue when it comes to seeking financial restitution for the types of tragic losses like the ones that occurred in this case.
It is often possible to file a wrongful death or defective products liability lawsuit in a civil court of law in cases like this. An experienced St. Louis personal injury attorney can help surviving family members consider the possibility of making such claims in a Missouri or Illinois civil court of law. Some of the questions which need to be answered are how old the tires were, and whether they were original to the vehicle or not. If they were, then victims may be able to pursue damages against the vehicle’s manufacturer. Other things to look at include the condition that the tire was in when the accident occurred, and whether any large pieces of tread are missing.
Victims of tire defect cases can take legal action
Since the answers to these questions can be so critical in establishing a wrongful death or products liability case, it can be vital to make sure evidence from the accident scene — most especially the tires and any pieces that may have detached — are preserved in a climate-controlled location where they cannot be altered or tampered with in any way. The ability to have an independent expert examine evidence, including the tires and any pieces of tread, may make or break tire defects cases when it comes to pursuing them in a civil court.
Please dial my St. Louis personal injury law firm toll-free at 1-888-586-7041 today so we can discuss the facts of your specific situation. If you have been injured in a car accident you believe was caused by one of these tire defect cases — or even worse, have lost a loved one in such a tragic crash — you may have rights to pursue financial damages in a Missouri or Illinois civil court. A successfully litigated claim can help recoup medical expenses, funeral expenses, lost future earnings and, in some cases, lead to pain and suffering compensation as well. I have several decades of experience in trying these types of cases and would welcome the chance to meet with you in an initial consultation, free of charge, to discuss whether my law firm can help you. You only pay fees in the event that we are able to recover financial restitution in your case.
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