Pottawatomie County, Okla. – Tyler Dwayne Lowe tragically died in a car accident on Sept. 3 in Wanette. He was just 25 years old.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol responded to the crash around 3 a.m. off State Highway 39, east of Pottawatomie Road .
According to local news reports, Tyler was westbound on Hwy 39 when the front-left tire of his Cadillac failed. The vehicle veered to the right side of the road and rolled before catching on fire. Tyler was ejected from the vehicle and died from his injuries at the scene of the accident.
OHP's investigation into the accident is ongoing. No further information is currently available.
COMMENTARY ON TIRE DEFECT ACCIDENTS BY ROB AMMONS
Tire failure will often alter a vehicle’s response to driver inputs. A sudden unanticipated tire failure can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a rollover. Based on the facts in this case, it seems that is exactly what happened here.
While it is possible that Tyler overcorrected because of the tire failure and caused the vehicle to roll, we need to remember that all of Tyler’s actions were a reaction to the tire failure. Had the tire not failed, any of Tyler’s actions likely would not have happened. The law does a very good job at identifying the root cause of an event and determining whether that cause warrants a remedy.
For instance, during my career I’ve handled several tire failures cases that led to serious injury or death because the driver was unable to maintain control of the vehicle. In these cases, we closely examined the tires to determine what caused the tire to fail. In one case specifically, we found that a prominent tire manufacturer failed to produce roadworthy tires and, as a result, my client’s husband overcorrected and rolled his vehicle. Despite the action of the driver, the manufacturer was held liable.
It is important that all remaining pieces of this vehicle’s tire are collected for examination. A detailed analysis will help determine whether manufacturer flaw or defect was the root cause of this accident. My condolences go out to this young man’s family during this difficult time.
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. Photos are from Ammons archives and do not depict accidents reported on unless otherwise noted. Please inform us immediately if you identify any false or misleading information.
