Stay Safe: Prevent Tire Blowouts

They are more than just inconvenient or potentially expensive, tire blowouts are also one of the leading causes of car accidents, and they occur more frequently during the summer months.

In higher temperatures, tire treads wear down more quickly, which can significantly and rapidly reduce the amount of usable wear left on your tires, especially when covering long distances while on vacation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, every year, on average, 400 people die due to complications from an accident involving tire failure. Many factors can contribute to blowouts, including; overly worn or improperly inflated tires, deep punctures, potholes, and overloading a vehicle.

Another safety hazard can occur when large trucks experience a blowout and the treads are left on the highway indefinitely for thousands of other drivers to run over them or try to swerve around them.

Maintaining a safe distance between your vehicle and others while on the road is another smart safety measure. If you are following too closely when another vehicle experiences a blowout, particularly a tractor-trailer, you could be putting yourself in harm’s way.

Inspecting your own tires for proper inflation and wear before taking to the road is always a good idea. New tires typically have a tread depth of 10/32”. Your tires will need to be replaced soon after they wear to a depth of 1/8”. 1/16” is the minimum depth allowed on most states’ roads and is considered extremely hazardous.

The penny test is a simple way to check treads on your tires. Place a penny upside down into the tread of your tires. If you can see Lincoln’s head or space above it, you need to replace that tire immediately. If you cannot see any of Lincoln’s hair, your tires are in good shape.

Uneven wear on your tires could indicate that your car needs other maintenance, such as tire rotation or balance, suspension adjustment or front-end alignment. Consult your vehicle maintenance guide for proper inflation tips and invest in an inexpensive gauge to monitor tire pressure.

Despite preventative measures and advanced tire technology, blowouts still can occur. If your vehicle does have a blowout, try your best to do these three things:

• Keep your rate of speed up so that following vehicles are less likely to rear-end you
• Steer against the direction your vehicle is tugging after the blowout
• As the car stabilizes, slow down and pull over as soon as possible

Seattle Personal injury Attorneys

If you or someone you love has been in a car accident, it is important to seek legal assistance immediately. The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Phillips Law Firm can help. If you are interested in learning more about your legal options, call us at 1-800-708-6000. Our personal injury attorneys are waiting to assist you 24/7, offering a free case evaluation. Remember our no fee promise. If we do not recover anything for you, you do not owe us an attorney fee.