VOLUSIA COUNTY, Florida—A 72-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene after his 2010 Ford Explorer blew a tire, triggering a series of collisions. The accident happened just before 2:00 a.m. on August 21, 2022, near mile marker 118 on I-4 eastbound in Volusia County, Florida.
Police reports suggest that the 72-year-old was driving a 2010 Ford Explorer when one of its tires blew out, causing the vehicle to crash into the guardrail to the left of the inside lane of traffic. The Explorer was then struck by the left side of a 2020 Chevy Camaro. The driver of the Explorer exited the vehicle and was standing in the travel lane when he was then hit by a 2022 Lexus IS300.
While the 72-year-old man did not survive being hit by the Lexus, the conditions of others involved in this accident are unknown at this time.
The crash is still being investigated. No further information is currently available.
Further investigation into the tire blowout is needed to determine responsibility in this terrible accident
Sadly, this multi-vehicle accident can be attributed to a rather common occurrence: a tire failure. There are several plausible explanations as to why the victim’s tire failed, including poor maintenance and/or repair, as well as a defect with the tire itself.
Repair shops have a duty to maintain vehicles in a safe condition and repair tires correctly. Additionally, tire shops must install specific tires, on the right vehicle, in the correct direction. A repair shop that fails to install or repair a tire properly may be liable for a resulting accident that occurs when the tire fails under normal operating conditions. In these situations, the consumer rarely knows the tire was dangerous at the time of the accident.
Alternatively, service centers are required to inspect and inform consumers during routine maintenance of noticeable tire issues that could affect the integrity of the tire. This is especially true for commercial vehicles that are subject to stringent inspection and repair standards. A service center that negligently performs an inspection, fails to perform an inspection entirely, or neglects to notify a consumer of a potential tire issue, may be liable for an accident caused by a sudden tire blowout.
In addition to a lack of regular maintenance of one’s tires, an unexpected tire blowout may also be due to a tire defect. A tire is defective when the condition of the tire is unreasonably dangerous at the time it leaves the manufacturer. Tire defects affect tires of all types and sizes and from all manufacturers, and defects often cannot be discovered by routine maintenance and repair. Tire defects can also cause the tread of the tire to separate from the tire’s casing, in which case the tire loses traction and sends the vehicle careening into whatever lies in its path.
In instances where a vehicle crashes due to a tire blowout, it is extremely difficult for authorities to determine whether the tire was defective. Trained experts must examine the internal components of the tire with special imaging technology to identify and prove structural errors present at the time of manufacturing.
Determining whether a repair or service shop is responsible for your accident requires a detailed investigation of your vehicle, its tires, and all past maintenance records. Therefore, if you or a family member are involved in an accident involving a tire blowout, retaining the tire for proper examination is essential to hold the responsible party accountable for your injuries. At The Ammons Law Firm, we have conducted hundreds of investigations like this and have held countless tire and service centers and tire manufacturers responsible for blowout accidents caused by their negligence.
