Tire Defect Attorney in San Diego

Millions Recovered for Victims of Defective Auto Parts

Defects affecting tires can result in devastating car accidents that put motorists and those around them at risk. When problems involving tires cause preventable harm, victims may have the right to pursue legal action and a financial recovery of their damages.

At The McClellan Law Firm, our award-winning San Diego attorneys have extensive experience fighting for victims of motor vehicle accidents – including crashes caused by negligence, failures to properly maintain vehicles, and defective products.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car crash caused by tire defects, we can help explore your options to seek the compensation you deserve during a FREE consultation. Call (619) 215-1488.

Why Choose The McClellan Law Firm?

The McClellan Law Firm is a nationally recognized personal injury trial practice. We have recovered millions in compensation for clients and have secured verdicts and settlements in excess of $1 million each in over 140 cases.

Our firm is also a leader in litigating complex and high-profile cases involving auto defects. We have fought against powerful corporations and insurance companies, and have helped clients prevail against some of the largest automakers in the world, including Porsche, Chrysler, GM, Isuzu, and Toyota.

Examples of our results in product defect cases:

• $25.36 million in a confidential product defect and negligence case.
• $9.515 million over a product defect that caused post-collision fuel to feed a vehicle fire, resulting in wrongful death.
• $8 million in a confidential product defect case involving seatbelt design.
• $6 million settlement against Ford involving a vehicle with rear seats equipped only with lap belts.
• $5.2 million settlement in a lap belt defect case against Mercedes Benz.
• $2.5 million verdict against Porsche. This recovery tied for the largest wrongful death verdict in California at the time.

Craig R. McClellan and our team are trusted by clients and counsel across the country in high-stakes vehicle defect claims. To discuss your potential case, call (619) 215-1488.

Types of Tire Defects

According to NHTSA, hundreds of traffic fatalities involving tire malfunction occur each year. As the agency notes, even the most experienced motorists can suffer harm when there are problems with essential vehicle components like tires.

The condition of tires can greatly hinder a driver’s ability to maintain control of their vehicle. In the most serious cases, tire defects or pre-crash damage can lead to sudden tire failure, blowouts, and devastating crashes.

Tire defect claims can involve a range of issues, including:

• Tread separation
• Bead separation
• Sidewall weakness or deformity
• Cracks in the tread
• Expired adhesive
• Retreaded tires
• Failures to disclose recalls, defects, or the age of tires
• Improperly mounted, repaired, or inflated tires

All tire defects can contribute to accidents, but some are more dangerous than others. For example:

• Tire-related defects significantly increase the risks of rollover crashes, which are more likely to result in death than other types of car accidents, according to NHTSA crash data.
• Tire defects on larger vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, and commercial vans or buses are associated with more severe collisions, which can increase the risks of severe and fatal injuries.

Differentiating between consumer neglect and poor design or the negligence of others can be a central focus in tire-related accident claims. Often, plaintiffs’ attorneys must battle defendants who dispute fault and accuse victims of negligently causing their own accidents. However, even if vehicle owners bear some responsibility for contributing to their crashes, they may still be able to recover compensation under California’s comparative fault laws.

At The McClellan Law Firm, our tire defect lawyers know how to investigate accidents and assess available evidence to determine how defects may have caused or contributed to crashes, what caused tire defects, and whether another person or entity can be held liable for the resulting damages. Our work litigating these complex cases prepares us to take on even the most powerful opponents.

Who is Liable for My Tire Defect Accident?

While being a vigilant consumer and regularly maintaining tires can help reduce accident risks, even the most safety-conscious motorist is no match for defects, safety violations, or the negligence of others.

If your crash was caused by a tire defect, a personalized evaluation and investigation will be necessary to identify potentially liable parties. Examples may include:

• Automakers or tire manufacturers: Automakers and manufacturers can be held strictly liable for defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed products, including tires and related components. If a defective or recalled tire caused your accident, you may be able to bring a products liability claim against the responsible manufacturer.
• Distributors or retailers: California law imposes strict liability upon distributors and retailers of defective products, in addition to manufacturers. Depending on the facts of a case, distributors and retailers such as car dealerships may be held liable for distributing or selling defective tires, tires that are too old, or vehicles with defective tires, including tires they damage while in their possession or fail to ensure are safe for use.
• Rental companies: People or companies that rent products such as motor vehicles for money can be held liable for negligence if they fail to exercise reasonable care to inspect products for defects, make the products safe for their intended use, and adequately warn consumers about any known dangers. A rental car company’s failure to inspect badly worn tires or address known recalls could constitute negligence under California products liability.
• Trucking companies: Even minor malfunctions can have devastating consequences when they occur on large commercial trucks. If trucking companies fail to adequately maintain their fleet and address tire-related issues they knew or should have known about, they may be held liable for injuries victims suffer in accidents caused by those failures.

By leveraging our experience and working with industry experts, our team helps clients explore who can be held accountable for tire defects that caused or contributed to an auto accident. Our firm also represents mechanics and maintenance workers who suffer injury due to defective tire accidents, including explosions caused by tire bead failure during mounting and installation.

Tire Blowouts

NHTSA reports tire blowouts cause over 11,000 crashes each year, many of which are caused by underinflated tires. Although advancements like tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) have reduced the number of crashes caused by underinflated tires, older cars still lack this safety feature.

Not only are underinflated tires more likely to burst, they also negatively impact handling, braking, and traction. A tire can become underinflated due to defects that cause it to fail internally and delaminate, allowing air to escape. Underinflation causes heat to build up in the tire, which hastens its failure.

But underinflated tires are not the only cause of tire failures. Sometimes, the tire is not properly molded or put together at the factory. Other times, its design does not incorporate safety features, such as nylon caps, that protect against failures. There are many other causes of tire failures.

Tire manufacturers, as well as car dealers, may be liable for accidents caused by their defective products, negligence, or failures to warn consumers of tire dangers, such as a tire being too old, a tire that is recalled, or a tire having known design or marketing defects.

Recoverable Damages in Tire Defect Claims:

• Hospital and medical bills
• Future medical expenses
• Lost wages and future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Property loss
• A spouse’s loss of consortium
• Lost financial and emotional support
• Funeral and burial expenses

Call for a FREE Case Evaluation: (619) 215-1488

At The McClellan Law Firm, our record of success enables us to commit very substantial resources to the investigation of highly technical claims. When you choose our firm, we provide thorough and insightful investigation and strive to obtain the best possible recovery for you and your family.

Our firm also limits our caseload so we can devote the close attention necessary to maximize the value of your claim while providing outstanding service. Knowing accidents make for difficult times, we handle cases on contingency fees. This means we recover fees and expenses only when we settle your case on favorable terms or collect on a jury verdict.

Contact us to request a FREE case review. The McClellan Law Firm works with clients and counsel across California and beyond.