Florida Injury Lawyer Blog
While driver error is one of the biggest causes of truck collisions, mechanical failures are the second most common cause of truck accidents in Homestead and other cities. Brake failures and tire problems are the most common mechanical problems that lead to these types of traffic crashes in Homestead and other cities.
If you have been in a truck or car accident in Homestead, it can be difficult to determine whether mechanical failure was a problem. If the tires of the truck in front of you disintegrate right before your eyes, you may suspect that tire failure caused your accident. But what if the tires were simply over- or under-inflated and this caused your accident? The only way to determine all liable parties is to speak with a personal injury attorney in Homestead or your community. Your attorney can advise you of the likely causes of your accident, the likely long-term costs, and your legal option.
It can also be useful to understand some of the common causes of tire-related problems and truck collisions. The common causes of tire problems include:
1) Mechanical defects with the tires
In some cases, the tires are simply defectively designed or manufactured, which can mean that the tire manufacturer is to blame. You can check to see whether specific tires (and other truck mechanical systems) have been recalled by visiting the DOT recall website at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls.
2) Drivers who fail to check and maintain the tires
Drivers are expected to check the tires before every trip and are expected to do basic maintenance to ensure that the tires are not over- or under-inflated. When drivers fail to do this, they may miss wear and tear on tires and other dangerous conditions that may lead to a tire blowout in Homestead or even a crash.
3) Old tires
The rubber in tires can disintegrate, even if the tires are not used. If a tire is left in a warehouse for years, especially in hot Florida temperatures, it may no longer be safe, even it has not worn down. The trucking company or maintenance company responsible for selling the tires or having them installed on the truck may be held partly liable if old tires lead to an accident.
4) Incorrectly maintained tires or incorrect tires
In some cases, trucking companies use the wrong tires or fail to properly maintain tires on their fleet. They may rely on truck tires that do not meet federal tread depth requirements, for example, or they may fail to routinely check and upgrade tires as they become worn. In some cases, mismatched or incorrect tires are used. For example, mixing different tire sizes, tires with different wear, or tires with bias and radial types on the same axle can lead to an accident.
Unfortunately, if you have been seriously injured you may find that different parties point the finger. The driver may blame the trucking company while the trucking company blames the manufacturer for the accident. The manufacture may then blame the leasing company. To find out what really happened and to determine who the liable parties are, contact a personal injury attorney in Homestead or your community for a case evaluation.
Have you been in a truck accident in Homestead or any Southern Florida community? Don’t accept any offers or sign any papers until you get the facts about your rights and your likely long-term costs. It’s free to do. Just contact the Flaxman Law Group for a free case evaluation to learn more about your rights. There’s no obligation with your consultation, so you risk nothing.