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Mississippi Car Accidents Caused by Tire Defects

Auto accidents from tire defects are more common than most people realize.  Every year, more than 15,000 vehicle accidents are due to blowouts involving defective tires. Sometimes these accidents result from failure to replace worn out tires or to maintain proper tire pressure. However, all too often tire blowout accidents are caused by the defective manufacturing of the vehicle or use of substandard materials.

When tires blowout, it typically is due to the shredding of the tread layers.  When investigations are conducted on car accidents that are believed to be due to tire defects, the investigators will inspect the steel and rubber in steel belted radials to determine if they are properly bonded together.  If the bonding process fails, this creates a serious risk of car accidents caused by tire blowouts.  A number of tire manufacturers have had their tires recalled because of tread separation due to design or manufacturing defects.  When tread separation occurs it can cause the tire to blowout or make the vehicle very difficult to control.

Another issue that can cause tires to be defective is if the material used in the manufacturing process is contaminated with objects like sawdust, candy wrappers, and cigarette butts.  If the size of the material does not match the size of the tire or if air is found between the layers of the tire, a blowout may result.

Tire and car accident lawyers have a legal obligation to produce tires that are free from defects that may cause injury to motorists.  Businesses that manufacture and distribute tires may cut corners in the production process to increase profits.  In recent years, there have been a number of defective product lawsuits in which tire manufacturers have been found to have produced defective tires that caused serious tire blowout accidents or accidents where drivers lost control of the vehicle.  Rollover accidents can be particularly dangerous often resulting in roof crush injuries or vehicle ejections.  When either situation occurs, the likelihood of catastrophic injuries or wrongful death is substantial.

Along with tire manufacturers, car makers can also be liable for car accidents caused by defective tires including tire blowout accidents. It is their duty to make sure that every part of the car is free of defects and safe to drive.  The vehicle manufacturer may be liable even if the manufacturer claims that the car has been inspected and is in good condition.

If you or your loved ones are involved in a Mississippi car accident, the experienced Mississippi car accident lawyers at Barrett Law Office PLLC diligently pursue the rights of those who suffer injured caused by the negligence of others.  If your Mississippi car accident was caused by a tire blowout, we can perform an investigation to see if it was due to defective tires.  The Barrett Law Office PLLC has roots that date back over 75 years providing diligent and compassionate legal representation to Mississippi auto accident victims.  Call us today for a free initial case evaluation at (662) 834-2376.

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What To Do After A Mississippi Car Accident

Car accidents, even minor ones, can be very unsettling to both drivers. Know in advance what to do in the event of an accident. Your primary concerns should be the safety and well-being of all parties, and taking steps to protect your interests in the aftermath. Here are a few steps that will help you respond appropriately.

Safety First

If anyone involved in the accident sustained injuries, call 911 immediately. Don’t try to move someone with injuries or allow yourself to be moved. Paramedics can determine the extent of injuries and move victims without causing more harm to the victim. Leave the vehicles where they are if there were injuries or the physical damage to the vehicles was extensive. Otherwise, move the cars off the road to a safe place. Be careful when exiting the vehicle, doing so on the side away from traffic.

For the Record

Call the police to report the incident. In some areas, the police respond only to serious accidents, so give them the basic facts and ask for instructions. Whether the policy of local police is to respond or not, you will need to exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. Get their name, address and phone numbers, insurance information and license plate number. Provide your information as well.

Take pictures of both cars and any other evidence you can, such as skid marks or rubble from the damage. Use the camera from your cell phone if you have one. Alternatively, some drivers buy a disposable camera and keep in the glove compartment specifically for this purpose.

What To Avoid

When speaking to the police and to the other driver and/or passengers, cite only the facts. Do not admit or imply guilt, by apologizing, for example. The shock and anxiety people often experience following a collision, even a minor one, color your perspective, and it’s not uncommon for drivers to feel it was their fault in the immediate aftermath of an accident, even when it wasn’t. This is important, because in many states, liability is decided under a system called comparative negligence. This system recognizes that in a lot of cases, both parties had at least some responsibility for the accident. Admitting guilt at the scene could affect how much liability you are later assigned.

After the Fact

Call your insurance company as soon as possible after the accident to report the facts. They will need to know when and where the incident occurred and the other driver’s information. They will also ask if a police report was filed and whether any injuries occurred. Don’t offer any additional information. Then, if you feel there is a need, you can contact an attorney, who can advise you whether any additional steps are needed to protect your interests further.

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The Incidence of Teenage Drivers’ Auto Accidents in Mississippi

Over 5,000 teenaged drivers will die this year as a result of fatal injuries caused by an automobile accident, while another 400,000 will be seriously injured. Teenagers in the 16-20 age category are at a higher risk than any other group for being involved in a car accident, and while teenaged drivers are only 10 percent of the overall population, they account for over 12 percent of all fatal car accidents. If you’ve ever wondered why insurance rates are so astronomically high for male teenaged drivers, it could be due in part that the death rate due to auto accidents for teen male drivers is more than one and a half times that of their female counterparts.

These young male drivers are also much more likely to drink while driving, drive at excessive speeds and drive without wearing a safety belt. The first couple of years after a teenager gets his or her license is the riskiest period of time during the teen years. Inexperience and recklessness create a volatile combination—one that is very difficult to fix with new teenage drivers taking to the road every day.

Distracted Driving Among Teens

Even though there are more laws being passed against texting or using cell phones while driving, teenagers are among the worst offenders. Because teenagers tend to believe they are bulletproof, they may not always pay such close attention to the laws designed to keep them and others on the road safe. Teens are tied to their phones in ways few adults can understand, and it’s up to the parents to impress upon them the seriousness of texting and driving. Quite often there are numerous other teenaged passengers inside the car being driven by a teenager which multiplies the distractions.

The Responsibility of the Parents

When all is said and done it is the responsibility of the teen’s parents to teach proper driving techniques and practice those techniques every day. Children who grow up observing their parents driving in a consistently safe manner are more likely to do so themselves when they are teenage drivers. If the parents see they are not driving responsibly, it is up to them to take away the driving privileges until proper safety practices are put into place. Your teen’s life could depend on it.

Graduated License Programs Can Prevent Teenage Accidents in Mississippi

Graduated driver licensing programs have proven quite successful in allowing teenagers to get the experience they need before they are fully licensed. A graduated driver licensing program delays a full license for first-time drivers while they drive in low-risk conditions and no more than one passenger. First year drivers are also prohibited from driving after midnight, which is typically a high-risk time for young drivers to be on the road. Programs such as this have led to an almost 39% reduction in fatal car accidents among teens, however no all states are currently on board with the graduated license programs for teens.

Tips to keep Teens Safe in Mississippi

Set limits on after-dark driving for your teen, especially on the freeway, and set a strict limit on the number of friends your teen is allowed to have in the car with them. Maintain a zero-tolerance policy regarding texting and driving and require seat belts to be worn at all times. Make sure your teenage driver fully understands the impact of driving while intoxicated as well as the consequences of underage drinking.

If you’ve been the victim of an accident due to an inexperienced driver or if your teen has been involved in an accident, contact a personal injury attorney who is knowledgeable about the potential consequences of teenage driving.

At Barrett Law, PLLC, a dedicated Mississippi car accident lawyer from our law firm is committed to representing Mississippi car accident victims with the compassion and personal attention that has allowed our law firm to develop a leading reputation throughout Mississippi.  We have been helping Mississippi car accident victims in Lexington and across Mississippi for over 75 years so call Barrett Law, PLLC today at (662) 834-2376.

 

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Unsafe Rental Car Accidents Can Ruin Summer Vacation Plans

There are many arrangements to be made when planning for vacation from making airline and hotel reservations to reserving a rental car. There are also a great number of variables that can go wrong. One issue that few people worry about is whether their rental car is safe. A significant number of summer travelers may end up renting cars that are subject to recall and have not had the repairs done. It may be surprising, but there are no current laws or regulations that require rental car companies to fix recalled vehicles before leasing them out to the next customer.

New legislation called the Safe Rental Car Act is being proposed by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) to address a number of recent crashes involving rental vehicles with recall issues that were not repaired prior to providing the vehicle to the consumer as a rental. A notable example that received national attention involved a case in California. Two sisters were killed when they rented a PT Cruiser that they rented erupted in flames causing the car to collide with a tractor-trailer. The PT Cruiser had been recalled because of the possibility of a leak in the power steering fluid that could cause the vehicle to catch on fire. The sister’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Enterprise and recovered an award of $15 million.

The problem stems from what has been characterized as a “loophole” that permits rental car agencies to send vehicles out on the road that could not be sold by car dealerships. Rental car agencies repair vehicles subject to recall a mere 33 percent of the time within a month of the recall according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It is even more alarming is that only half of all rental cars subject to recall are repaired even a year later. Data from General Motors regarding the number of rental cars fixed within three months of a recall reveals that although Enterprise was involved in the $15 million product liability verdict, it is not the worst offender:

• Enterprise repairs not fixed within 3 months of recall: 35 percent
• Hertz repairs not fixed within 3 months of recall: 66 percent
• Budget/Avis repair not fixed within 3 months of recall: 47 percent

The bottom line is that it is estimated that tens of thousands of defective rental cars subject to recall are currently on the roadways. While the proposed legislation is a step in the right direction for those who live and vacation in New York, it does little to help us here in Mississippi. Admittedly, some defects subject to recall do not pose significant safety hazards, but the law is now silent on ALL rental car defects.

When a car rental company rents a car to an unsuspecting traveler without repairing a defect that makes the vehicle unsafe and fails to disclose the defect and potential risks to the consumer, the rental car company should be held accountable. Defects like the one in the fatal PT Cruiser rental car accident lawsuit needlessly puts unsuspecting consumers at risk. Anyone renting a car should ask if the vehicle they are renting has been recalled and whether the defect has been repaired. If you or someone you love has been injured or you have lost a loved one in a Mississippi car accident involving a rental car, the Mississippi car accident attorneys at Barrett Law Offices can advise you on your rights to seek compensation. We offer a free initial no obligation case evaluation so call us today at (662) 834-2376.

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