Goodyear Tires Linked to Fatal Accidents
What are the causes of tire blowouts?
National tire maker Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company is being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration over several fatal crashes linked to defective tires on recreational vehicles. It is believed that at least 95 people have been killed or injured in the past two decades due to unsafe Goodyear tires. The NHTSA initially began its investigations last year, and now more alarming evidence has emerged concerning the safety of G159 recreational vehicle tires.
Goodyear May Have Concealed Knowledge of Tire Dangers
Several lawsuits have alleged that Goodyear knew of the problems with the G159 tires and elected to settle cases so the defect remained secret, rather than recalling the dangerous tires. Safety advocates urge that the G159 tire sold for recreational vehicles was in fact designed for delivery trucks.
NHTSA investigations will cover the 40,000 G159 tires made between the years 1996 and 2003. During this period, several people were injured or killed nearly every year in accidents involving the tires in question. Between 2003 and 2015, 57 people were injured or killed in recreational vehicle accidents.
Now, litigation continues against Goodyear for accidents linked to the tires. Recently, the auto safety organization Center for Auto Safety and Public Justice requested the release of complaints concerning the tires from Goodyear. An Arizona judge ordered such public disclosure, but Goodyear is expected to appeal the ruling.
Litigation against Goodyear will center on the decision of Goodyear to market these tires for use on motor homes. Investigations will further probe whether Goodyear should have issued a recall on the tires years earlier. It is possible that lives could have been saved with earlier action by Goodyear.
Causes of Tire Failure
Our tires are a central component to our vehicles. When a tire fails while driving, it can have horrific consequences. Tire failures can occur for many reasons. Some tire failures are linked to a defect within the tire, which could give rise to a claim of product liability, while other failures are associated with normal wear and tear. Some of the primary causes of tire failure include underinflation, overinflation, overloading, and defects within the tire. Car accident victims injured due to a tire failure should consult with a car accident attorney to find out more about their legal rights.
Posted in: Automobile Wrecks, Product Liability