Flap Failure: A Tragedy Drivers Don’t Have to Endure

Tires are one of the most important components of a vehicle and can improve or decrease the overall safety of a vehicle. Having tires on a vehicle that are designed and manufactured in an effective, safety-minded manner is paramount in ensuring motorists’ overall security and protection.

Unfortunately, there are thousands of tires on the road in the United States that do not meet such safety standards. Tires made with defective flaps, resulting in flap failure, are one such example.

For more information on what tire flaps are, what flap failure refers to and what to do if you’ve been the victim of an accident that was caused by a defective tire, refer to the following.

What are tire flaps, and why do they matter?

Like a tire is integral to the function of a vehicle, a tire flap is essential to the proper performance of a tire. A tire flap refers to the part of the tire that protects the tire tube (which is used to maintain tire air pressure) from rubbing against the tire rim or from being pushed under the bead toe, therefore preventing the tube from being punctured.

All tires and tire tubes require tire flaps. Without tire flaps, the tube remains unprotected from the inside of the wheel and can result in a tire blowout or other form of tire damage that may cause accident injuries or deaths.

What is tire flap failure? 

When flaps are manufactured with defects, designed with defects or not looked after properly, flap failure can cause tire breakdowns and major vehicle accidents. Tire flap failure can occur when old tire flaps are paired with new tires, when there is cracking along the tire bead toe curve, when improper mounting practices or other manufacturing defects occur or due to flap distortion around the valve hole and rim slot due to age.

It is also important that the correct size tire flaps and tubes are chosen before mounting and that the tube and flap are properly lubricated. Failure to lubricate properly will cause the tube and flap to be stretched thinly in the tire bead rim region, leading to flap failure.

If you suspect that your vehicle has defective tires or if you think that your tires may suffer from flap failure, SaferCar.gov, a website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, provides a list of tire recalls. Additionally, tire and vehicle owners can view information about tire complaints, such as the complaint filed in April 2011 regarding the failure of a manufacturer to repair two tire flaps in Primex tires. Because reporting practices on defective tires are notoriously lax, those in the market for new tires will want to peruse a list of top-rated tire manufacturers.

Seeking Legal Counsel for Your Accident 

While many dangerous tires have been recalled, there are still defective tires on the road. If you have been the victim of a car accident that was the direct cause of a tire defect such as flap failure, you may be able to recover compensation for any injuries you’ve sustained, the cost of your medical bills, and possibly damages for physical pain and mental anguish because of the tire manufacturer’s responsibility in releasing a safe product.

In Florida, the statute of limitations for recovering damages for a defective product is two years, according to Florida Statute 95.11(3). Therefore, you need to act as soon as possible to improve the chances of receiving damages for your injury.

If you’ve been the victim of a defective tire or flap failure, don’t wait any longer. The attorneys at Chalik & Chalik can help guide you through the process of filing your defective product claim and can provide you with the legal resources you need to tackle your case. Call us today to get started at 855-529-0269.