The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that tire malfunctions contributed to almost 19,000 motor vehicle accident injuries each year. 733 fatalities caused by tire malfunctions occurred in a recent year. A person who is well educated on the operation of a vehicle has the advantage. Knowing the physics involved in a tire blowout, tricks to driving through a blowout, and knowing how to avoid one completely can significantly decrease the risk of becoming one of the statistics.

The Physics Involved in a Tire Blowout

If you are driving down the roadway and one of your tires blows out, then your car will immediately veer in the direction of the blown-out tire. If your right front or rear tire blows out, your car will veer to the right and vice versa. Your initial response might be to slam on the brakes and turn your wheel hard left. Engaging in this type of maneuver could cause your car to spin sideways and roll over.

Tricks to Driving Through a Blowout

Safety experts indicate there are four important things that you need to do to avoid being involved in a serious accident and possibly killing someone after your tire blows out:

Step 1

Keep your foot on the accelerator and steer your car in the direction of the skid. You may also have to give the car a little bit more gas to overcome the initial friction that is pulling you to one side. It is important that the wheels do not lock up as you may lose complete control of the car.

Step 2

Gently steer your car to bring it back into line and once you have accomplished this objective you can start to ease your foot off the gas to slow down.

Step 3

Use only minimal braking and when your car is under control pull off the road.

Step 4

Wait until your car has come to a complete stop before engaging the hazard lights because if you take your eyes off the roadway to look for the button this momentary distraction could lead to other problems.

Avoiding a Blowout

The culprit behind many of these accidents is the lack of proper tire maintenance. The Rubber Manufacturers Association reported 69% of the vehicles they surveyed had at least one underinflated tire. Many newer automobiles are designed with the capability to tell you the pressure of each tire at any given moment. However, if your car lacks this feature, doing a monthly manual check of your tire pressure will be an integral part of their maintenance.

Asking a mechanic to rotate and align the tires when necessary will help to prolong the life of your tires. When it is finally time to have the tires replaced, many drivers fail to register them with the manufacturer. Doing so will allow you to receive notice of any recall that can, if left alone, put you at risk of being involved in a tire blowout accident.

After an Accident

If you have been injured in an accident, getting in contact with an experienced personal injury lawyer is one of the first things you should do. The Connecticut accident attorneys at Hastings, Cohan & Walsh have years of experience and a proven track record of success. Let us fight for you! Click here to contact our office or call us at (203) 438-7450.

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