Why Are There So Many Shredded Truck Tires on the Highway?

Many of today’s trucks rely on tires made of rubber and metal mesh. And, to keep these tires sturdy and dependable, they often rely on several layers of this material.

To reduce their expenses, some trucking companies add new layers to their tires. They do this by removing the worn-out layer and adding a new layer of rubber/metal mesh. If this is done properly, the tire should remain strong.

On the other hand, if a tire is retreaded improperly, it could shred while on the road.  This can lead to portions of the tire falling off on the highway. Hitting one of these shredded truck tires could lead to an accident.

Learning more about why there are so many shredded truck tires on the roads and speaking with a Mississippi motor vehicle accident lawyer may help you obtain compensation for an accident you experienced.

What can happen if you hit a shredded truck tire that fell off on the highway?

Accidents & injuries

If you hit a shredded truck tire that fell off on the highway, you could get into an accident that might lead to a serious injury. Some of the injuries a shredded truck tire can lead to are as follows:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Whiplash
• Concussions
• Internal bleeding
• Burns
• Soft tissue injuries

Obtaining compensation

Every single one of the injuries listed earlier can come with serious medical bills and pain and suffering that may make you entitled to compensation. Some of the damages you may be able to obtain are as follows:

• Compensation for the medical bills you sustained.
• Compensation for the damages to your vehicle.
• Compensation for the pain and suffering you endured.
• Compensation for the wages you lost while healing from the injury.
• Possible punitive damages if injury was caused by gross negligence or willful disregard for safety.

Other damages may apply, depending on what happened. You can work with a motor vehicle accident lawyer to obtain these damages. They will go over the facts of your case and help you obtain what you are entitled to.

Can you obtain compensation if you hit a shredded truck tire that fell off on the highway?

The answer to this question is “Yes.” But, only if certain conditions are met. These conditions tend to be as follows:

• Someone else’s negligence—a trucking company, for example—led to the damages you sustained.
• You can prove that this party was negligent and, as such, is liable for the damages you sustained.
• You were not completely at fault for the accident/injuries you sustained.
• You are bringing this claim no more than three years (in most cases) after the accident

How can you obtain compensation for an accident caused by a shredded truck tire?

Report the accident

Immediately report the crash to law enforcement if anyone was injured, killed, or if property damage is estimated to be $500 or more.

Seek medical attention

You should seek medical attention after an accident, even if you don’t think you’re injured. Seeking medical attention can keep you safe, as some injuries aren’t always immediately visible, such as concussions. Produce any medical documentation received as evidence.

Just as an example, if you are in a car accident and go to a doctor right away, you might discover a concussion that you were completely unaware of. You can use this medical record to prove that you do have a concussion and that, in conjunction with the other evidence, it was likely caused by shredded truck tires.

Contact a lawyer

Filing a lawsuit is challenging. Obtaining compensation through a lawsuit is even more so. Hiring a lawyer means having someone on your side fighting for you. This will likely save you a fair bit of time and stress, while making it much easier for you to get what you need.

Gather evidence

To obtain compensation for an accident, you must have evidence that supports your claims. This evidence must affirm the negligence of a particular party, as well as the damages you sustained.

One example of the above is as follows: if you sustained a concussion due to hitting shredded truck tires, you need to have medical documentation supporting this claim. On top of that, you need to demonstrate that a party’s negligence is what led to your injury.

Your lawyer can work with you to gather evidence and present it in court. You can help gather evidence by doing the following:

• Hold onto any and all medical documentation related to the accident.
• Speak with the witnesses who were at the scene of the accident.
• Take photos/videos of the accident scene.
• Make a journal that goes over your daily injury symptoms.
• Keep your wage slips and pay stubs, if they demonstrate lost wages.

Clarify your damages

You may be entitled to damages for the accident. But the damages you are entitled to will depend on the facts of the accident, what percentage of fault you share for it, as well as the injuries you sustained.

For example, if you get a TBI from the accident, you may be entitled to significant compensation. This is because a TBI can lead to long-term medical problems. These problems can lead to you earning less than you normally would and requiring long-term medical treatment that costs a great deal of money.

Your motor vehicle accident lawyer will go over the facts of your case. By doing so, they will go over the damages you should be able to obtain and then help you obtain these damages.

Negotiate with the other parties

To obtain the damages you are owed, your lawyer will help you negotiate with the other parties. These are the parties responsible for the accident. And, these other parties might be as follows:

• The driver whose truck those shredded tires came from
• The truck tire manufacturer
• The truck owner
• The truck maintenance company
• The owner of the commercial trucking company

Negotiation is complicated. You may be able to obtain exactly what you are seeking. Or, you may have to settle for something a little different. Depending on what happens, the case may have to go to trial.

Take the case to trial

In the event that your case goes to trial, your lawyer will have to fight for you in the courtroom. This can be a long, complicated process. But with a good lawyer, it can be much easier for you to obtain the best possible trial outcome.

Contact one of our Mississippi motor vehicle accident lawyers today

The legal team at Merkel & Cocke, P.A. has been helping injured drivers obtain compensation for many years. We are ready to help you. Use our contact form to speak with one of our Mississippi motor vehicle accident lawyers today.