Bridgestone Pays in Tread Separation Case

The Ammons Law Firm has successfully negotiated the settlement of a product liability case against Bridgestone on behalf of a 58-year-old Florida woman who was seriously injured in a crash. The accident occurred when a Bridgestone-manufactured tire positioned at the left rear position of her compact SUV suffered a tread separation. The sudden tire disablement caused the vehicle to leave the road where it then collided with a tree. The woman sustained head and spinal injuries.

In her lawsuit, the Plaintiff had alleged as follows: The tire that failed was a Daytona Quadra SE made from rubber compounds very similar to those used in the Wilderness tires that were part of a massive recall involving many millions of tires in 2000 and 2001. It was defective and unsafe for use because the rubber used between the tire’s belts was not strong or robust and the tire’s design lacked a safety feature – a nylon cap ply – intended to prevent tread/belt separations. Bridgestone knew how to improve the durability of its Daytona Quadra SE tire. The use of thicker belt skim rubber infused with anti-degradant chemicals would have strengthened the tire and made it more durable. Additionally, Bridgestone knew of nylon caps and actually manufactured other tires with that feature. In order to cut costs, Bridgestone chose not to implement either of these needed improvements in the Daytona Quadra SE.

At the defendant’s insistence, the amount of the settlement is confidential.

The Ammons Law Firm is located in Houston, Texas, and practices personal injury law, including cases involving: tire defects, oil rig explosions, truck accidents, plant explosions, refinery accidents, wrongful death, post-collision fires, seat belt defects, seatback defects, airbag defects, SUV rollovers, and workplace negligence.