Oklahoma Tire Blow Out Truck Accident Attorneys

Truck Accident Trends

Each year, approximately 4,000 cargo trucks are involved in fatal accidents, and the number of injuries range from 60,000 to 90,000. Large trucks account for the majority of trucking accidents, and the number of large truck accidents has increased by 21% in the past year alone, reaching a whopping total of 88,000 large truck accidents annually. In 2014, there were almost 11 million large trucks registered to drive in the United States. 111,000 people were injured in large truck crashes, and 3,514 were killed. More than two-thirds of the deceased were in passenger vehicles that collided with the large truck, and about 10% were pedestrians or bicyclists.

Large truck accidents were caused by a variety of factors, including driving under the influence, truck driver exhaustion, truck driver negligence, reckless driving, and mechanical issues such as a tire blow out.

Why Do Tire Blowouts Occur?

Large cargo trucks are comprised of trailer trucks that have cargo trailers attached to them, and the truck itself and the trailer have a series of wheels. Trucks require many wheels in order to both properly balance the truck and facilitate movement of a heavy cargo load. While it may seem like one blown tire on a truck that contains sixteen tires will not be noticeable, a simple tire blowout has the ability to wreak serious havoc, resulting in swerving, negligent driving, overturned trucks, and collisions.

So why do tire blowouts occur? Large truck tires are similar to passenger vehicle tires. Common causes of tire blowouts include:

• Nails or other objects that puncture the tire, causing it to shred or slowly deflate
• Failure to install new tires when the tread wears down, resulting in the tire disintegrating
• Potholes
• Debris on the road
• Ice
• Negligent driving, leading to the truck driver swerving over a curb, median, or other object
• Overloading the cargo

Blowouts can be unpredictable and occur suddenly. While many tire blowouts on passenger vehicles can be safely and easily handled by pulling over to the shoulder, tire blowouts on large big rigs are harder to control. Given their sheer length and weight, directing the truck after unexpected blowout can be extremely difficult. A driver may struggle to keep the truck straight or stop the truck in a safe manner. Some drivers may be poorly trained in how to deal with tire blowouts and may react by slamming on their brakes or jerking the wheel, causing the truck to crash into a neighboring car or vice versa.

How to Spot a Dangerous Truck Driver

It’s your worst nightmare. You are driving on the interstate, and your little car has become sandwiched in between two huge big rigs. You can’t see around them, and you aren’t even sure if the drivers can see you. While not every cargo truck driver is a bad driver, below are some common signs to help you spot when a truck driver is being negligent:

• The driver is speeding.
• The driver is repeatedly or abruptly switching lanes for no reasons.
• The driver is constantly passing fellow trucks.
• The truck is swerving or veering into another lane.
• The driver is not following posted traffic signs.
• The truck keeps abruptly stopping.
• The driver appears distracted behind the wheel or intoxicated.

If you spot an unsafe driver, you can report him to the police.

Call Car Accident Help if You Were Injured in a Tire Blow Out Truck Accident in Oklahoma

If you were involved in a collision with a truck driver caused by a tire blowout or other issue, the talented Oklahoma truck accident lawyers at our law firm can assist you with pursuing compensation for your injuries. To schedule a free case evaluation of your claim, call us today at (405) 285-4357.

Additional Information

• Tire Blowouts Lead to Serious Oklahoma Truck Accidents
• Minimizing the Hazards of Tire Blow-Outs in Oklahoma
• The Large Truck Crash Causation Study - Analysis Brief
• Tire Problems - NHTSA

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