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On Saturday September 14, a van carrying 16 people, ranging in age from 2 to 62, overturned in Estero, Florida on the Corkscrew Road overpass of I-75. The vehicle over turned after a rear tire blowout. It was a single vehicle accident.  

Personal  Injury Certified Trial Attorney, Randall Spivey, who practices in Florida in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties says,  "This is a tragedy which happened to these families due to the apparent tire blow out."

Although it will be sometime before the FHP issues a full report regarding this accident, troopers with the FHP believe that tire failure is the likely cause. The van had a full load of passengers which puts extra pressure on the tires of the vehicle. Tires are the only part of the vehicle touching the roadway, and this makes them critically important in terms of the handling and braking of the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a recent study reports that when vehicles are driving on under-inflated tires, they are 25 percent more likely to be involved in crashes, such as a rollovers. Other studies done by the American Automobile Association, and other organizations concerned with vehicle safety, have reported that if a tire is under inflated by 25 percent, the tire runs the risk of overheating which leads to tire failure. Overheated tires  adversely affect the handling of vehicles and rollover accidents can be the result. The NHTSA study shows that rollovers are the most common type of accident from tire failure, and they are most prevalent with SUVs and vans.

Tire blowouts can be caused by speed, the load on the vehicle, and the condition of the tires as well as the tire's inflation level. When a rear tire blows out, the driver may lose control. When a front tire blows out, it can cause sudden lane change which can result in a head-on crash or the vehicle with the blow out may side-swipe other vehicles on the roadway.

"Under Florida law, it is the responsibility of the driver to inspect the tires and the vehicle's condition before getting on the road," says Attorney Spivey.

Consumer Reports has updated its "Early warning signs of tire failure" checklist into three sections "Trouble signs", "Under inflation" and "Tire inflation maintenance tips".  Here is what they have to say:

Trouble Signs

• Cracking or cuts in the sidewalls.

• Uneven tread wear. This can be caused by improve inflation, misaligned wheels, damaged tires, or by problems with suspension parts.

• Excessively worn tread. Most new tires have tread wear indicator bars which signal the minimum allowable tread depth of 1/16 of an inch. Inexpensive tread wear gauges are available at auto parts and tire stores.  Alternatively you can use a Lincoln-head penny as a tread wear indicator. Insert the penny into the tire groove with Lincoln's head toward the tire.  If you see the top of Abe's head, the tread is too worn.

• Bulges or blisters can signal potential weak spots that could lead to tire failure.

• Excessive vibration.

Under Inflation 

• Under inflation causes sidewalls that flex too much and as a result, can cause heat to build up excessively with shortens a tire's life and possibly leads to a tread separation or blow-out.

• Seasonal temperature changes cause tire pressures to drop.  Always check the inflation level of the tires when they are "cold" and have been driven less than one mile. Even small pressure losses, as little as 4psi, affects a vehicle's handling making it harder to control.

Tire Inflation Maintenance Tips 

• Don't judge a tire's pressure by "eyeballing it".  Radial tires bulge slightly, making them look a little under inflated even if they are not.

• Set the tires to the auto makers recommended tire pressure for the vehicle. This information will be found on the placard in the vehicle either on the door jam, the fuel filler door, or inside the glove compartment.

• If your car has a limited-service spare, also check that it is inflated to the pressure specified on the placard.

• At least once a month use a tire gauge to check the pressure in all four tires and the spare. Tire pressure gauges are available for as little as $3 to $5 at auto parts stores.

• All tire pressures specified by the vehicle and tire manufacturers are based on "cold tire pressure".

Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. recommends, "Please print out the above checklist and keep it in your vehicle. It should be checked at least monthly, but preferably, each time you are getting ready to drive anywhere, even if it is only down the block. All too often I see the devastation and life-changing events caused by vehicle crashes.  Keep your family and others on the road safe."

Florida Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.