Could Your Motorcycle Accident Have Been Caused by Defective Tires?
A motorcycle’s tires play a critical safety role, affecting its traction, braking and overall handling on the highway. Unfortunately, design and manufacturing defects can lead to early tire failure and dangerous blowouts, causing bikers to lose control and crash. In the event of an accident caused by defective tires, motorcycle riders are at grave risk for catastrophic injury and death, particularly when traveling at high speeds. Accidents can happen, and when they do call a personal injury attorney at the Ellis Law Firm
Defective tires can fail prematurely due to design flaws, improper mounting or poor quality control during the manufacturing process. According to a recent report by the National Transportation Safety Board, only 20 percent of defective tires in the U.S. are actually recalled, and in 2015, a staggering 19,000 Americans were injured in tire-related crashes.
Unfortunately, some tire defects aren’t obvious to the naked eye, so we’ve put together a list of warning signs to watch out for.
Visually inspect for tire defects
Design defects, such as those that affected 170,000 Continental motorcycle tires that were recalled in 2014, can lead to sudden air pressure loss and tread separation. The following are early warning signs of motorcycle tire defects:
- Blisters or bubbles in the tire walls
- Tread that is excessively or unevenly worn
- Repeated and sudden loss of inflation
- Deep cracks in the tire sidewalls
Was your accident caused by defective tires?
If you were seriously harmed in a motorcycle accident and believe that faulty tires were to blame, you may be able to pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim. But how do you prove that tire defects caused the crash? Only a thorough investigation will determine what caused the accident, and which parties may be held liable for your injuries and economic damages.
Had you just installed new tires before the accident occurred? Did one or both of your tires start wobbling or vibrating wildly just before you lost control? Did your front wheel suddenly deflate or blow out, causing you to skid off the road and crash? Did you hear strange loud noises coming from your tires before losing control? Did the tire tread separate from the body of the tire? All of these scenarios suggest further investigation that your tires were defective.
Who is liable for defective tires that cause an accident?
The majority of tire defects stem from design flaws, or mistakes made during the manufacturing process. When tire defects are responsible for a victim’s injury or death, there are various parties that may be held liable in court of law. Potential defendants include tire manufacturers, designers and even the dealership where the bike was sold. An attorney experienced in product recalls and defects will be able to identify at-fault parties and can outline what kind of evidence is required in such product liability cases.
With skilled legal representation, victims of defective tire accidents can recover a host of damages, including:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future loss of earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage to the motorcycle
Tire blowouts, bead and tread separations and sidewall failures have caused countless motorcycle injuries and fatalities on our country’s roadways. If you or someone you love was injured in a tire-related crash, the legal team at Ellis Injury Law is here to help protect your rights and secure the best recovery possible.
Schedule a free consultation with Ellis Injury Law
Each Los Angeles motorcycle accident attorney at Ellis Law has the practical and technical expertise to determine whether tire defects caused your crash, and have successfully represented clients in product liability litigation throughout California. For assistance filing your claim, or to schedule a free legal consultation with an award-winning personal injury law firm that gets results, please call 310-641-3335.
Additional Motorcycle Tire Defect Resources:
- Consumerist, System For Recalling Defective Tires Is “Broken,” Says Federal Safety Agency https://consumerist.com/2015/10/27/system-for-recalling-defective-tires-is-broken-says-federal-safety-agency/
- Tire Safety Group, CONTINENTAL RECALLS 170,000 MOTORCYCLE TIRES http://www.tiresafetygroup.com/continental-recalls-170000-motorcycle-tires/
- Consumer Affairs, Tire Recalls https://www.consumeraffairs.com/tire-recalls
- Consumer Reports, Beware these early warning signs of tire failure http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2012/03/early-warning-signs-of-tire-failure/index.htm