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Having defective tires on your vehicle could cause you to lose control and crash into other cars or objects like trees or buildings. When defective tires fail, they usually do so suddenly and without warning. Since these road emergencies often happen at high speed, the collisions can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries.
A California personal injury attorney can help you seek compensation if you got injured in a collision that involved defective tires. Let’s explore how defective tires can cause car accidents.
What Can Cause Defective Tires on Your Vehicle
You might be driving around on defective tires and not realize it. Periodically, stories will hit the news about a recall of tires that were not made correctly. The manufacturer either made a mistake in the way they made the tires, or they used substandard materials in the manufacturing process. In these situations, the tire might suddenly “blow out,” or strips of the rubber could peel off of the tire.
If you got injured because of tires that were defective from a manufacturer’s mistake, you might be able to file a claim or lawsuit against the tire company. You might check to see if there is a recall on that model of tire. If so, that could help to prove that the tire defect caused the accident.
Sometimes people simply drive around on worn, bald tires. Replacing a set of tires is expensive, so people often put off buying new tires as long as they can until they are in a better financial position. After all, a set of new tires can cost $800 to $1,000 or more. Still, if your worn-out tires cause an accident, you could be found negligent.
When Defective Tires on Someone Else’s Vehicle Cause a Collision
If you got injured in a collision caused by someone else’s defective tires, you might be able to make a personal injury claim or file a lawsuit against the person responsible for the situation. If the driver operated the vehicle with bald tires, the driver can be negligent for failing to maintain their car in a roadworthy condition. You might be able to take action against the tire maker if they were at fault for selling defective tires.
Money Damages for Car Accidents from Defective Tires
When defective tires cause or contribute to car accidents, the people injured in those collisions can seek the same types of money damages as people in other kinds of crashes. For example, you might be able to seek compensation for things like:
- The reasonable cost of the medical treatment you needed for your wounds
- Lost wages for paychecks that you did not receive when you could not work because of your injuries
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress of the accident and your injuries
- Other losses like disfigurement from extensive scars and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the crash.
The specific money damages you could seek will depend on the unique facts of your circumstances. A California personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and handle your personal injury claim on your behalf. Contact our office today for a free consultation on your case.