Dealing With Tire Blowouts

An ideal commute would be getting to your destination quickly, without any automotive issues. Unfortunately, though, sometimes vehicles have issues. The engine light might come on. You may experience reduced power. Maybe your vehicle stalls on a busy road. A major issue would be a tire blowout.

Tire blowouts are major issues because they can cause dangerous results. A tire blowout can cause a vehicle to lose control. You will be left with a flat tire, which can cause you to be immobilized on the road. This can be a scary situation and cause you to be involved in an accident. If a vehicle in front of you experiences one, you could be hit with debris from the tire.

You will immediately know if you have experienced a tire blowout. You will hear a loud noise and lose control of your vehicle. It may pull to the left or right.

If this ever happens to you, you may be in a state of shock. What do you do now? The first step is to stay calm. Here’s how to stay in control of your car:

• Avoid braking. This may be your first instinct, but it can make your wheels lock up. This can lead to total loss of control.
• Instead of braking, do the opposite and try to accelerate a little. Keep your vehicle as straight as possible.
• Slow down. Once you have straightened your vehicle and regained control, take your foot off the accelerator. Do not brake.
• Use your emergency lights. Your hazard lights will let other drivers know that you are having problems with your vehicle and they should stay away from you.
• Get off the road. When safe, steer toward the right shoulder and get off the road.
• Fix the tire. If you know how to change a flat, go ahead and do so. If not, call a tow truck for assistance.

Note that many blowouts are due to poor tire maintenance. Make sure to keep your tires properly inflated. Check tire pressure regularly. Also make sure to get your tires rotated regularly. This will keep tread wear even and prevent catastrophic failures.

Tire blowouts happen more frequently when you’re driving at higher speeds. This is because the tire is hotter. However, it’s still possible to experience a blowout at lower speeds.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Cars are made up of thousands of parts, and all need to be working properly while on the roadway. It is especially important for tires to be in good working order, as they are the only parts that have contact with the road.

A crash can happen in many ways. If you have been involved in one, seek legal help from a  Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We’ll work hard to ensure you get a full recovery. Fill out the online form or call 281-347-3247 to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

allstate.com/resources/car-insurance/tire-blowouts#:~:text=A%20tire%20blowout%20will%20immediately,Traffic%20Safety%20Administration%20(NHTSA)