Alabama Attorney for 18 Wheeler Accidents Caused by Tire Tread Separation

Tire tread separation occurs when the tread of a tire unravels from the belt of the tire. If this happens when an 18-wheeler is moving at a moderate or high rate of speed, an inadequately trained truck driver may lose control of the vehicle. Unfortunately, this scenario occurs more often than you might believe. If you or a family member was the victim of an 18-wheeler accident due to tire tread separation, you should consult with an experienced Alabama trucking accident attorney today.

The Morrison Law Firm is ready to help you file a personal injury claim against the negligent trucking company responsible for your injuries. Our firm has provided legal representation to residents of Montgomery, Selma, Birmingham, and across Alabama and we would be proud to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation, contact The Morrison Law Firm at (334) 513-1323, or contact us online.

What to Do in the Event of a Trucking Accident

Tire tread accidents are often the result of poor tire maintenance or an error on the part of the tire manufacturer. When a truck tire tread separates from the tire belt, the 18-wheeler will likely begin to veer in the direction of the tire that was damaged. If the truck driver does not respond appropriately by avoiding the brakes until the vehicle is stabilized, they will likely lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident.

If the negligence of the truck driver caused extensive damage to your vehicle and caused you to suffer a serious injury, you should perform the following actions to gather evidence for your case.

First, you should call law enforcement to the scene of the accident and request an ambulance for yourself or any other person injured in the crash. If your injury permits you to remain at the scene of the accident, you should begin to gather information to help with your personal injury case.

Request the license of the truck driver, the name of their employer, insurance carrier, and document their license plate and type of truck they were driving. You should also document the damage to your vehicle and any other vehicles involved in the crash.

Be sure to photograph the scene of the accident and make a note of any adverse weather conditions that may have contributed to the crash. For example, if the temperature was high when the accident occurred, this may have been a factor in the truck tire tread separating from the belt

Next, you should speak with any witnesses that may have observed the crash. If any witness is willing to give you a statement regarding the accident, you should obtain their contact information.

Depending on the severity of the crash, an insurance adjuster from the trucking company’s insurance company may be dispatched to assess the scene. The adjuster may ask you particular questions about how the crash occurred. It is unlikely that your interests align with that of the insurance company so you should avoid speaking to the adjuster without a lawyer present to protect your interests.

Once you are able, you should inform your own insurance company about the accident. It would also help to receive a police report from the officers that arrived at the scene. While this may not be admissible in your personal injury case, it can help your insurance company determine who should be held liable for the crash.

To learn more about filing a personal injury lawsuit after a truck accident, you should continue reading and speak with an experienced Alabama personal injury lawyer today.

Proving a Personal Injury Claim After an 18-Wheeler Crash

If the accident was the result of the truck driver’s negligence, you will want to file a lawsuit against the truck driver’s employer. As the truck driver was operating on behalf of the trucking company when the accident occurred, the trucking company can also be held liable for the driver’s actions. This is known as vicarious liability.

To prove that the trucking company should be held liable for your injuries, you will have to prove the following elements to show how the company acted negligently:

• The trucking company owed you a duty of care
• The trucking company breached its duty of care (for example, failed to perform maintenance on a truck)
• The breach was the cause of the trucking accident
• You incurred injuries due to the trucking company’s actions

It is important to note that the tire manufacturer may also be responsible for the accident. For example, if the manufacturer produced a defective tire, this may have caused the tire tread to separate which led to the truck driver losing control of the vehicle.

Our Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers are Ready to Work with You

If you or a family member was injured in a serious 18-wheeler crash, you should contact an experienced Alabama personal injury lawyer today. Tire defect lawyer Rick Morrison possesses over two decades of legal experience handling a wide variety of personal injury claims, and he is prepared to utilize this experience to represent you. To schedule a free legal consultation, call The Morrison Law Firm at (334) 513-1323.