Atlanta Defective Tires Attorneys
Defective Tires
A motor vehicle's tires are one of the most important pieces of automotive equipment, being the only part of the car that actually touches the road. Both tire manufacturers and auto manufacturers have a duty to make sure that a car's tires are well-made, well-designed and are only used on the appropriate type of vehicle. Unfortunately, tire manufacturers do not always seem to take this responsibility seriously. Poor tire design and/or manufacturing can cause tread/belt separation, blowouts and ultimately tire failure, all of which increase the risk of a car accident in Atlanta, especially a rollover.
Common Tire Defects
A tire may be defective by design or may be defectively or negligently manufactured. Regardless of the cause of the defect, a tire manufacturer that markets defective tires knowingly or without having properly tested them may be held liable for any accidents caused by the tire.
Design Defects
Tire design defects may include poor quality materials, such as rubber and adhesive, poor or insufficient anti-oxidants to prevent cracking and premature aging of tire rubber, inadequate bead coating and lack of nylon cap ply overlays and cap strips.
Manufacturing Defects
There are many things that can go wrong during the manufacturing process if there isn't proper supervision and management. Defects include contamination of the rubber compound with foreign substances, improperly placed steel belts, trapped air, improper assembly and curing at improper temperatures.
A defective tire can cause sudden tread/belt separation and/or a sudden change in tire pressure, which can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. This not only puts the driver of the out of control vehicle in danger but any other motorist, pedestrian or bicyclist in the vicinity as well.
A Tire Manufacturer's Responsibility
Tire manufacturers have three main responsibilities:
- Make safe, quality tires;
- Sell safe, quality tires; and
- Provide accurate specifications for tires (such as tire pressure, or psi).
Tire manufactures, however, are in the business of making money, and sometimes believe that it is profitable to manufacture low quality, unsafe tires. A tire manufacturer may use lesser quality materials because they are cheaper, hire inexperienced or inadequately trained workers and assign specifications that make the tire appropriate for a wider range of vehicles. If the manufacturer's specifications are not correct, the chances of tread separation and tire blowout increase, which can make an auto accident near inevitable. If a tire manufacturer sells a defectively made or designed tire and tire failure occurs, the tire manufacturer may be held liable for any accident injuries that result.
What Tire Recalls Teach Us
There have been several tire safety announcements and tire recalls in recent years, most notably the Firestone tire recall of 2000. These recalls and announcements have put a spotlight on the dangers of defective tire design and manufacturing. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that was caused by a defective tire, the experienced Atlanta tire defect lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C., may be able to help. Contact us today to learn more about your potential claim at 866-249-5513 or 404-995-3955.
