Tires allow large commercial trucks to travel safely while carrying thousands of pounds of cargo. Since big rigs can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds with fully loaded trailers, it only takes one tire to blow out or fail to cause a serious crash.
A large commercial truck can easily lose control and jackknife, roll over, or break through a median barrier and careen into oncoming highway traffic.
That's why the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association mandates thorough inspections and maintenance on all large commercial trucks. Trucking companies and fleet owners are also required to keep accurate records of maintenance and inspections. Some fleet owners fail to properly maintain their trucks. They also fail to produce records when needed.
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a tire blowout or other mechanical defect, it's important that you speak to an experienced Indiana truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
Tire manufacturers launch tire safety campaign
The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) is made up of a collective of U.S. tire manufacturers like Bridgestone, Continental Tire, Cooper Tire, Michelin, Pirelli Tire and Yokohama Tire.
The organization launched a tire safety awareness campaign in early September to urge drivers — especially those who operate big rigs — to regularly check their tires.
In addtion, the USTMA offered these important tire safety tips to truckers and fleet owners:
- Proper tire inflation. Keeping tires properly inflated is the “single most effective practice that a fleet or driver can employ to impact tire wear, casing life and overall performance,” according to Goodyear. When checking tires for proper inflation, truckers should consider using calibrated air gauges.
- Avoid exceeding the posted speed limit. Truckers need to get deliveries made on time. But speeding can cause their tires to wear down quicker. This is the case especially when hauling thousands of pounds of cargo. This can also be especially dangerous when tires are worn down or have bulges. That can result in a blowout at high speed.
- Employ a tire tracking program. It's important that trucking companies and fleet owners regularly track the tires on their vehicles. They should look for wear and tear, deflation and tread depth. This alone can have a large impact on truck tire safety.
- Check tires before driving. It's also up to truck drivers to regularly keep an eye out for bulges, cracks, tread wear, and poor tire inflation.
- Proper wheel alignment. Wheel alignment is important for preventing irregular wear and tear on tires.
Contact our attorneys if you were in a truck crash
If you were injured in a truck crash caused by a tire blowout or other mechanical failure on a large truck, call us. Our experienced Indiana truck accident attorneys at Boughter Sinak can help you pursue damages against the trucking company and its insurer.
Our attorneys know how complex truck accidents can be. We know exactly what to look for. We can investigate negligent trucking companies and truck drivers. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us online and schedule your free case evaluation.