Immediate Steps After a Tire Blowout

What you do in the moments during and after a tire blowout can mean the difference between a controlled stop and a catastrophic crash. Follow these steps:

During the Blowout

1. Do NOT slam the brakes. This is your natural instinct, but braking hard during a blowout can cause you to lose control entirely, especially if a front tire has blown.
2. Grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands at 10 and 2. The vehicle will pull hard toward the side of the blown tire.
3. Gradually ease off the accelerator. Let the vehicle slow down naturally.
4. Gently steer to maintain your lane. Do not make sharp corrections.
5. Apply brakes lightly only after the vehicle has slowed significantly (below 30 mph).
6. Pull completely off the road onto the shoulder or into a safe area as far from traffic as possible.

After Stopping Safely

1. Turn on your hazard lights immediately.
2. Call 911 if anyone is injured or if the accident involves multiple vehicles.
3. Seek medical attention even if you feel fine. Many blowout-related injuries — particularly soft tissue injuries, whiplash, and concussions — have delayed symptoms.
4. Do NOT attempt to change the tire on a busy highway. Call roadside assistance and wait in your vehicle or behind the guardrail if available.
5. Document everything — photograph the blown tire, the scene, any vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions.
6. Preserve the tire. Do not allow the tow truck driver, shop, or insurance adjuster to dispose of the tire. This is your most important piece of evidence.

Common Causes of Tire Blowouts

Understanding what caused your blowout is essential for determining liability and building a legal case. The most common causes include:

Underinflation

Underinflated tires generate excessive heat due to increased sidewall flexion. Over time, this heat degrades the tire’s internal structure, weakening the bond between the tread, belts, and inner liner. NHTSA estimates that underinflation is a contributing factor in about 75% of tire-related crashes. While underinflation is often attributed to the driver, there are circumstances where others are liable — such as a tire shop that failed to inflate to the correct pressure after service, or a defective tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that failed to alert the driver.

Manufacturing Defects

Defects introduced during the manufacturing process are a leading cause of blowouts. These include poor rubber compounding, inadequate adhesion between belt layers, contamination by foreign materials during production, and improper curing. Manufacturing defects can cause a tire to fail well before its expected service life, and they are frequently the subject of NHTSA recalls.

Tread Separation

Tread separation — where the outer tread layer peels away from the tire’s belt structure — is one of the most dangerous types of tire failure. It can occur due to manufacturing defects, design defects, or a combination of both. Tread separations are particularly deadly at highway speeds because the detached tread can strike other vehicles or cause the driver to lose control.

Overloading

Every tire has a maximum load rating stamped on the sidewall. Exceeding this rating causes excessive heat buildup and structural stress, leading to blowout. Overloading is a common issue in commercial trucking, where carriers and shippers may exceed weight limits to maximize profits.

Road Hazards

Potholes, debris, construction materials, and other road hazards can cause immediate tire failure or create slow leaks that lead to eventual blowout. In Georgia, municipalities and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) may be liable for road hazards they knew about or should have known about, subject to the Georgia Tort Claims Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-20 et seq.).

Tire Age

Rubber degrades over time through a process called oxidation, even if the tire has adequate tread depth. Most tire experts recommend replacing tires that are more than six to ten years old, regardless of mileage. The tire’s age can be determined from the DOT number on the sidewall — the last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture.

When a Blowout Is Caused by a Defective Tire

Not all blowouts are caused by driver error or road conditions. Many are the direct result of defective tires that should never have been sold. Under Georgia product liability law (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11), manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries caused by defective products.

Signs that a blowout may have been caused by a defective tire include:

• The tire was relatively new with adequate tread depth
• The tire was properly inflated at the time of failure
• The tire was not overloaded beyond its rated capacity
• There is evidence of tread separation or belt detachment
• The tire has been subject to a recall or is part of a known defect pattern
• Similar failures have been reported to NHTSA for the same tire model

An experienced tire defect attorney will work with forensic engineers to conduct a detailed failure analysis of the tire. This analysis examines the tire’s internal structure, rubber compounds, and failure pattern to determine the root cause of the blowout.

Determining Liability After a Blowout Accident

Blowout accident liability depends on the cause of the failure. Multiple parties may be responsible:

Tire Manufacturer

Liable when the blowout was caused by a manufacturing defect, design defect, or failure to warn about tire limitations. Georgia’s strict liability standard under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11 means the plaintiff does not need to prove negligence — only that the tire was defective and the defect caused the injury.

Vehicle Manufacturer

Liable when the vehicle was sold with defective tires from the factory, or when a vehicle design flaw (such as inadequate suspension or improper tire specifications) contributed to the blowout.

Tire Service Providers

Auto shops, tire centers, and dealerships may be liable if they improperly installed, inflated, or maintained tires. Common service-related failures include mounting the wrong tire size, failing to properly torque lug nuts, over- or under-inflating tires, or failing to identify and flag a damaged tire during inspection.

Commercial Carriers (Trucking Companies)

Under federal regulations (49 CFR Part 393), commercial motor carriers are required to conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of their vehicles, including tire condition. When a commercial truck tire blowout causes an accident, the carrier and its maintenance providers may be liable for failing to maintain tires in safe condition.

Government Entities

If a road hazard caused the blowout, the government entity responsible for maintaining the road may be liable. Under the Georgia Tort Claims Act, claims against state and local governments have specific procedural requirements and shorter notice deadlines.

Evidence Preservation: The Key to Your Case

In tire blowout litigation, the tire itself is the most critical piece of evidence. Without the physical tire, it is extremely difficult — sometimes impossible — to prove a manufacturing or design defect. Follow these guidelines:

What to Preserve

• The blown tire and all tread fragments (collect everything you can from the scene)
• The matching tire from the opposite side of the vehicle (for comparison)
• The vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) data
• The vehicle’s event data recorder (EDR / “black box”) data
• Tire purchase receipts and maintenance records
• Photographs of the tire’s DOT number, sidewall markings, and damage pattern

What NOT to Do

• Do not allow anyone to discard or recycle the tire
• Do not send the tire back to the manufacturer or retailer
• Do not attempt to repair or modify the tire in any way
• Do not delay contacting an attorney — evidence degrades quickly

Your attorney will send spoliation letters to all relevant parties (manufacturer, retailer, installer) demanding that they preserve all records related to the tire, including production records, quality control data, and complaint history.

Georgia Law on Tire Blowout Accidents

Several Georgia statutes are relevant to tire blowout cases:

Product Liability — O.C.G.A. § 51-1-11

This statute provides the foundation for defective tire claims in Georgia. It establishes strict liability for manufacturers of products that are defective in design, manufacturing, or warnings.

Statute of Limitations — O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33

Personal injury claims must be filed within two years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline permanently bars your claim.

Comparative Negligence — O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33

Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. If the plaintiff is found to be 50% or more at fault, they cannot recover. If the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault, their recovery is reduced by their percentage of fault.

Punitive Damages — O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1

Available when the defendant’s conduct shows willful misconduct, malice, fraud, wantonness, or oppression. In product liability cases, punitive damages are generally capped at $250,000.

Tire and Wheel Requirements — O.C.G.A. § 40-8-74

Georgia law requires that all tires on vehicles operated on public roads be in safe operating condition with adequate tread depth. Operating a vehicle with bald or visibly damaged tires can constitute negligence per se.

Comparative Negligence in Blowout Cases

Tire manufacturers and their attorneys will almost always try to blame the driver for the blowout. Common defenses include:

• The driver failed to maintain proper tire pressure
• The driver overloaded the vehicle
• The driver operated the vehicle at excessive speed for the tire’s rating
• The driver continued to drive on a visibly damaged tire
• The tire was past its expected service life

Under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence system, even if some of these defenses have merit, you can still recover as long as your fault does not reach 50%. A skilled attorney will counter these defenses by showing that the primary cause of the blowout was the manufacturer’s defect, not driver behavior.

Dealing with Insurance After a Blowout

After a tire blowout accident, you may be dealing with multiple insurance claims:

Your Own Insurance

If you have collision coverage, your auto insurance should cover your vehicle damage regardless of fault. However, your insurer may attempt to subrogate against the tire manufacturer.

The Other Driver’s Insurance

If the blowout caused you to collide with another vehicle, the other driver’s insurer may pursue a claim against you. An attorney can help protect you by establishing that the blowout — not your driving — caused the accident.

The Manufacturer’s Insurance

Product liability claims against tire manufacturers are typically handled by the manufacturer’s general liability insurer or, for large manufacturers, through self-insurance programs. These claims are complex and should not be attempted without legal representation.

Important: Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company without consulting an attorney first. Insurance adjusters are trained to elicit statements that can be used against you later.

Compensation Available for Blowout Victims

Victims of tire blowout accidents in Georgia may recover the following damages:

• Medical bills — Emergency care, surgery, hospitalization, rehabilitation, medications, and future medical needs
• Lost income — Wages lost during recovery and reduced future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering — Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, PTSD, and diminished quality of life
• Vehicle damage — Repair or replacement of your vehicle
• Loss of consortium — Impact on your marriage and family relationships
• Wrongful death damages — If a loved one was killed, the full value of the decedent’s life
• Punitive damages — When the manufacturer’s conduct was egregious

Tire Blowout Prevention Tips

While some blowouts are caused by defects beyond a driver’s control, you can reduce your risk by:

1. Check tire pressure monthly — Use a reliable gauge and inflate to the pressure listed on the vehicle’s door placard (not the tire sidewall, which shows maximum pressure).
2. Inspect tires regularly — Look for bulges, cracks, cuts, uneven wear, and objects embedded in the tread.
3. Monitor tread depth — Replace tires when tread reaches 2/32 of an inch. Use the penny test: insert a penny with Lincoln’s head down; if you can see the top of his head, the tire needs replacement.
4. Replace old tires — Even if tread looks adequate, replace tires older than 6-10 years.
5. Avoid overloading — Check your vehicle’s load capacity and do not exceed it.
6. Check NHTSA recalls — Regularly check nhtsa.gov/recalls for tire recalls affecting your vehicle.
7. Ensure proper TPMS function — If your tire pressure warning light illuminates, address it immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tire Blowout Accidents