Accident Caused by Defective Tire

The most common types of tire failures are:

Wear and tear: This is the most common type of tire failure, and occurs when tires are worn down from regular use. Tires will wear out over time due to a variety of factors, including driving conditions, tire pressure, and vehicle alignment.
Punctures: Punctures are caused by nails, screws, or other sharp objects that penetrate the tire. Punctures can cause a slow leak or a sudden blowout.
Tread separation: Tread separation is a type of tire failure that occurs when the tread becomes separated from the rest of the tire. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including manufacturing defects, improper inflation, or overloading.
Overheating: Overheating occurs when tires are driven at high speeds for long periods of time, or when they are driven on hot pavement. Overheating can cause the rubber to soften, leading to tread separation or a blowout.
Under-inflation: Under-inflation occurs when tires are not filled with enough air. This can cause uneven wear and can lead to a blowout.
Over-inflation: Over-inflation occurs when tires are filled with more air than the recommended pressure. This can cause the center of the tread to wear out faster than the edges, leading to a blowout.
Age: With time, tire’s rubber will degrade, even if the tire is not in use, this can lead to a failure if the tire is used after a long period of time.

Most Common Tire Defects Results in Deaths and Serious Injuries

The most common tire defects resulting in litigation and liability are:

Tread separation: Tread separation is a defect that occurs when the tread becomes separated from the rest of the tire. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including manufacturing defects, improper inflation, or overloading. Tread separation can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and a crash.
Belt separation: Belt separation occurs when the belts that hold the treads in place become separated. This can also be caused by manufacturing defects and can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and a crash.
Under-tread separation: Under-tread separation occurs when the layer of rubber beneath the tread becomes separated. This can also be caused by manufacturing defects and can lead to a loss of control of the vehicle and a crash.
Improper curing: Improper curing occurs when the rubber in the tire is not cured properly during the manufacturing process. Improper curing can lead to a variety of defects, including tread separation, belt separation, and under-tread separation.
Improper vulcanization: Vulcanization is the process of heating rubber to make it more durable and elastic. Improper vulcanization can lead to a variety of defects, including tread separation, belt separation, and under-tread separation.
Defective manufacturing equipment: Manufacturing equipment can malfunction or become worn, which can cause defects in the tires.
Lack of quality control: Quality control is an important step in the tire manufacturing process, and if the process is not properly followed, the tires can be defective.

These tire defects can lead to serious accidents and injuries, and those affected may seek damages from the manufacturer of the tire. In such cases, manufacturers may be held liable for the injuries and damages caused by the defective tires.

Negligence Resulting in Tread Separation of Tires

Determining if tread separation was caused by negligence typically involves an investigation into the manufacturing and design of the tire, as well as an examination of the tire itself. The investigation will typically be conducted by experts in the field, such as tire engineers and metallurgists.

Some factors that can be used to determine if tread separation was caused by negligence include:

Design defects: If the tire’s design is faulty or inadequate, it may be considered negligent.
Manufacturing defects: If the tire’s manufacturing process had defects, such as improper curing or vulcanization, it may be considered negligent.
Quality control issues: If there were inadequate quality control measures in place to detect and prevent defects, it may be considered negligent.
Warning and instructions: if the tire manufacturer didn’t provide adequate warning or instructions on how to properly maintain the tire, it may be considered negligent.
Previous complaints and recalls: If there have been previous complaints or recalls related to the same type of tire or a similar issue, it may be considered negligent.
Comparison with industry standards: Tire engineers will check if the tire that failed met the industry standards and regulations

It’s important to note that proving negligence in a court of law requires showing a duty of care, a breach of that duty, and that the breach caused the injuries or damages. An attorney with experience in product liability and tire defects will be able to assess the evidence and build a case.

Negligence Resulting in Belt Separation of Tires

Determining if belt separation was caused by negligence typically involves an investigation into the manufacturing and design of the tire, as well as an examination of the tire itself. The investigation will typically be conducted by experts in the field, such as tire engineers and metallurgists.

Some factors that can be used to determine if belt separation was caused by negligence include:

Design defects: If the tire’s design is faulty or inadequate, it may be considered negligent.
Manufacturing defects: If the tire’s manufacturing process had defects, such as improper curing or vulcanization, it may be considered negligent.
Quality control issues: If there were inadequate quality control measures in place to detect and prevent defects, it may be considered negligent.
Warning and instructions: if the tire manufacturer didn’t provide adequate warning or instructions on how to properly maintain the tire, it may be considered negligent.
Previous complaints and recalls: If there have been previous complaints or recalls related to the same type of tire or a similar issue, it may be considered negligent.
Comparison with industry standards: Tire engineers will check if the tire that failed met the industry standards and regulations
Adequacy of adhesives used: Tire engineers will check if the tire was constructed with the appropriate adhesives to bond the belt to the tire body.

Re-Tread Tire Failure

Re-tread tires can be just as safe as new tires if they are manufactured and maintained properly. However, there is a risk of defects and failure if the re-treading process is not done correctly.

Re-treading involves removing the worn tread from a used tire and replacing it with a new layer of rubber. This process can be done by bonding a pre-cured tread to the tire or by molding a new tread onto the tire using heat and pressure.

If the re-treading process is not done correctly, the new tread may not bond properly to the tire, or the tire may have other defects. This can lead to tread separation, which can cause a loss of control of the vehicle, resulting in a dangerous situation.

Re-tread tires must meet the same safety standards as new tires. However, re-treaded tires are more likely to be found in commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, trailers and in some cases, heavy equipment. And those vehicles usually have a higher amount of wear and tear than passenger vehicles.