Defective Tires Accident Lawyer
If a tire fails at highway speed, the crash may look like a simple loss-of-control accident. In many cases, the deeper question is different: did the tire fail because of a defect, poor maintenance, improper installation, a recall issue, or another preventable safety problem?
At Johnson Attorneys Group, our California personal injury lawyers help injured people and families evaluate serious crashes involving suspected defective tires. If you need California tire defect lawyers to review a tire blowout, tread separation, sidewall failure, rollover, motorcycle crash, truck accident, or fatal collision, we can investigate what happened and explain your legal options.
We represent clients throughout California. Our offices include Johnson Attorneys Group Injury & Accidents at 4000 MacArthur Blvd, Suite 600 East Tower, Newport Beach, CA 92660, and 4900 California Ave, Tower B 2nd Floor Ste 18, Bakersfield, CA 93309. At Johnson Attorneys Group, we help defective tire victims understand their rights and get the compensation they deserve. If you would like to discuss your case, call us for a free consultation at 800-208-3538.
Why Defective Tire Cases Require A Different Investigation
A defective tire case is not handled like an ordinary car accident claim. The tire itself may be evidence. The vehicle may need to be inspected before repairs or disposal. The tread, sidewall, bead, belt package, DOT code, service history, and air-pressure information may all matter.
NHTSA states that tires are the only thing between the vehicle and the road, and its TireWise materials address tire buying, maintenance, labeling, aging, fuel efficiency, and tire retailers. NHTSA also states that it issues and enforces federal safety standards for tires, rims, and tire pressure monitoring systems.
When we review a possible tire-defect case, we look for the facts that can connect the tire failure to the crash. That may include the tire’s age, recall history, maintenance history, prior repairs, inflation pressure, tread depth, vehicle load, roadway evidence, crash-scene photos, electronic data, witness statements, and whether the failed tire was preserved.
Do Not Throw Away The Tire
If you suspect a tire caused the crash, preserve it immediately. Do not authorize the insurer, tow yard, body shop, salvage company, or repair facility to discard the tire, wheel, or vehicle before legal review.
Important evidence may include:
- The failed tire
- The matching tires on the vehicle
- The wheel and rim
- Tread or belt pieces recovered from the road
- The vehicle itself
- Photos from the crash scene
- Police or traffic collision reports
- Repair invoices
- Tire purchase records
- Rotation, alignment, and maintenance records
- Recall information
- Insurance communications
- Medical records
NHTSA allows consumers to search recalls for tires and other equipment, and it also allows people to file tire safety complaints. NHTSA explains that complaints can help the agency investigate possible defects that may lead to a safety recall.
Common Tire Defects And Failure Issues
A defective tire injury attorney should not assume that every tire failure has the same cause. The failure mechanism matters. A blowout, tread separation, bead failure, sidewall failure, or belt separation can point to different defendants and different evidence.
Tread Separation
Tread separation occurs when the tread or belt area separates from the body of the tire. This can cause sudden loss of control, especially at freeway speeds or when the vehicle is a truck, SUV, van, or heavily loaded passenger vehicle.
Blowouts
A blowout is a rapid loss of air pressure. Some blowouts are caused by road hazards or poor maintenance, but others may involve manufacturing defects, design issues, age-related deterioration, improper repairs, overloading, or underinflation.
Sidewall Failures
The sidewall helps the tire maintain structure and air pressure. A sidewall failure may involve cracking, bulging, impact damage, manufacturing problems, or weakened materials.
Bead And Rim Problems
The bead area helps seal the tire to the rim. Problems in this area can cause air loss, improper seating, or sudden failure. These cases may involve the tire, rim, installer, repair shop, or maintenance provider.
Aged Or Recalled Tires
A tire may still have tread and still be unsafe. Tire age, storage conditions, heat exposure, prior repairs, and recall history can be important. NHTSA’s recall search can be used to look up tire recalls and related safety information.
Who May Be Liable For Defective Tire Injuries?
Depending on the evidence, a defective tires lawyer may evaluate claims against more than one party. Potentially responsible parties may include:
- Tire manufacturers
- Vehicle manufacturers
- Tire distributors
- Retail sellers
- Repair shops
- Tire installers
- Maintenance providers
- Commercial fleet owners
- Trucking companies
- Vehicle owners
- Rental companies
- Other negligent drivers
The correct defendants depend on the facts. A tire manufacturer may be responsible for a defective product. A repair shop may be responsible for improper installation or repair. A commercial carrier may be responsible for putting a vehicle with unsafe tires on the road. A negligent driver may still be responsible if their conduct also contributed to the crash.
Product Liability Theories In A California Tire Defect Case
California product-liability claims often focus on whether the tire was defective and whether that defect was a substantial factor in causing harm. The Judicial Council of California’s Civil Jury Instructions include product-liability instructions for manufacturing defect, design defect, and failure-to-warn theories.
In practical terms, we may evaluate several theories.
Manufacturing Defect
A manufacturing defect claim may apply when a tire departed from its intended design because of a problem in production, materials, bonding, curing, quality control, or assembly.
Design Defect
A design defect claim may apply when the tire’s design did not perform safely under reasonably foreseeable use or when the risks of the design outweighed its benefits under California law.
Failure To Warn
A failure-to-warn claim may apply when a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, or another responsible party failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions about known or knowable risks.
Negligence
A negligence claim may apply when a person or company failed to use reasonable care. This can include improper tire installation, poor inspection, unsafe repairs, failure to replace visibly damaged tires, or allowing a commercial vehicle to operate on unsafe tires.
Tire Defects In Truck, Motorcycle, And Passenger Vehicle Crashes
Defective tires can cause severe injuries in many kinds of crashes. The facts often differ by vehicle type.
In passenger vehicles, a tire failure may cause a driver to lose control, leave the roadway, strike another vehicle, or roll over. In motorcycle crashes, tire failure may cause immediate instability, leaving the rider with little protection. In commercial truck cases, tire failure may involve fleet maintenance, load issues, pre-trip inspection practices, retread issues, or debris that causes a secondary crash.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration advises commercial drivers to inspect tires every day for irregular treadwear, cracking, bulges, cuts, foreign objects, other damage, and inadequate tread depth.
What Compensation May Be Available?
A defective tire accident can cause injuries that affect a person for months, years, or life. Depending on the case, compensation may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Hospital care
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Future medical care
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Disability
- Vehicle damage and related property loss
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Wrongful death damages where California law allows them
We do not promise a case value before we understand the evidence. Tire-defect cases often require technical investigation, medical documentation, liability analysis, and a careful review of available insurance or responsible corporate defendants.
How Long Do You Have To File A Defective Tire Injury Claim?
For many California personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, California Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1 provides a two-year deadline for injury to, or death of, an individual caused by another person’s wrongful act or neglect.
Some cases may involve shorter or different deadlines. A claim involving a government vehicle, public roadway condition, public agency, or certain other facts may require earlier action. The safest approach is to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible, especially because tire and vehicle evidence can be lost quickly.
What We Do For Clients In Defective Tire Cases
When someone contacts Johnson Attorneys Group about a suspected tire-failure crash, we begin by identifying what evidence exists and what must be preserved. We may ask about the crash location, vehicle, tire brand, tire size, purchase date, maintenance history, accident report, injuries, photos, and whether anyone still has the failed tire.
Our work may include:
- Sending preservation letters
- Reviewing crash reports
- Identifying the tire’s DOT code and recall history
- Investigating the tire’s sale, installation, and maintenance history
- Reviewing photos, video, and physical evidence
- Communicating with insurers
- Evaluating potential defendants
- Consulting qualified experts when needed
- Documenting injuries and damages
- Preparing the case for settlement or litigation
The goal is to build the claim from evidence, not assumptions.
Why Choose Johnson Attorneys Group?
If you are searching for a defective tire injuries lawyer, you are probably dealing with more than vehicle damage. You may be facing medical treatment, missed work, insurance calls, and uncertainty about whether the tire can be tested or preserved.
At Johnson Attorneys Group, we represent injured people throughout California. Our Newport Beach and Bakersfield offices allow us to serve clients across the state, including crashes involving passenger vehicles, motorcycles, commercial trucks, fleet vehicles, rideshare vehicles, delivery vehicles, and rental vehicles.
We speak to clients directly, explain the legal process in clear terms, and focus on the evidence needed to prove fault and damages.
If You’ve Been Injured Due to a Defective Tire, Contact Johnson Attorneys Group Today to Discuss Your Case
If you were injured in a crash involving a blowout, tread separation, sidewall failure, recalled tire, aged tire, or suspected tire defect, contact Johnson Attorneys Group. A defective tire claim can depend on fast evidence preservation, so it is important to get legal guidance before the vehicle or tire is repaired, sold, or destroyed. Contact us today at 1-800-208-3538 to schedule a free consultation.
