Semi-Truck Tire Blowout Accidents: Who’s Liable in Georgia?

Why Blown-Out Tires & Big Trucks Are So Dangerous

One minute, you're driving down I-75, I-85, or I-285 in Georgia and traffic has started to pick back up. You feel like your commute is going your way and you might make it to your destination a little early. The next minute, a tractor-trailer's tire suddenly blows and you have a semi-truck tire blowout situation on your hands.

You hear a loud bang. You see pieces of rubber flying and maybe even smoke. One thing is for sure: the situation just got a lot more dangerous. When blowouts happen at high speeds, there's an increased chance that the truck driver may lose control or even swerve into nearby lanes, putting everyone's lives at risk.

In this post, you'll find out about some of the most common causes of commercial truck tire blowouts in Georgia. You'll get insight into who might be legally responsible and the typical injuries (not to mention financial losses) that might occur.

This article is intended for those who may be hurt, stressed, or already getting calls from insurance companies after a truck accident, so that they can have a clear path forward as soon as possible.

What Causes A Tire Blowout In Commercial Trucks?

A big truck tire blowout isn't just a slow leak or some kind of minor inconvenience. You're talking about a major, catastrophic failure that could instantly cause an accident under the exact wrong conditions, especially on some of the hotspots in Atlanta for truck accidents.

The truck's weight, height, and especially speed make it much harder for a driver to maintain control once a tire gives out.

Many of these events unfortunately trace back to truck maintenance issues, loading, or even product issues. Rarely can they be attributed to a case of "bad luck" alone.
Failing to maintain proper tire pressure, using underinflated tires, or neglecting wear and tear on commercial tires dramatically increases the risk of blowouts. Likewise, hitting a pothole at high speed can cause sudden tire failure and loss of control.

 

 

Who Can Be Liable For A Semi Truck Tire Blowout Accident in Georgia

Figuring out who’s responsible for a tire blowout isn’t always straightforward. It could be the driver, the trucking company, a repair shop, or even the tire maker. Each has a part to play in keeping trucks safe on the road, and finding out where things went wrong is an important step toward getting fair compensation in a personal injury case.  Let's go over the different people and companies that could be held legally accountable after a crash.

1. The Truck Driver

The truck driver has a legal duty to inspect his or her truck and not ignore clear warning signs like visible damage, low tread on the tires, vibrations, or even pulling to one side during operation.

2. The Trucking Company or Motor Carrier

The trucking company is responsible for hiring, training, and supervising truck drivers. They also have a role to play in inspections and tire care. They need to keep detailed records, following Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) safety regulations in the process.

3. Maintenance and Repair Shops

Any third-party shops and tire service centers might also be responsible, as they could have potentially mounted an incorrectly-sized tire, skipped key checks, or even just done sloppy repairs.

4. Tire Manufacturers, Distributors, and Sellers

In some situations, a tire maker might be responsible because their tire design may have been flawed in the first place. That, or the tire was just built incorrectly. Sellers sometimes also move old, recalled, or mismatched tires onto commercial trucks.

5. Other Possible Parties

Other possible parties that might be at fault after an accident include cargo loaders or freight brokers who contribute to overloading or unbalanced loads. There could also be the involvement of road agencies or private property owners if a serious, known road defect played a clear role.

Note that in Georgia, a car accident victim's potential recovery can actually be reduced or even outright blocked if they're found to be "too much" at fault for the accident. Insurance companies often try to push the blame onto the injured person, largely for this reason. It is a Georgia personal injury lawyer's job to push back with solid evidence and to help make sure that doesn't happen to you.

 

 

Most Common Injuries and Damages After A Collision Caused By A Blown Tire

1. Physical Injuries

Blowout crashes commonly cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, neck and back injuries, broken bones, internal bleeding, crush injuries, and burns.

2. Ongoing and Future Medical Needs

Serious injuries often require multiple surgeries, implanted hardware, injections, physical therapy, pain management, and long-term medications.

3. Financial Strain and Daily Life Changes

These types of serious injuries can mean missed paychecks, using up sick or vacation time, reduced hours, or, in worst cases,  job loss.

4. Wrongful Death in Tire Blowout Crashes

When an 18-wheeler truck tire blowout leads to a fatal crash, families may face huge medical bills, funeral costs, and the loss of a loved one’s income and support.

Under Georgia state law, wrongful death claims focus on the “full value of the life” of the person who passed away, along with certain financial losses suffered by surviving family members.

What Compensation May Be Available

Medical Bills and Future Care

This is the amount of money required to pay for not only any care you've already received, but also other care like physical rehabilitation that you may need in the future.

Lost Income and Long-Term Earnings

If you were unable to work due to the accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The same is true if you can no longer perform your job as a direct result of the accident.

Pain, Suffering, and Changes to Daily Life

Compensation can reflect physical pain, ongoing discomfort, and emotional effects like fear, sadness, or frustration.

Property Damage and Other Expenses

Claims may include vehicle repair or replacement, towing, storage fees, rental cars, and damaged personal property.

Punitive Damages in Extreme Big Rig Accident Cases

Punitive damages are sometimes available in Georgia, especially if someone's conduct was reckless (like if they knowingly sent out a truck with a clearly unsafe load). This is not common, though, and usually takes strong, specific evidence like black box data / ECM data.

 

How A Georgia Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help In A Tire Failure Case

Commercial trucking and tire companies usually have their own teams working right away after a serious crash. Evidence can disappear if you don't have an experienced Georgia truck accident attorney at your side.  Your lawyer will move quickly, sending out letters and asking the trucking company to keep evidence like the destroyed tires, wheels, and all related parts.

Your attorney will also work with people like tire engineers who can examine the failed tire, and accident reconstruction experts who can model the crash.  Highly experienced accident injury lawyers are also pros at dealing with insurance adjusters, defense lawyers, and insurance company representatives so that you don't have to keep answering stressful telephone calls.

Guiding the Client Through the Process

But more than anything, an experienced truck accident attorney in Georgia offers clear communication, regular updates, and honest conversations about possible outcomes so that you can rest easy knowing that you have someone in your corner fighting for your rights and the compensation you deserve.

If you live in or around the Atlanta metro area or elsewhere in Georgia and are looking for help after a semi truck tire blowout or any other type of similar car accident or motorcycle accident, help is just a phone call away. Contact our 'Big Truck Lawyers' at (404) 526-9955 so that you can have a qualified Georgia truck accident attorney in your corner. Call The Graham Firm today to get your free consultation and case evaluation with our legal team.