Were you in a serious crash caused by a semi-truck tire blowout?
At Scholle Law, our Atlanta truck accident attorneys can help you hold trucking companies responsible for putting unsafe trucks on the road.
1 Glenlake Pkwy NE
Suite 700
Atlanta, GA 30328
Next time you’re driving around Atlanta or on another Georgia highway, pay attention to the sheer quantity of torn rubber strewn about the road. Many of these rubber pieces are from tire blowouts, which is clearly all-too-common on our roads.
Just like passenger cars and trucks, commercial semi-trucks and tractor-trailers must be properly maintained in order to stay safe on the road. This maintenance includes making sure the trucks’ tires haven’t been worn down, underinflated or are in danger of bursting (known as a tire “blowout”). Semi-truck tire blowouts can frequently be traced to improper maintenance of the truck such as bald tires, underinflation, slow leaks, overloaded cargo and more.
Blowouts often cause serious truck accidents because they cause the massive vehicle to suddenly wobble back and forth, making it difficult for a driver to stay in the lane and maintain control.
At highway speeds, this can be enough to cause a serious crash—especially if the driver panics and overcorrects. In this situation, a large truck tire blowout can result in deaths or catastrophic injuries to anyone unlucky enough to be nearby.
Scholle Law proudly represents Georgia residents who have been seriously injured by this kind of carelessness and disregard for public safety. With more than 20 years of experience helping truck accident victims seek justice, we know the best ways to fight back against the many tricks trucking companies and their insurers commonly use to limit what they pay.
If you’d like to talk to us about your situation and how we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced Atlanta truck accident attorneys. We have a strong record of results in trucking crashes, and we offer free consultations to potential clients. Schedule yours today to get started.
We’ve recovered over $75 million for our clients
Trucking companies and their lawyers are trying to get everything they can to use against you in the case.
The trucking companies are one step ahead… to manipulate the evidence in their favor. Even if their driver has gotten the ticket for the wreck, they are going to present evidence circumstantial or otherwise to make it your fault and you need to be aware.
Because trucking accidents are so different from auto accidents, you really need to talk to a professional about your rights.
Contact us to speak with a lawyer about your accident.
We’re available 24/7 and your first consultation is free.Call 866-972-5287 or send us a message online
What causes truck tire blowouts?
Improved tire designs have made sudden blowouts much less common than in previous decades. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t still happen. In fact, because they are rare, a truck driver may be caught off-guard and not know how to regain control of their vehicle. Whatever the reason why a tire blowout occurs, the actions the driver takes (or doesn’t) next can be the difference between a close call and a life-changing accident.
Some of the most common causes of tire blowouts include:
- Lack of proper maintenance
- Defective tire manufacturing
- Excessive heat build-up
- Overinflating or under-inflating tires
- Potholes
- Road debris
- Extreme heat or cold
- Overloaded trailer
- Improper tire alignment
- Speeding and aggressive driving
- Gradual wear and tear
- Vandalism
Federal laws and Georgia trucking safety regulations
Large commercial trucks hauling heavy cargo loads of materials and products should be maintained well enough to ensure that they’re safe to take on any road. But unlike most vehicles, tractor-trailers and semis are enormous, and they’re driven for many hours per day. Both of those factors increase the wear and tear on the truck and its parts considerably, which is why maintenance is especially important.
For these reasons, special safety laws apply to big rigs and their tires. For example, the Federal Department of Transportation requires that tire tread on trucks have a certain minimum depth. There are also limits on the use of regrooved tires and tires must be inflated correctly.
In addition to federal restrictions, Georgia state law requires all drivers to make sure their tire tread is not worn down past a specific size, and that tires are generally free of bulges, snags or visible body cord. These rules are designed to prevent accidents that can be avoided with proper maintenance of a truck and its tires.
According to O.C.G.A. 40-8-74:
(e) All tires:
(1) Shall have not less than 2/32 inch tread measurable in all major grooves with the exception of school buses which shall have not less than 4/32 inch tread measurable in all major grooves on the front tires and not less than 2/32 inch tread measurable in all major grooves on the rear tires when there are at least four tires on the rear otherwise the tread on the rear tires shall be not less than 4/32 inch;
(2) Shall be free from any cuts, breaks, or snags on tread and sidewall deep enough to expose body cord; and
(3) Shall be free from bumps, bulges, or separations.
Unfortunately, not all trucking companies obey these rules despite the fact that avoiding accidents is better for everyone. Some companies seek to save a few dollars by deferring maintenance as long as possible. If that leads to equipment failure in traffic, it puts everyone on the road with them at risk of serious injury or death.
Back on the Road
What to do after a serious semi, tractor trailer or truck accident in Georgia
Guidebook for people who suffered a serious injury or lost a loved one after a bad accident with a large commercial truck
Holding trucking companies legally responsible for crashes
Commercial trucking is a business, which means that a crash with an 18-wheeler will involve the trucking company as well as the truck driver. Under Georgia law, companies are responsible for the actions of their employees, as long as those actions were work-related and reasonably part of that employee’s job description.
The trucking company’s actions and policies are often highly relevant in crashes involving tire blowouts, bald tires or other equipment problems. That’s because these companies generally own and control the trucks and equipment. Because they determine how often the truck is serviced and maintained, they are ultimately responsible for any failure to adequately maintain that vehicle.
Particularly in cases where the trucking company knew that truck’s tires were bald, underinflated or carrying too much weight, they may be legally liable for any injuries or deaths those decisions caused.
Contact Scholle Law for your free, no-obligation consultation
If you or a member of your family has suffered a serious injury or a loss in a crash with a large truck, Scholle Law can help. For more than 20 years, our firm has helped people in Metro Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia recover financial compensation for serious injuries caused by someone else’s carelessness on the road.
We offer free consultations because we want you to understand your rights. Even if you choose not to hire us, these meetings allow you to tell us about your situation and give you our best professional estimate of how your case might go. To set up a consultation or learn more, contact us today.
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