Tires the Cause of Many Trucking Accidents
Feb 5, 2011
Austin, TX (Law Firm Newswire) February 4, 2011 – All tires are not made equal. If the right tires are not on a big rig, this is a potential recipe for disaster.
“Not a lot of people know that commercial tires, the kind you find on big rigs, are not designed for ordinary vehicles. In other words, a tire is not just a tire. The rubber you find on the big boys are specifically for class 6-8 trucks and are chosen according to their gross vehicle weight rating. These are some of the biggest tires in the industry and they are differentiated by design according to how they’re placed on the truck,” said Robert W. Lee, an Austin personal injury attorney with The Lee Law Firm.
Knowing what tires to put on a big rig is a start, maintaining them in good working order is another step that is crucial to keeping a safe 18-wheeler on the road. A vehicle’s entire weight rests on the tires and if they are faulty, bald, the wrong kind or are not constantly checked, the potential for a wreck shoots up exponentially.
Part of the knowing what goes where relates to the type of driving a trucker does for a living. There are tires specifically made for driving, trailer hauling and steerage. In other words, whatever the trucker normally does with their rig, what kind of driving they do, will dictate what rubber in on their vehicle.
“Long distance haulers have different tires than those who are constantly starting, stopping and turning and construction sites need yet another type of tire to function in that kind of environment. The bottom line is that, just because there is almost an endless choice of tires, it is the trucker’s responsibility to check them every day. Their life and the lives of others depend on that caution,” Lee said.
It may not come as much of a surprise to know that a large proportion of the big rig wrecks on the roads are the result of tire blow-outs. This can be avoided by regular maintenance like checking the inflation and air pressure, examining the tires for knicks, cuts, punctures and uneven wear.
“It just doesn’t cut it to thump the tire with your hand, as that doesn’t tell you the correct pressure reading inside the tire. Be a hands-on kind of person and put some quality time into making sure those tires are in tip top shape. It’s worth it to someone who may not get hurt or injured, because you did your job properly,” Austin injury lawyer Lee said.
With 14 million miles of roads available for trucks to travel, it only makes good sense to travel safe on tires made for the job and properly maintained. “If you have been in an accident with a big rig, please, call our office and discuss your case with us. We’ve had a whole lot of experience handling trucking cases and we would be happy to help you get justice,” Lee said.
To learn more, visit Austin personal injury lawyer and http://www.rwleelaw.com.
The Lee Law Firm
11824 Jollyville Road, Suite 302
Austin, Texas 78759
Phone: 512.478.8080
