China has surged in the production and exportation of manufactured products including tires, but tires like other products imported by China sometimes lack the quality control and workmanship to make them safe.  While defective products imported from China have routinely made recent news reports, the prospect of injury from defective tires may be more concerning than other reports of defective products manufactured in China.  Some manufacturers of motor vehicles in the U.S. have chosen to outsource the production of tire valve stems to a China company that has produced defective valve stems, which have been installed on millions of new cars manufactured in the U.S.  The defective tire valve stems have already prompted a Florida wrongful death lawsuit.

These defective tire valve stems were manufactured by Top Seal, which is a subsidiary of Shanghai based Baolong Industries.  The valve stems have become a major issue because the faulty tire valve stems have been used in tires by major tire retailers, such as Discount Tire Stores.  These defective valve stems increase the risk of a tire blowout, which may result in a loss of control, run off the road or roll over accident.  The defect has been determined to have been caused by erroneous mixing of the rubber during the fabrication process.

There are a number of factors that contribute to Mississippi car accidents caused by defective tires.  These defects include the following:

Tire Tread Separation: This defect is caused by inadequate bonding of the tire tread to the steel belt when the tire is manufactured.  Tread separation has been the cause of numerous tire recalls and may be the cause of a rollover accident.  The risk posed by tire tread separation is particularly dangerous when the vehicle involved is an SUV or 15-passenger van with a high center of gravity.  These types of vehicles are particularly susceptible to rollover accidents that are often caused by tire blowouts.

Old Tires: Tires undergo chemical changes over time so old tires are more prone to blowouts.  Sometimes a tire remains in the inventory of a tire company for an extended period; the manufacturer or retailer may be liable if the tire blows out because a tire was actually much older than represented when the tire was purchased.  If the tire is old, it does not matter if there is a lot of tread and the tire does not look worn.

Selling Used Tires as New: If you purchase tires that are marketed by the retailer as new but are really used tires, you may have a legal claim against the retailer and others if it causes a Mississippi car accident.

If you or a close family member has suffered severe injuries or you have lost a loved one in a Mississippi motor vehicle accident caused by a tire blowout, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries. The experienced Mississippi personal injury attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing tenacious representation to Mississippi car accident victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.