Tires are some of the most important parts of a motor vehicle. They are what connect to the road and allow a driver to maintain control of the vehicle. If a tire contains a product defect, this could compromise the safety and control of the entire vehicle – causing a car accident. Unfortunately, many manufacturers distribute tires with dangerous defects.
Design Defects
A tire defect is an issue with the product that makes it unreasonably dangerous for consumers to use. A tire defect can take many shapes and forms. One type is a design defect – an inherent issue with the design of the tire that makes it less safe than a normal tire.
For example, designing a tire with a new type of rubber that has not yet been properly safety-tested could lead to a tire that wears down too easily, shreds, has uneven wear and tear, or blows out. It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to design a tire that is reasonably safe for consumers to use.
Manufacturing Defects
Even if a tire has an inherently safe design, issues or mistakes during manufacturing could make the tire contain dangerous defects. Tire manufacturing facilities must comply with federal safety standards in terms of maintenance, equipment, supplies, procedures, and staff hiring and training. If a tire manufacturer fails to ensure the safety of its assembly process, several tire defects could arise, such as:
- Tread separation
- Steel belt separation
- Bead wire failures
- Sidewall failures
- Tire over inflation or underinflation
- Tires that shred too easily
- Missing parts or components
- Tires that are incorrect for the vehicle
- Tires with weak, outdated or faulty rubber
- Curing errors that lead to foreign objects in the tire
- Tire blowouts or explosions
Manufacturing companies must have processes in place to check for defects that can compromise the safety of the tires. Tire companies should focus on product inspection, testing and quality control to find issues before they are released to consumers. Sadly, many manufacturers fall short of the required safety standards, leading to manufacturing defects and related accidents.
Failure to Warn Defects
Tires can also contain defects related to the product’s marketing. If a manufacturing company knows about a potential hazard related to the tires, such as the risk of a tire blowout without proper maintenance, the company has a legal obligation to warn its consumers. Failure to warn is a type of marketing defect that can increase the risk of car accidents. If a manufacturer or distributor markets a tire in a way that increases the risk of an accident, it could be responsible for a related crash.
Lawsuits for Tire Defects in Omaha, Nebraska
If someone suffers a serious injury in a car accident and investigators trace the collision back to a tire defect, the manufacturer could be liable (legally responsible). Investigators can analyze the tire in question, inspect the manufacturing company, and determine whether or not the tire contained a defect. If so, the injured party will have grounds to file a lawsuit against the manufacturer or distributor.
Product liability laws in Nebraska state that a manufacturing company will bear strict liability for defective products, in most cases. Strict liability means the company will be legally and financially responsible even without proof of negligence. The rules of strict liability would apply if the tire contained a design, manufacturing or marketing defect and this defect caused a car accident.
Contact an Attorney Today
If you or someone you love was recently injured in a car accident connected to a tire defect, a lawsuit could provide financial compensation to cover your property damage, physical injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more. Contact the Omaha, Nebraska tire defect attorneys at Knowles Law Firm today for a confidential consultation about your legal rights.
