Legal Help with Injury from Rollover

Willis Law Firm provides legal help for individuals or families who have suffered injury or worse as the result of defective tires. In addition to litigation, our services include gathering evidence and leading investigations into the causes of an accident. If you have been in an accident you believe was caused by a defective tire, contact us today at 1-800-883-9859 or use our online form to schedule a consultation.

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Jeep Gas Tank Recalls Due to Car Accident Fires

Have you lost a loved one due to a Jeep fuel tank fire? If so, you need an experienced injury lawyer or attorney to help you pursue a Jeep gas tank fire lawsuit on your family’s behalf and claim justice you deserve.

Jeep lawsuits are needed due to millions of defective Jeep vehicles being on America’s roads, and with few of them being repaired despite a Jeep recall. The situation is so bad that the U.S. government is considering an investigation into Chrysler’s handling of Jeep gas tank fires, following an April 2015 lawsuit, which found Chrysler negligent.

If your family has been harmed by Chrysler’s mistakes in making and selling defective Jeep vehicles, delaying a Jeep recall and then failing to make repairs promptly, contact us today. The Willis Law Firm is experienced in handling defective vehicle cases on a national basis and will be glad to help you explore your prospects for a Jeep fuel tank fire lawsuit.

Cause of Jeep Gas Tank Explosions

What is the cause of Jeep gas tank explosions? The devastating and catastrophic problem stems from the original design of the vehicles, which is alarmingly like that of the disgraced Ford Pinto. Like that recalled vehicle from the 1970s, Chrysler’s Jeep Liberty, Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee have comparable gas tank defects.

In such Jeep vehicles, the gas tank is positioned below the Jeep’s rear bumper and behind its rear axle, leaving it exposed in the event of a rear-end crash involving a lower vehicle. (Jeeps are higher vehicles known as “high-clearance.”)

When a Jeep is rear-ended, its plastic gas tank can be ruptured and can explode with the smallest of sparks by the force of the impact or by an electrical source in the vehicle.

Occupants of the Jeep then can be trapped inside an exploding and burning vehicle. Many have been killed or severely injured due to this design and manufacturing defect — a defect which Chrysler has been slow to acknowledge and to fix. Indeed, at least 70 persons are known to have died due to an exploding Jeep gas tank.

Jeep Gas Tank Recalls

Despite years of calamitous incidents claiming lives and property, Chrysler has dragged its feet in making Jeep gas tank recalls. Finally, in 2013 Chrysler agreed to recall just over 1.5 million Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Liberty SUVs, while still refusing to recall around a million Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs.

Federal officials had been expressing concerns about post-collision fuel-fed fires in Jeeps since 2010 — while Chrysler denied any responsibility. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, then demanded Chrysler recall over 2.5 million Jeeps for defective designs of their fuel tanks.

Chrysler refused to budge — at least until its 2013 Jeep gas tank recalls. But those recalls did not include the one million Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVS from 1999-2004 model years. Chrysler only issued a Jeep recall for 1.56 million older SUVS: Jeep Cherokee vehicles from the 1993-2004 model years, and Jeep Liberty vehicles from the 2002-2007 model years.

Of course, getting a recall announced is just part of the battle — especially with Chrysler. U.S. safety officials expect repairs by Chrysler on such vehicles to take at least five years at the slow rate that it’s going. And as Chrysler delays, stalls and restricts Jeep fuel tank recalls, Americans keep dying from the dangerously defective vehicles.

Chrysler’s Jeep gas tank repairs have been woefully inadequate as well as slow. Initially the automaker only agreed to install trailer hitches at the rear of Jeep gas tanks as a “quick fix” of the problem. However, Chrysler performed no crash tests to see if installing a trailer hitch would prevent an exploding Jeep gas tank in a rear-end collision.

Not only that, but a full 18 months after Chrysler embarked on this meager strategy to fix the problem, just over 10 percent of Jeeps had received the trailer hitch installation.

Safety experts disagree with Chrysler’s strategy, saying that only a skid plate or shield of metal could keep Jeeps’ plastic gas tanks from a fuel tank rupture after being rear-ended.

Later Jeep Models

If you have a Jeep made after 2007, the last model year for Jeeps to be recalled for gas tank ruptures, you may be wondering about later Jeep models’ safety. Though Chrysler has denied that its rear plastic fuel tanks were dangerous, in 2005 it added the recommended metal skid plate to Jeeps as part of their standard equipment. Chrysler also began repositioning gas tanks in Jeeps to be in front of the rear axle, not behind it.

These Jeep fuel tank revisions do not guarantee that you won’t be injured in a rear-end collision if you’re riding in a Jeep. But at least Chrysler is belatedly making recommended fixes that could save lives for owners of newer Jeep vehicles.

Jeep Liberty Fire Lawsuit

Americans whose family suffers due to Chrysler’s negligence may be eligible for a Jeep Liberty fire lawsuit or a Jeep Cherokee fire lawsuit. These legal services can be provided by an experienced injury attorney or lawyer provided by the Willis Law Firm.

The Willis Law Firm has experience on a national level tackling major automotive defect and recall cases. These include a landmark case in which Ford recalled millions of Firestone tires with which its Ford Explorers had been equipped.

Already, a major victory has been achieved. In April of 2015 a Georgia jury awarded $150 million to the family of a 4-year-old boy, who died while riding in a 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was hit from the rear, exploded and caught on fire. That verdict was the first of what may be many in Jeep fuel tank explosion lawsuits.

Does your family qualify for a Jeep gas/fuel tank explosion lawsuit? One way to find out is to contact us today. We’ll quickly provide you with a free legal review of your case and size up your chances for a successful Jeep Liberty or Jeep Cherokee gas tank lawsuit. Call 1-800-883-9858 or fill out the form on this page to get in touch with the Tire Defect Attorneys at the Willis Law Firm.

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The first day of summer is just around the corner. As the weather heats up, from mid-May through October, people are driving farther distances at greater speeds in vehicles loaded with suitcases, kids and maybe the family pet. All of this is a recipe for disaster if your car or truck’s tires have been neglected and need to be replaced. In fact, tire companies grimly refer to May through October as “tire-blowout season.” While a blowout is different than tire tread separation, both can result from worn, damaged or factory-defective tires. And just like a blowout, tire tread separation can cause life-threatening accidents, including rollovers.

In order to understand why tread separations occur and how to prevent them, it is helpful to know the basic construction of motor vehicle tires.

How Tires are Made

Tire tread separation is the separation of a tire’s rubber treads (the outer grooves that actually touch and grip the road as the tire spins) from its steel belt. The steel belt covers an inner lining of cords (called the carcass) that reinforce and create the shape of the tire. Since the 1960s, the vast majority of tires have been constructed with a carcass of fabric and steel covered with layers of rubber.

The rubber in the treads is attached to the steel belt through a chemical process called calendaring. Calendaring requires a heavy-duty piece of machinery equipped with three or more rollers, each revolving in opposite directions, their temperature regulated with a combination of steam and water. This process, when done correctly, adheres the rubber compound of the treads to the carcass of the tire.

Tire tread separation can result from excessive wear and tear, improper tire repair, and neglect and abuse of the tire. However, the most common cause of tread separation is defective manufacturing.

Tire Tread Separation Due to Defective Manufacturing

The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports more than 8,000 crashes, 400 deaths and 10,000 injuries annually are the result of defective tires. Since the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act passed in 1996, over 24 million tires, including tires made by major manufacturers such as Firestone, have been recalled due to defective manufacturing and design.

Defective manufacturing can include:

• Faulty inspection of tires
• Flawed design of the tire
• Debris mixed in with the raw materials used in the production of tires

Fortunately, knowing the signs of a worn, damaged or possibly defective tire can help prevent an accident or worse due to tire tread separation.

Protecting Yourself Against Tire Tread Separation

Signs of a defective tire can include:

• A bump, bubble or other deformation in the tread area
• Out of balance vibrations, thumping or other unusual noises when driving
• Cracks in the tire’s sidewall
• Uneven treads or treads that have worn thin

Drivers can do “the penny test” to determine if the treads are worn down. Insert a penny into the tread groove of a tire with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, the tire tread depth is less than 2/32 of an inch, and you should replace the tire.

If while inspecting your tires or driving you notice any of the above, bring your vehicle to a trusted tire and wheel retailer as soon as possible!

Houston Legal Help with Injury from Defective Tires

Willis Law Firm provides legal help for individuals or families who have suffered injury or worse as the result of defective tires. In addition to litigation, our services include gathering evidence and leading investigations into the causes of an accident. If you have been in an accident you believe was caused by a defective tire, contact us today at 1-800-883-9859 or use our online form to schedule a consultation.

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Whatever car you drive, the tires are an integral part of the equation. Unfortunately, all too many people are driving around on defective tires, which can put you, your vehicle and your family in danger. Serious accidents, such as tire blowouts can occur if you are relying on a defective tire. Along with ensuring that your tires are in good condition through the penny test, it is important to understand exactly how defective tires are putting you at risk as well as how to spot them before you’re in an accident.

What Happens When a Defective Tire Fails

To put it shortly, the most prevalent danger risk brought about by defective tires is a tire blowout. Although most people are familiar with the idea of a tire blowout, few understand exactly what happens. Sudden loss of air pressure in the tire means that the tire explodes or falls apart and can no longer support the weight of the vehicle, particularly while it is moving along at high speeds. Maintaining control of any vehicle after a tire blowout is a challenge, and it can cause serious and even fatal accidents like rollovers or roof crushes.

Unfortunately, a whopping 8,000 accidents happen each year that are directly related to tire blowouts. Defective tires cause many of these accidents, and they could seriously jeopardize your health and safety. In August of 2014 in Caldwell County, Texas, a GMC Yukon suffered a tire blowout while driving on the highway. In a split second, the vehicle veered off the road and rolled more than once, trapping several passengers inside and killing two. Sadly, this is not an anomaly, as defective tires can cause similar tire blowouts throughout the country.

How to Spot a Defective Tire

Preventing a tire blowout from causing an accident for you and your family starts with learning how to spot a defective tire. One of the most common defects is an old tire. Note that old is not the same as used, although many people confuse the two. An old tire may have never driven a single mile attached to a vehicle, but it could still be several years old and no longer in the best condition to withstand the rigors of the road. Just a few of the warning signs of an old or defective tire include the following:

• Shallow treads
• Uneven wear on the tire
• Hard rubber that looks dried out
• Exposed threads

Your final way to spot a defective aged tire is to look for the DOT number. Every tire manufactured in the United States has to have a string of numbers per regulations by the Department of Transportation. On the side of your tire, look for a long string of numbers, and follow along until the final four digits. These four digits indicate the date of the tire’s manufacture, with the first two digits indicating the week and the final two digits indicating the year. That means a tire that reads 0508 would have been made in the fifth week of 2008, or roughly the beginning of February of that year.

Don’t put yourself or your loved ones at risk by driving on a defective tire. Take steps to identify if your tire is defective and take action right away to reduce your risk and protect against tire blowouts and other accidents.

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When many people shop for new tires on their vehicle, price is the biggest determining factor. Looking for bargains might appear like a savvy move, but it could result in the purchase of Chinese tires, some of which could be sub par. Chinese tires are not necessarily defective, and those manufactured by major tire corporations in China often adhere to higher standards. However, there are still some worries associated with Chinese tires and whether or not they are putting drivers and passengers just like you in unnecessary danger when behind the wheel.

China’s Poor Safety Record on Manufactured Goods

You don’t have to think back too far to find several examples of Chinese-made products that fall short of perfect. Toothpaste, baby formula and more have all failed industry safety standards in and out of the country. While some tire brands, like Michelin, aim to bring the highest safety standards whether their tires are made in the Boston or Beijing, not all Chinese companies want to follow their lead. Without rigid industry standards and testing from outside and impartial agencies, it is simply too easy for Chinese tire manufacturers to skimp on the things that matter.

Less Quality Testing After Production

Even when standard protocol is followed in the manufacture of tires in China, some companies don’t spend a significant amount of money, labor or time on quality testing. Every tire that rolls off the production line needs to be manually and visually tested for defects, but companies eager to cut corners and maximize profits may skip or rush through this vital part of the process.

Cheaper Tires = Less R&D

Another way that Chinese tires could be putting you in danger is because some Chinese tire manufacturers opt to copy existing tire and tread designs rather than creating their own. While this could be seen as a positive, it often means that the companies are skipping the integral research and development phase, or R&D. Research means an understanding of how tires work, how to prevent defects and how to prevent major tire blowouts, so buying tires from companies who skimp in R&D can be risky.

Chinese Tires and Recalls

As recently as April 2015, an accident caused by a defective tire’s blowout that caused major bodily harm sparked a recall of all tires produced by the company. Based in China, the tires were at risk of rapid tread separation, which could easily lead to tire blowouts, a loss of control over the vehicle and even rollovers. The recall covered well over 98,000 tires across the United States, but the manufacturer of the tires also makes other tires under a different name, which are still being distributed. Don’t wait until a recall or an accident to seek out better tires. While Chinese tires aren’t inherently defective, nor are American tires guaranteed to be safe, it is smart to consider the risks involved and remember that cheaper tires are often at greater risk for defect and problems down the road.

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#1: Tire Rotation

Tire rotation is the simplest method of tire car. You must ask a mechanic to rotate your tires every time you go in for a service. The tires will wear evenly, and you will prevent deep scars from forming in the tires as you drive. A mechanic has the opportunity to inspect your tires when you come in for a service, and you will learn how much tread is left on your tires during the service.

#2: Tire Inflation

Your tires must be properly inflated as you drive. Tires that are not correctly inflated will wear down in places that are not safe for your car. A tire that has deflated will wear along the edges where the tire may burst once it is inflated properly. You can see these scars on the side of the tire after it has been inflated, and you must change your tires when you notice these scars.

#3: Tire Age

Tire wear was once the only measure of the safety of your tires. A mechanic can check the tire tread with a coin, and they will report the wear on the tires to you. The percentage of tread left on the tires is a good indicator of how much longer you can drive on the tires. A shift has happened in the industry as tire age has been become so important. Tire age should be a concern for you as you drive. Any tire that is more than six years old should be removed and replaced immediately. There is statistical evidence showing that tires more than six years old are more likely to burst while you are on the road. Tire failure on the road is one of the most dangerous things that can happen to your car, and you’re putting other drivers in danger when you drive with old tires. Take this information to heart as you care for your car. Your tires must be rotated often and replaced once they reach the six-year mark. Your car will perform better with proper tires that have been looked after carefully and your risk of you or your family being seriously injured or killed due to a defective tire will be reduced.

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Popular convention states that you replace your tires every six years, because that’s roughly the amount of time it takes for normal wear and tear on your treads to render a tire far too unsafe to continue using. Ignore anyone who claims 10 years, which used to be the standard. You can’t afford to put yourself at risk like that – your time and money are best spent on replacing your older tires with new ones (remember to always check the DOT number to make sure you’re not actually being sold an old tire) that have been stored under pristine conditions.

However, some individuals need to abandon the six-year rule entirely and have new tires installed on their wheels more often. Subjecting tires to certain factors may hasten their degradation, upping the risk of a serious roof crush, rollover or blowout accident involving injuries or death.

Frequent Drivers

The six-year rule applies only to individuals and families who spend a relatively average amount of time on the road. If you commute long distances to work or school on a regular basis, for example, you’re going to wear out your treads far faster. Speak with a trusted automotive professional for a clearer idea of how your driving patterns may impact your tires. But don’t wait until your state inspection to have them looked at – any time you suspect there may be an issue, take your tires in to see if repairs, rotation or replacements are necessary. Otherwise, you may find yourself stranded during one of your extended drives.

Harsh Environments

It isn’t just new tires stored in exceptionally hot or cold auto repair shops or warehouses that can rapidly age chronologically “new” tires. Living in a less-than-mild climate (like Houston) with extreme heat, extreme cold or a vacillation between the two can have a similar effect. Both UV rays and ozone cause deterioration as well, so parking your car outside the garage increases exposure to other harmful factors.

Rubber dries out over time – even internally, so just because a tire looks fine on the outside, that doesn’t mean it’s inherently safe. When it loses cohesion and structure like that, the chances of a tread separation, blowout or other type of tire failure increase. Once again, an automotive professional will be able to provide insight from a regional perspective.

Signs of Dry Rot

As soon as your tires start displaying symptoms of dry rot, replace them. And make sure the new ones haven’t been stored under poor conditions that may hasten the decomposition, of course.

Signs of dry rot can include:

• Dryness
• Irregularities in the treading
• Cracking
• Discoloration, especially near cracks
• Hardness

Spare tires are also subjected to dry rot, especially if they’re stored outside the vehicle or above the engine. When you change out the four you’ve been driving on, make sure to replace the spare as well. You don’t want to experience a flat or blowout on the freeway, only to repeat the experience because the “new” tire already began dry rotting.

Serious Tire Accident Attorney

The Steven J. Sharp Award-winning Willis Law Firm has over 30 years of experience and Martindale-Hubble recognition for its comprehensive legal services. We represent individuals and surviving family members who have been affected by defective tires causing serious injury or death, and provide support at all stages of the process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.

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Negligent auto repair shops can play a role in the factors that cause tire blowouts, tread separations and other major tire damages, all of which may lead to serious injuries or death should an accident occur. If investigations reveal these auto repair shops are responsible for the defective tires because they are not warning customers their tires are defective, they will be held accountable in a court of law.

Problems at the Auto Shop

There are plenty of ways for automotive shops to harm tires and place their customers at risk, though the following stand as the most common.

Improper Sizing

Tires must be sized correctly to ensure rides remain smooth and safe. Auto manufacturers will explicitly indicate which tires are best suited for which wheels. Consumers and mechanics alike should be cognizant of this fact when it comes time to purchase and replace tires. Otherwise, the tire could fly off the wheel completely and cause a rollover, roof crush or other accident.

Retreading

Retreading old tires is risky when an automotive repair specialist neglects the process at any point, or employs less-than-ideal equipment. If the new treads aren’t bonded with painstaking precision, they may prove just as dangerous as their worn, aged or otherwise damaged or defective predecessors.

Improper Flat Tire Repair

Fix-a-Flat and other alleged flat tire repair fluids have been known to cause major blowouts, especially at freeway speeds. Make sure to ask an automotive specialist what technique they use to fix flat tires. Pass if it involves Fix-a-Flat or a similar substance with a history of instigating accidents, or if they do not remove the tire itself from the wheel to check for internal damage.

Used or Aged Tires and Tires Stored in Poor Conditions

Aged tires sold as new, or used tires with entirely too much wear, do not make for suitable replacements. The safest option is to spring for new tires – and you can find out the age of a tire by checking its DOT number – that have been stored under properly climate-controlled conditions that aren’t so hot or cold as to cause damage.

Improper Rotation

Proper tire rotation switches tires from wheels receiving less wear and tear with those that do. Failure to do so will lead to further uneven erosion, amplifying the risk of a blowout, tread separation, roof crush or other accident.

Negligent Tire Inspections

Tire inspections must be conducted inside and out, and thorough enough to catch even the minutest flaw that could turn into a devastating crash. They’re part of any routine check to meet state requirements, but any time you suspect there may be an issue with your tires you need to have a professional go over everything. Failure to find a flaw can render auto services specialists liable should an accident occur.

Checks at Home

Although consumers can’t perform the same maintenance functions as an automotive professional, there are still plenty of steps they may take to ensure their own safety. Knowing what issues to search for helps vehicle owners tell when it’s time to take their tires into the shop for repair, or to replace them entirely.

Conduct home inspections every time you need to drive your vehicle, and always keep the following in mind during the proceedings:

• Signs of excessive wear, including cracking, shredding, balding, aging and tearing
• Ideal inflation, which will be indicated by the tire manufacturer
• Conducting the penny test to check tread wear
• No piercing implements, such as nails, in or close to your tires
• Stay on top of the latest tire recalls
• Staying tight on the wheels

To extend the life of your tires, check for possible damaging agents around or near your tires before exiting parking lots. And don’t forget to include your spare tire in these self-inspections as well. You want to make sure that you’ll be safe in case you ever need to replace a blown out or otherwise damaged tire.

Houston Damaged or Defective Tire Attorney

Willis Law Firm is a Steven J. Sharp Award winner with Martindale-Hubble recognition and over three decades of experience representing individuals and families who have suffered as a result of injurious or fatal car accidents caused defective tires. We help at every stage of the litigation process, including investigations and evidence gathering. Contact us today.

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Be careful when shopping for new tires – many stores, even the more reputable ones like Pep Boys and Wal-Mart, will actually sell aged tires with such a label. Though legal, such a practice is highly dangerous. Consumers need to know about the risks of purchasing an old tire that, while unused, may still pose some serious threats.

Old Tires Sold as New

Retail outlets sometimes fail to make a distinction between “unused” and “new” when it comes to selling tires. This is absolutely to the detriment of consumers, whose lives are placed at great risk of fatalities and serious injuries as a result of the following types of accident:

• Rollovers
• Roof crushes
• Tread separations
• Blowouts

In reality, far too many new tires are actually old tires; they just have yet to be outfitted to a vehicle. But they can be just as dangerous as used tires with more than a few miles of experience. Rubber ages. After six years, it grows too brittle to adequately perform. This is precisely why experts believe you should switch out your tires (including spares!) every six years.

The normal aging process of rubber can be sped up because of poor storage conditions, too. Extreme heat and extreme cold both lead to serious damage to new tires. In some instances, the problems caused by surroundings alone can be just as problematic and potentially dangerous as used tires.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to report incidents of old tires being sold as new. No laws regulate or bar the practice. No matter its age, a tire may be considered “new” provided nobody has driven on it. In the event of a serious accident involving an aged tire labeled “new” and serious injuries or fatalities, however, the retailer can be held liable. So some protection is afforded, but sadly not on the front end.

Identifying a New Tire

Luckily for the consumer, there are ways to tell if a tire sold as “new” to you is actually new, or if the retailer only calls it that because it has yet to hit the pavement. Every tire sold in the United States must have a serial number issued. These contain coded information about the manufacturer, plant and date created.

The following graphic outlines how to interpret DOT tire codes. Print it out and keep it on hand when shopping for tires so you can make the safest purchasing decisions for yourself and your family – not to mention other drivers and pedestrians!

In some more unscrupulous incidents, used or aged tires may be labeled as “new.” Savvy consumers can make note of this using a technique known as the “penny test.” The measure allows you a chance to test the validity of claims made about “new” tires and helps prevent you from spending your money on a potential danger. So make sure to bring the eponymous coin with you in addition to the DOT tire code chart.

We’ve outlined the steps needed to conduct the penny test, including visuals, here.

Please keep in mind that all of the information provided here also applies to spare tires! When you replace your four on the floor, make sure you do the same for your spare. Those stored above the engine or other especially hot regions of your vehicle are the most vulnerable to environmental damages.

Defective Tire Attorney

Willis Law Firm has experience handling cases involving old tires sold as new and the subsequent serious accidents. We’ve got what it takes to assist with every step of the litigation process, and the Martindale-Hubble and Steven J. Sharp honors to show for it. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.

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