While a car may have a variety of features that contribute to its controllability, handling and ultimate safety while driving, if a car’s tires are defective, the vehicle is inherently unsafe. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that tire failures cause approximately 11,000 crashes per year.
Defective tires — and ultimately tire failure — can be caused by a number of things, one of which is the incorrect use of the tube. If you sustained an injury in an accident attributed to a tire tube defect, you may be eligible to recover compensation.
What are tire tubes, and why are they important?
Tubes are one of the most important parts of a vehicle’s tires and are responsible for ensuring that the tire maintains proper inflation. Without tubes, tires would be unable to hold air, and therefore unable to serve their purpose.
If a tire tube is damaged, it can do more than just leak air and lead to a loss of inflation over time; rather, a damaged tire tube can cause deadly or dangerous tire blowouts or accidents while driving.
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(855) 529-0269Incorrect Use of Tubes
If tire tube installation is not done properly, there are many consequences that may result, including circumferential cracks or tears in the valve base; a cracked tube; a punctured tube; or a tube tear. If one or all of these things occurs, the tire may experience a blowout, may lose air pressure or may have other complications.
In some cases, tube failure is caused by incorrect use of a tube. When installing a tube and flap (the part of the tire that protects the tube from making contact with the tire’s inner wall, ultimately protecting it from puncture or rapid deterioration), the metal piece should be attached to the tire’s valve stem after the flap has already been installed. If this process is rushed and the flap is installed over the metal piece instead, then tearing of the flap eventually may occur. If the flap tears or is damaged in any way, the tube is at risk of being damaged as well.
Tube installation, inflation and mounting is an incredibly detailed process that must be done by a professional. If the exact steps are not followed, a tire tube is at risk for decline at a much earlier rate than it would be otherwise.
Checking for Tire Recalls and Protecting Yourself
If you’re the owner of a vehicle, it’s important that you know whether or not your vehicle and vehicle’s tires are safe. At safercar.gov, you can sign up for email alerts in order to receive notification concerning recent recalls and search for tire recalls by tire brand and tire line, such as the recent Bridgestone tire recall on 2008 and 2009 Triumph Rocket III Touring motorcycles.
If your tire has a defect that resulted in an injury to you or a loved one, the attorneys at Chalik & Chalik can get to the bottom of why your tire malfunctioned and discover whether or not an incorrect use of tube or poorly installed tube was to blame.
In Florida, the statute of limitations for pursing a product liability claim for a defective product is four years, according to Florida State Statute 95.11(3). As such, it’s important that you call us today. To get started, give us a call now at 855-529-0269.
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