Tire Blowout Truck Accident Lawyers
A commercial truck tire blowout can send an 80,000-pound vehicle careening across lanes in an instant. Federal law sets clear tire maintenance standards — when carriers ignore them, our trucking team holds them accountable.
A commercial truck tire blowout is not just a flat — it’s an explosive failure that can instantly destabilize an 80,000-pound vehicle traveling at highway speed. The National Safety Council reports that tire-related issues are a factor in an estimated 6% of large-truck crashes — roughly 10,000 crashes per year. Under 49 CFR 393.75, trucking companies are required to maintain tires in specific condition — including minimum tread depth, no separation or sidewall damage, and proper inflation. When they ignore those requirements to avoid the cost and downtime of replacement, someone else pays the price.
What Causes Commercial Truck Tire Blowouts?
Blowouts rarely come from nowhere. The most common causes are preventable failures that federal inspection requirements are specifically designed to catch:
(National Safety Council)
(Standard commercial configuration)
(49 CFR 393.75)
(FMCSA annual data)
Maintenance Neglect
Federal regulations under 49 CFR 393.75 set clear minimums: steer tires must have at least 4/32 inch tread depth; all other tires require at least 2/32 inch. No tire may have exposed belt or ply material, sidewall separation, or audible air leaks. Carriers who run tires past these limits to defer the cost of replacement are in direct violation of federal law — and that violation is evidence of negligence when a blowout causes a crash.
Improper Inflation
Under-inflation causes heat buildup in the tire’s sidewall during highway operation, accelerating structural degradation. Over-inflation concentrates stress on the center tread. Both lead to premature failure. FMCSA’s compliance guidance requires proper cold inflation before each trip. Drivers are required to perform pre-trip inspections — carriers that don’t enforce this requirement share in the liability.
Overloaded Cargo
Exceeding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or per-axle weight limits places stress on tires well beyond their design capacity. Overloaded trucks are also a cargo securement violation. Our team checks weight tickets and weigh station records against the vehicle’s rated capacity.
Manufacturing Defects
In some cases, the tire itself had a structural flaw — improper belt bonding, casing defects, or material failures. When a defect contributed to the blowout, the tire manufacturer may be an additional defendant in your case alongside the carrier.
What 49 CFR 393.75 Actually Prohibits
No commercial vehicle may be operated on a tire that:
- Has body ply or belt material exposed through the tread or sidewall
- Has any tread or sidewall separation
- Is flat or has an audible air leak
- Has a cut that exposes ply or belt material
- Has cold inflation pressure less than specified for the load being carried
- Carries more weight than marked on the sidewall
How a Blowout Causes a Crash
When a steer tire fails, the driver instantly loses steering control. The vehicle may pull violently to one side, entering adjacent lanes before any correction is possible. When a rear trailer tire fails, the resulting imbalance can cause trailer sway leading to a jackknife or rollover. In either case, other vehicles on Kentucky highways have almost no warning before the collision.
Evidence We Pursue in Tire Blowout Cases
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Preservation and inspection of the failed tire
Tires must be preserved before they’re replaced or destroyed. Physical examination by a tire failure analyst can determine whether the failure was due to maintenance neglect, overloading, improper inflation, or a manufacturing defect.
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Maintenance records and inspection logs
Pre-trip inspection reports (DVIRs), tire replacement logs, and annual inspection records reveal whether the carrier was aware of the tire’s condition and chose to ignore it.
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Weight tickets and bills of lading
If the truck was overloaded, weight documentation proves it — and establishes that the carrier knowingly subjected its tires to conditions beyond their rated capacity.
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ECM and telematics data
Black box data records speed, braking, and steering inputs in the moments before impact. Combined with tire failure analysis, this establishes the exact sequence of the crash.
Our Bigger Share Guarantee® — no increased litigation fees contingency fee that never increases, even at trial. $0 Out-Of-Pocket Forever. We advance all investigation and litigation costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the federal minimum tire standards for commercial trucks?
Under 49 CFR 393.75, steer tires must have at least 4/32 inch tread depth. All other tires require at least 2/32 inch tread. No tire may have exposed belt material, sidewall separation, audible leaks, or cuts exposing ply material. Tires must be inflated to the cold pressure specified for the load they’re carrying. Violations of these standards establish negligence per se when a blowout results.
Who is liable when a truck tire blowout causes a crash?
The trucking company is the primary defendant in most tire blowout cases — they are responsible for maintaining tires in compliance with federal law and ensuring drivers conduct required pre-trip inspections. If the driver failed to note tire defects that would have been visible during a proper inspection, the driver shares liability. If a manufacturing defect caused the failure, the tire manufacturer may also be named as a defendant.
What should I do if a piece of tire rubber from a truck damaged my vehicle?
Document everything at the scene. Photograph the tire debris, your vehicle damage, and your surroundings. Get the truck’s license plate and DOT number if possible. Report to law enforcement. Then contact a trucking attorney immediately — the tire debris itself is evidence that needs to be preserved, and the carrier needs to receive a legal hold on the truck and its maintenance records before they disappear.
Tell Us About Your Case
Our trucking team will reach out quickly to discuss your options.