Another life was tragically lost due to a large semi-truck accident that took place in August on I-15. This particular accident occurred when the commercial driver fell asleep and, upon waking, overcorrected and caused an accident. This happened just shortly after Utah Highway Patrol ended their “drowsy driving awareness week.” More details about this accident can be found via ABC 4’s coverage of the Box Elder County semi-truck accident. While it is essential to be aware of driving while sleepy, there is another safety concern we would like to bring to attention today. It is in regards to tire blowouts when it comes to large, 18 wheeler rigs. These accidents are particularly concerning because they can happen without warning and have been known to take lives consistently.
Semi-Truck Accident Statistics
When we drive on local freeways and highways, it is common to see debris on the road. One of the most common items is large pieces of black rubber. These materials are almost always the remains of a tire blowout that has occurred. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety numbers, there were over 4,100 deaths in America resulting from serious big rig crashes. One of the leading causes of these accidents were to tires exploding while the vehicles were operating. If you or a loved one has been involved in an automobile accident with a truck and sustained injuries, contact our Salt Lake City truck accident attorneys. At The Ault Firm, we believe injured people deserve justice for any injuries, property damage, and even wrongful death caused by a truck driver or trucking company’s actions.
Why do tires explode on semi-trucks?
We don’t know about you, but our staff always gets a nervous feeling when driving around a large truck. This is inherent because we know the damage that can happen when these large vehicles collide with a much smaller passenger car. As with any accident, they are usually caused by human error of some kind, but that doesn’t always mean they’re avoidable. Below are some of the most common reasons that a truck tire will blowout.
Potholes – Utah has a large number of potholes. This is probably due to the harsh, snowy winters that we usually have. When a vehicle of any size drives into a pothole, it can damage the car and the tire. Due to the force of the impact, the tire can pop, get a puncture, or even flip over the rim. This is a dangerous situation and can cause a semi-truck to make unexpected maneuvers.
Poor Maintenance— The total maintenance of a vehicle plays an essential part in securing the truck functions and operates. In some situations, trucking business stops working to conform to safety procedures or demands and do not check their trucks’ maintenance often enough. When a trucking company falls short to keep their vehicles, they put their drivers and pedestrians in severe threat.
Contact a salt lake city trucking attorney.
Any car crash is a potentially devastating situation. Semi-truck accidents are almost always life-threatening and life-changing. If you or a loved one has been involved in a trucking accident and sustained injuries, consider calling The Ault Firm at (801) 839-4411 or visit our contact page to get in touch with an injury lawyer.
