NHTSA Investigates Goodyear
This week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began an investigation of 40,000 tires that were manufactured by Goodyear from 1996 to 2003 after a court-ordered Goodyear to release data from previous lawsuits filed against them, which were sealed under court orders and confidential settlement agreements.
Goodyear self-reported nine claims to the NHTSA involving one death and 13 injuries. Some of the claims allege that the G159 tires were not designed for extended highway use on motor homes. The NHTSA also received 37 reports of tread separations, including 31 crashes linked to 15 deaths and 129 injuries, involving the heavy-duty, Load Range E tires that Goodyear has been manufacturing for the past decade.
Our Client’s Case Against Goodyear
In 2001, one of our clients owned a Holiday Rambler (RV) that contained a 275/70R22.5 Goodyear G159 tubeless tire manufactured during 2000. Our client’s husband was driving the Rambler with our client and family inside. The Goodyear tire suffered a rapid depressurization, causing the Rambler to lose control.
During the crash, the wooden TV mount inside came loose and struck our client in the head. Our client suffered serious head injuries and was transported to the hospital where she later died. Our firm discovered that the Goodyear G159 275/70R22.5 tire installed on this Rambler was a serious design defect because this tire had too small of a safety margin for consumers to load up the Rambler.
The Danger of Overloading Your Motor Home
Federal Law requires that Motor home manufacturers permanently place a load-carrying capacity label in the Motor home that includes the maximum value in load weight a consumer should never exceed, also known as the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR reflects the total weight of passengers, cargo, fluids, and aftermarket accessories in the RV that your tires can hold safely.
Because it is easy to overlook the weight of water, fuel, and propane — which can exceed as much as 750 pounds — the result is that nearly a quarter of all motor homes on the road today have loads that exceed the weight their tires can hold. Excessive weight creates unintended pressure on the tires, especially if the RV sits stationary and overweight for a long period of time.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Motor Home that was equipped with a Goodyear tire that failed, you may have a potential claim for damages against the tire manufacturer and or Motor Home manufacturer. The Ammons Law Firm and its tire defect lawyers have the legal resources and experience to assist you. Call (281) 801-5617.
