Matthew and Lauren Hoover were injured in a motorcycle accident after a tire deflated on Lincoln Highway near Bedford

BEDFORD, Pennsylvania—Matthew Hoover, 46, was riding his 2004 Yamaha Roadster with passenger Lauren Hoover, 41, when the pair were injured after the motorcycle’s tire suddenly deflated near the 5900 block in Napier Township around 4:00 p.m. on September 3, 2022.

According to initial news reports, Matthew and Lauren Hoover were traveling westbound on Lincoln Highway near Napier Township when a tire on Hoover’s motorcycle began to deflate. Then Hoover reportedly lost control of the motorcycle, which ultimately came to a rest on its side. Both Matthew and Lauren Hoover were injured as a result of the crash.

Police are still investigating the motorcycle accident. No further information was available.

Thoughts on tire-related accidents

Matthew and Lauren Hoover were very fortunate to avoid more serious injuries, even death, following a tire failure on Hoover’s motorcycle. The truth is that many tire blowouts can be caused by either faulty manufacturing or poor tire installation. To determine whether a tire manufacturer or repair shop may be liable for Matthew and Lauren Hoover’s injuries, the integrity and installation of the tire must be evaluated by an independent investigator.

Tire manufacturers must subject the tires they make to a series of tests to ensure the tire can withstand friction from the roadway, excessive amounts of water on the road, as well as wear and tear from ordinary work. If tire manufacturers do not regularly check the safety of their product, or if they opt to cut certain safety measures from their process, then defects within those tires can lead to serious accidents across the country. Indeed, tire defects can be nearly impossible to diagnose before a catastrophic failure. Should an investigation uncover that the motorcycle’s tire was not properly manufactured, then the Hoovers could sue the manufacturer to recover for their injuries.

Additionally, some tire blowouts can be traced back to the tire shop responsible for installing the tire(s). Tire repair shops are often where individuals go to replace or re-align tires, and repair shop workers have the duty to ensure they are installing tires in the safest way possible while adhering to specifications for different kinds of tires. Since this was a motorcycle tire, it is possible the tire was not installed properly and ultimately caused this accident.