Tire Blowout Accident Lawyers in Augusta
Were you injured in an accident with a big truck that happened after one of its tires blew? If so, call an experienced truck accident lawyer from Chris Hudson Law Group right away at (706) 863-6600 or use our contact form and someone from our office will call you right away.
For trucks to be safe on the road, truck drivers and trucking companies must keep up with the maintenance of their trucks. This includes making sure their tires are safe to drive on. If the tires are not safe, a blowout can occur that can cause wrecks with the vehicles around the truck. A “blowout” is when a tire bursts and the tires suddenly lose air pressure. This often causes the truck driver to lose control of the truck.
Chris Hudson Law Group attorneys specialize in representing people who have been injured in truck accidents, including tire blowout accidents. Our attorneys are extremely responsive to our clients and will answer any questions you have along the way. We can help give you peace of mind that we’re working on your behalf to help you with a claim or a lawsuit after you’ve been injured in an accident.
Contact us today at (706) 863-6600 for a free consultation. Our attorneys are diligent and hardworking and will do everything possible to ensure you receive the full amount of compensation that you deserve.
Why You Need a Lawyer That Specializes in Truck Accidents
Insurance companies that insure trucking companies love to take advantage of accident victims who don’t have a lawyer. Their main goal is to give you as little money as possible to make you go away. They will give you a lowball offer in the hopes you are unrepresented and will accept their offer, either out of ignorance about what your claim is truly worth or out of desperation.
Don’t let these insurance companies exploit you. Lawyers are deeply familiar with the law and know exactly how to handle these insurance companies to get you the compensation you deserve. Once an insurance company knows you have a lawyer, they won’t mess around. Don’t leave yourself open to attacks from insurance companies. Get a knowledgeable lawyer on your team.
Why Choose Chris Hudson Law Group?
Our firm is dedicated to serving those who have been injured in trucking accidents such as tire blowout accidents. We are passionate about serving you and getting the justice you deserve. Our clients are satisfied and willing to recommend our services to others.
Chris Hudson Law Group has helped clients achieve settlements in the millions, even with arguments that the injuries resulted from pre-existing conditions. We offer competent legal counsel that will help you navigate this difficult time in your life.
Don’t wait to call us at (706) 863-6600. We will proudly and vigorously represent you and help you get the financial compensation you deserve.
What is a Tire Blowout?
Next time you take a drive, take a look on the shoulder of the road and see how many pieces of tire and rubber are there. Truckers call these “’gators.” These are usually the aftermath of a tire blowout.
A tire blowout is characterized by a loud explosion because the tire bursts. Next is a sudden loss of air pressure from an inflatable tire. The tire at this point either completely or partially falls apart.
When a tire bursts, it causes a truck to suddenly lurch back and forth. Severe accidents with the vehicles around the truck can result. The lurching of the truck can make it careen into oncoming traffic, move into another lane of traffic suddenly, or even flip over. This can end in catastrophic injuries and even death to the passengers of vehicles that are unlucky enough to come into contact with the truck.
What Causes a Tire Blowout
Usually, a tire blowout is completely preventable. Not keeping up with proper maintenance on a truck can lead to these blowouts. A few causes of tire blowouts include:
- Tire underinflation. When the tire is underinflated, it causes the tire to bulge out in a shape that it is not meant to be in. This causes the tire to overheat, and the rubber the tire is made of will weaken and collapse.
- “Bald” tires or low tread. There are federal regulations that require a minimum amount of tread on trucks to prevent these accidents from occurring. When these regulations are ignored, a tire blowout can occur.
- Overloaded cargo. Excessive weight on a truck, that is, more than the truck is rated safe to carry, can cause a tire to be squished. This squishing leads to the tire overheating and eventually bursting due to overheating.
- Impact damage. Hitting a pothole, curb, or other debris in the road can sometimes cause a tire blowout. This is especially true if the tires are old and worn out.
- Using a spare tire. Spare tires are not meant for long-term usage or to exceed certain speeds. If a spare tire is used for too long, it can eventually break apart. If a tire is used at a speed above which it is rated, a tire blowout can result.
It can be hard to prove fault in these types of tire blowout accidents. Let the experienced attorneys of Chris Hudson Law Group investigate your claim and help prove that the truck driver or trucking company was at fault for the wreck.
Possible Injuries in a Tire Blowout Accident
Tire blowouts can cause many different types of catastrophic accidents, such as rollovers or head-on collisions, among others. These accidents are sure to result in substantial injuries or even death in some cases. Injuries that can occur due to a tire blowout accident include:
- Emotional distress
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Limb loss
- Whiplash
- Lesions
- Death
Because of the extensive medical bills that can be incurred due to these injuries, it is important to have high-quality legal representation. A knowledgeable lawyer can make sure you receive adequate financial compensation to cover these bills. The stress that arises from your injuries and the unexpected medical bills can be overwhelming and scary. Let us handle your case so that you can take the time to recover.
Types of Compensation Available in a Tire Blowout Accident
We can help you get financial compensation for your injuries that will meet your needs. Types of financial compensation we may be able to secure for you include:
- Diminished earning capacity
- Lost wages
- Hospital, therapy, and other medical expenses
- Psychological distress
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Not all of these damages have a hard financial value to them. Medical bills are straightforward, as they have exact amounts paid out, but psychological distress suffered due to the accident does not have a specific financial worth. Quantifying damages such as these requires a skilled lawyer. Your lawyer can fight for your rights and demand that you be paid the appropriate amount of compensation you deserve.
Liability in a Tire Blowout Accident
In Georgia, if you are found to be more than 50 percent responsible for an accident, you are not allowed to recover any financial damages. Insurance companies will pull out all the stops to try and put as much blame as possible on you so that they have to pay less than they should or even nothing at all.
Truck drivers or trucking companies may be at fault in a tire blowout accident when they fail to:
- properly maintain their tires
- complete an inspection before each trip
- load the vehicle with the appropriate amount of cargo
Other entities may be at fault in a tire blowout accident. These entities could include the tire manufacturer because they failed to warn the end-user of a defect or if they used a faulty design. The mechanic’s shop may also be at fault if they installed or repaired the tire incorrectly.
Investigation of a Tire Blowout Accident
When someone is responsible for an accident under the law, they can be found to be “liable.” To make sure liability is placed on the correct party in a tire blowout accident, an exhaustive investigation into what party or parties caused the accident must take place.
The evidence relating to a tire blowout accident needs to be preserved. If this evidence is lost, it may be difficult to pursue your claim, and the more time passes, the more easily evidence is lost. Let our team of experienced lawyers at Chris Hudson Law Group investigate your claim for you and make sure all evidence is saved.
To help preserve evidence, it is also important that at the time of the accident, you call local law enforcement. Once first responders arrive, they will likely create a police report. If you’re able, you should take as many photos as you can of the vehicles involved and the area around them. Get the contact details from the truck driver, his insurance information, and the name of the company for whom he drives. If there are any witnesses, be sure to obtain their contact information as well.
Some of the evidence our seasoned lawyers may review in an investigation include:
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Video footage
- Photographs of the scene
- Other evidence from the scene, such as tire marks or road markings
- Driving logs
- Maintenance records
- Driver training records
- Phone records
- Crash reconstruction evidence
Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer from Chris Hudson Law Group Today
Injuries from a tire blowout accident can be extensive. The laws regarding the trucking industry can be complicated. Insurance companies will aggressively defend their claim and try to give you as little money as possible. For all these reasons, if you were injured in a tire blowout accident, you need legal representation right away.
You don’t need to handle your claim alone. Call a truck accident lawyer from Chris Hudson Law Group at (706) 863-6600 today for a free consultation.