A tire blowout occurs in an instant, but when it causes a serious accident, the results can have long-term consequences, including severe injuries and resulting economic damages. When a tire blows and instantly deflates, a driver may lose control and depart from their lane, ending in a roadway departure accident or a collision with another vehicle or obstacle.
When a tire blowout accident causes serious injuries, it’s essential for injury victims to understand their legal rights with the help of a car accident attorney in Edmonds, including the ability to recover compensation for damages such as medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Who Can Recover Compensation After a Tire Blowout Accident In Washington?
When a tire blowout causes an accident, it may result in far more than just property damage. In the worst cases, a tire blowout can cause disability or wrongful death. All injury victims in Washington can seek compensation from a claim against the party who caused the accident. An injury victim can recover compensation for their damages under the following circumstances:
- If they were in the car with the blowout and suffered injuries with related damages
- If they were in another vehicle involved in a collision with the vehicle with a blowout and were injured
- A pedestrian hit by a car experiencing a blowout who suffered serious injuries
If a tire blowout causes property damage to a building, fence, or other property, a property owner can also seek compensation for their economic damages.
Who Is Liable for the Damages In a Washington Tire Blowout Accident?
After a sudden blowout causes a serious accident, the insurance companies of all involved parties investigate the accident to determine the cause and pinpoint the liable party or multiple parties that contributed to the accident. Common liable parties include the following:
- An at-fault driver who was negligent in their tire maintenance, was speeding, driving aggressively, or driving recklessly
- The manufacturer of a defective tire
- A negligent tire repair company
- A negligent road maintenance company if a dangerous pothole, cracked pavement, or road debris caused the tire blowout
Insurance investigators have a strong motive to shift liability away from their policyholders. It’s beneficial for an injury victim to hire an experienced car accident lawyer to protect their best interests by investigating the accident and pursuing all avenues of compensation.
Proving Liability In a Tire Blowout Accident In Washington
After a car accident, an injury victim must prove that another party’s negligence caused the accident, such as a reckless driver, a careless tire repair shop, or a negligent road construction crew. This requires demonstrating that the following legal standards of liability occurred:
- The negligent party owed a duty of reasonable care to the injury victim
- They breached their duty through negligent or reckless actions
- The breach of duty directly caused the accident
- The injury victim suffered damages from the accident
However, if the accident occurred because of a tire defect, the claim becomes a defective product claim against a manufacturer. Manufacturers are held to a strict liability standard for all of their products. An injury victim does not have to prove negligence against a manufacturer; instead, they must demonstrate that the tire had a design flaw, a manufacturing mistake, or a marketing error that caused the blowout.
How Can a Washington Tire Blowout Accident Lawyer Help?
It’s essential to seek experienced representation in a car accident claim when it involves a defective tire or car part. Proving manufacturer liability can be a challenging endeavor. Contact Wells Trumbull to speak to a Arlington injury attorney who can help you recover the full and fair compensation you deserve.