Clearwater is a beach-lovers paradise known for its sunny weather and idyllic Gulf Coast scenery. Part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, Clearwater, has a high population of residents and draws tourists to it every year, making its roads saturated with cars. Tire blowouts are dangerous at the best of times, but in such a densely populated area, they can be catastrophic, which is why if you get into an accident due to a tire blowout, you could be deserving of compensation.
Having good quality, sturdy tires is vital to ensure every one is as safe as possible while on the road. We expect that when we purchase new tires, they will be up to a good standard to keep us, our loved ones, and other drivers safe, and for them to last for a reasonable amount of time, but this is not always the case. Equally, another driver may have blown a tire causing you to crash into them when it wasn’t your fault.
Often, when an accident is caused by a tire blowout, tire manufacturers blame the driver and put it down to the tire being old and worn. However, frequently the cause of the tire’s failure is poor quality control, a pre-existing defect, or bad design. Whether you are driving fast or slowly, in a split second, these manufacturer failures can change your life forever. This is not fair on you, and you are well in your right to gain the compensation you deserve.
If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in an accident as a result of a blown tire, you could have the right to take legal action against the manufacturers of the tire, a mechanic, or another party. Our Clearwater car accident attorneys are here to help. Our law group are experienced in injury law with over 75 years of experience collectively and have dealt with many cases like yours. Call us today on (941) 444-4444 to organize a free consultation and speak with an attorney for some no-obligation legal advice.
What Causes A Tire Blowout?
Despite what you are told by manufacturers, tire blowouts frequently occur because of design defects or as a result of poor manufacturing, rather than the neglect of the consumer. Here at The Law Place, we have a wealth of experience to protect your liability claim against the tire manufacturer, as well as defending you against their frequently used defense of shifting the blame of the accident onto you, the consumer.
While it is your responsibility as a vehicle owner to replace worn tires, manufacturers are a large part of the problem. Badly designed tires can experience an array of safety issues, such as tread separation. Manufacturers, in the past, have announced recalls for the tires which they are aware of are at fault, such as Ford Firestone and Dunlop. Unfortunately, these recalls often come too late for many, as the accidents and injuries have already occurred. It is shocking how, in some instances, the manufacturers have been aware of their tire defects for years and yet only release the recalls when a significant number of consumers have been killed or suffered serious injuries.
If you experience a tire blowout, the tire shreds can wrap around the wheel and thus make controlling your vehicle virtually impossible. This, therefore, can result in sharp turns, your vehicle rolling over, and severe injuries. You should not have to suffer because manufacturers have not been honest in releasing to the public what they know. Contact The Law Place today for a free consultation with a Clearwater personal injury attorney. Our law group is experienced in injury law, and if another party is liable, we are committed to ensuring they pay for the damage they have done.
What to Do If You Have Experienced a Tire Blowout
If you have been in an accident caused by a tire blowout and are considering filing a lawsuit against the manufacturer, your personal injury lawyer in Clearwater, FL, will need as much evidence as possible to help you win your claim. Therefore, you should try and do the following:
- Take clear pictures of the accident to document the scene, if at all possible.
- Try and identify witnesses to the accident and obtain their personal contact information.
- Preserve the vehicle as best as you can and avoid making repairs, selling, or destroying the vehicle if possible.
- Ensure that the tire, tire tread, and tire rim are kept.
It is vital that you try and do all of the above if possible as a failure to do so may hinder your right in gaining the compensation in which you deserve for the manufacturer’s negligence in selling defective tires. Our law firm is on your side, and we will fight as hard as we can to get justice for you. Call us today, and you can put your mind at rest by speaking to an attorney about your case.
What Damages Can Result From a Tire Blowout?
All sorts of injuries can occur from a blown tire. You might be lucky to escape with just damage to your vehicle; however, there may be more severe consequences. Following a crash caused by a defective tire, your attorney will look to claim for the following types of damages:
- Medical bills, including past, present, and future.
- Rehabilitation expenses.
- Lost income and lost earning potential.
- Pain and suffering, such as emotional anguish and loss of enjoyment. You might be able to claim for this if the accident resulted in an injury that is preventing you from living the life you once did.
- Property damage.
- Wrongful death, if a loved one has died in an accident, then you might be able to claim for funeral expenses and loss of their earnings.
How Do Florida Product Liability Cases Work?
An accident caused by a tire blowout is common on Florida roadways, and unfortunately, defective tires are a frequent cause of car accidents all across the country, severely impacting many lives. The existing laws regarding these cases can be very complex to navigate.
When a blowout accident occurs due to a tire manufacturer’s defect, you can file a product liability lawsuit to receive compensation for any medical expenses, repair costs, funeral expenses, loss of income, and any other economic losses you have had to deal with as a result of your accident and injuries. The lawsuit can be aimed at negligence, breaches of warranty, poor design, bad manufacturing, poor installation, formulation, or the assembly of a product.
If you are able to prove that it was the defective tire that caused your accident, you will be able to sue the manufacturer for damages. Alternatively, if you are able to prove that you were involved in an accident as a result of another car hitting yours because they suffered a blowout, you may be able to sue for both product liability and negligence.
On the other hand, you may have been in a crash where another vehicle’s tires blown, because the driver failed to maintain them. In this scenario, you might be entitled to compensation from the other driver or their insurance company.
Even if you are partly responsible for the incident, you will still be able to make a claim. This is because Florida law allocates comparative fault to all parties that are involved in a product liability case. This ultimately means that each party will individually be held responsible for damages according to the percentage of their fault, as determined by the court. We understand how daunting it can be to navigate injury law and file a lawsuit. Our attorneys are here for you to guide you through the process and give you all of the information you need.
The Law Place Law Group Is Here to Help
The first thing you or a loved one need to do if you have suffered injuries due to a tire blowout accident in Clearwater, FL, is to contact a reputable law firm for some legal advice. Here at The Law Place, we have a wealth of experience and have dealt with cases like yours before. Before we take your case, we offer a no-obligation consultation with an attorney who is knowledgeable in injury law. You should not have to suffer because of an accident caused by a tire blowout, which potentially wasn’t your fault, which is where we can help.
Upon calling The Law Place, you will be offered a free consultation, in which we will assess your individual case. You will be asked a series of simple questions to determine if your claim is legitimate and can be taken further. The accident lawyers at our law firm will offer you some obligation free advice and inform you how best to proceed with your case. If you do not wish to choose us to represent you, that is fine.
If you do wish to proceed, we will arrange an in-depth consultation in which we will explain our fee structure and what we can do to help you through this hard time. Upon deciding to proceed with The Law Place, an experienced attorney from our law group will take over every detail of your case, giving you the much-needed time to recover mentally and physically from the accident.
Upon hearing you wish to make a claim, you will likely be contacted by the liable party’s insurance company. They will attempt to settle the case quickly, quietly, and with minimum cost to themselves. They will try to get you to waive your rights to proceed with the case and accept an offer much lower than what you deserve. We advise that you do not agree to anything without consulting your attorney. They will ensure that you are not taken advantage of in such a vulnerable time.
In Clearwater, FL, most accidents caused by a blown tire end in settlement, and research shows that you are 90% more likely to receive a payout with an experienced law firm behind you; however, this does, of course, depend on the case at hand. These payouts also tend to be 60% higher than those without proper representation. That being said, if your case does go to court, our team will be beside you every step of the way to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
At The Law Place, we understand how scary car accidents are and how much they can impact your life. Being a driver is a risk and can sometimes have life-changing consequences. This is why, here at The Law Place, we work on a contingency basis, so you will not pay anything upfront. The fees will be deducted from your settlement, and if your case is unsuccessful, you do not pay anything.
Contingency work is monitored by the State Bar Associations, who set restrictions on what lawyers and what each law group can charge. Your attorney will ensure that you understand the costs, so you are not left with any surprise bills.
Call The Law Place Today
If you have been in an accident due to a blown tire, whether it was your fault or caused by another drive or a manufacturer, then you will need a personal injury attorney who is well versed in the laws of Clearwater on your side. At The Law Place, our lawyers work as a team on all personal injury cases to get you the best legal representation possible. This sets us apart from all other law firms and allows you to feel comfortable in the knowledge that an experienced Clearwater, FL lawyer is behind you every step of the way. Our law group practice areas also cover St. Petersburg, Tampa, FL, and the rest of Florida, so no matter where you are in Florida, there is an attorney ready to help fight your corner.
Simply call us on (941) 444-4444 to get the balling rolling. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take your call.