FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. —Two people were hospitalized Sept. 15 after the vehicle they were traveling in lost a tire and overturned on Interstate 40.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has not identified the victims nor released any updates on the severity of their injuries and conditions.
Troopers told a local news outlet that vehicle the victims were traveling in was westbound on I-40 near Highway 52 when the accident occurred. It is unclear what caused the vehicle to lose a tire and whether any other individuals were aboard.
Officials have yet to release any additional information about the crash.
COMMENTARY ON ROLLOVER CAR ACCIDENTS
Although we don’t know exactly why the vehicle lost a tire in this rollover accident, very often tire failure is the cause.
Tire failure tends to alters a vehicle’s response to driver inputs in substantial ways, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Tragically, the result is too frequently a rollover like the one that happened here.
Rollovers caused by tire failure continue to occur in epidemic proportions, often because of automakers’ decisions regarding safety equipment and safety engineering. Safety engineering standards tend to go unheeded in the quest for higher profits, even though the modifications needed to double or even triple vehicle roof strength to guard against injury in a rollover accident are inexpensive. According to our studies of one particular type of vehicle, the automaker would need to expend less than $20 per vehicle to upgrade to accepted safety engineering standards.
I have represented numerous clients in rollover accidents resulting from tire failure and other factors. While there are many factors that can lead to a rollover, the end of the story is generally the same—the vehicle is not equipped with proper safety features and the occupant dies or sustains serious bodily injuries. It is very fortunate that the lives of the two victims here were not cut short. I hope they experience a speedy recovery.
MEET ROB AMMONS
For over three decades Rob Ammons has concentrated his practice on tire and automotive defect claims, representing clients against tire manufacturers, automakers, tire retailers, and tire service centers. Mr. Ammons’ success against Michelin, BFGoodrich, Uniroyal, Cooper Tire, Goodyear, Dunlop, Bridgestone/Firestone, Continental/General Tire, Kumho Tire, and Yokohama has led to the recall of millions of tires across the country. If you or your loved one have been injured from a defective tire, reach out to Rob Ammons now for a no-cost consultation.
Disclaimer: At Ammons Law, we are constantly seeking to improve the quality and safety of our roads and highways. We post these articles to help improve safety within our community. All of the information contained within this post was compiled from public sources or constitutes the opinion of the author. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.