What You Need To Know When Tires Cause A Car Accident And Injuries

Car accidents can have serious consequences, including physical injuries, property damage, and legal ramifications. When a car accident is caused by faulty or defective tires, the legal implications can be particularly complex. The following are some of the potential legal ramifications that can occur if tires cause a car accident:

Product Liability Claims

If a tire defect is found to be the cause of a car accident, the injured party may be able to pursue a product liability claim against the tire manufacturer. Product liability claims are designed to hold manufacturers accountable for injuries and damages caused by defective products. In order to pursue a product liability claim, the injured party must prove that the tire was defective and that the defect caused or contributed to the accident.

There are several types of defects that can result in a product liability claim. Design defects occur when a product is inherently dangerous due to its design, regardless of how it was manufactured. Manufacturing defects occur when a product is properly designed but was not manufactured correctly, resulting in a defect that makes the product dangerous. Failure to warn of defects occurs when a product is safe when used as intended, but the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions for safe use.

Negligence Claims

If the tire defect was caused by the negligence of the tire manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, the injured may be able to pursue a negligence claim. Negligence claims must prove that the injured was owed a duty of care to the defendant, that the defendant breached it, and that those actions caused the injuries and damages.

In the context of a tire defect, negligence can arise in a number of ways. For example, if the tire manufacturer failed to conduct proper safety testing, or if the distributor or retailer failed to properly inspect or maintain the tires, they may be found to have breached their duty of care.

Criminal Charges

In some cases, the legal ramifications of a tire-related car accident can extend beyond the civil liability to criminal charges. For example, if the tire defect was caused by intentional wrongdoing, such as fraud or intentional misrepresentation, the responsible party may be subject to criminal charges. Additionally, if the accident resulted in fatalities, the responsible party may be charged with vehicular manslaughter or other criminal offenses.

If you have been in a car accident that was the result of faulty tires, contact a local personal injury lawyer.