Summer Tire Blowouts & Louisiana Car Accidents

With summer just around the corner, many families will be hitting the road for summer activities and vacations. But this time of year, also puts you at greater risk of being in an accident. This is not just because there are more cars on the road, but because hot weather increases your and other drivers’ risk of having a tire blowout. While you cannot control what other drivers do, you can reduce the risk of your vehicle having a blowout and causing an accident.

Louisiana crash lawyer Mike Brandner recommends following summer tire safety tips recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and tire manufacturers.

Why Is Tire Safety So Important?

The summer heat takes a toll on your car’s tires. And if your tires are in poor condition or under-inflated, you are at greater risk of a blowout. As if having a flat tire weren’t enough, if you experience a blowout while driving at high speeds, it is very likely that you will lose control of your vehicle.

The same is true for other drivers on the road that experience a sudden blowout. If you are driving on under-inflated tires, your tires will flex more, heat up to dangerous temperatures, and wear out faster. The summer heat adds to these situations.

Consider these statistics from the NHTSA:

• 612 total motor vehicle traffic fatalities in 2019 were tire-related crashes
• One out of four cars has at least one underinflated tire
• Only 19 percent of drivers regularly check and inflate their tires
• Tires can lose up to 1 PSI a month or with every 10 degrees of temperature change
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) alerts drivers once tire pressure drops to 25 percent below the recommended safe pressure level

Checklist for Hitting the Road

Before heading out this summer, make it a practice to:

• Check your tires and your spare regularly because the heat and sunlight can accelerate the breakdown of the rubber in your tires.
• Look for worn spots. Test for uneven wear by sticking an upside-down penny in your treads to determine tire wear.
• If you can see Lincoln’s entire head on the penny, it is time to replace your tire.
• Use a tire gauge to check tire pressure and keep a gauge in your car.
• Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. It is on the sticker located on the door jamb on the driver’s side.
• Have your tires rotated every 6,000 miles to increase their tread life and improve your ride.
• Educate yourself about your tires. Seek assistance from your car dealer or mechanic if you have questions or concerns about the condition of your tires.

The time spent maintaining your tires could save your life, your family’s, and the lives of other drivers around you on the road. An added benefit is longer tire life and improved gas mileage.

Protect Your Rights with a Louisiana Crash Lawyer

If you suffer injury in Louisiana from a car crash caused by another driver’s failure to properly maintain their tires, you do have rights for compensation for your injuries and losses. As soon as possible after your accident, you should hire a Louisiana crash lawyer to protect your interests. At Mike Brandner Law, you will receive a free consultation and will pay no fee unless we win your cause.

Our normal business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but you can call and schedule your free consultation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We also have a convenient LiveChat on our website. So you can get answers to your legal questions not matter the time. Don’t wait. Contact us today!