A tire blowout is a sudden, catastrophic loss of air pressure that transforms a controlled 80,000-pound vehicle into a potential disaster in seconds. Modern truck tires have become more reliable, but these incidents still occur with frightening regularity on Missouri highways.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 562 people died in tire-related crashes in 2022 alone. Commercial truck blowouts are particularly devastating due to the massive forces involved. The shredded tire remnants you sometimes see along Interstate 70 or I-44 are evidence of these dangerous events.
Continue with this article by skilled Missouri truck accident lawyer Paul Beck to learn more.
The Prevalence of Truck Tire Blowouts on Missouri Roads
Commercial truck tire blowouts are among the most concerning mechanical failures on highways. With commercial vehicles playing a vital role in Missouri’s economy and thousands of trucks traversing the state’s highways daily, a single tire failure at highway speeds can transform an essential service vehicle into an uncontrollable disaster.
Research shows that rear tire blowouts are particularly dangerous. They occur four times more frequently than front tire failures and are significantly harder to control. For a fully loaded commercial truck, this loss of control can trigger a series of events that puts everyone nearby at risk.
Missouri has made significant advances in commercial vehicle safety, reducing CMV-related fatality rates from 1.34 to 1.13 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled between 2022 and 2023. Despite this progress, truck tire blowouts remain one of the most unpredictable and dangerous mechanical failures on the state’s roads.
What Causes a Truck’s Tire to Blowout?
Modern truck tires are designed to carry enormous loads under punishing conditions. However, their complex structure creates multiple paths to failure.
Under-Inflation
When tires run below the recommended pressure, they flex excessively during rotation. This creates intense internal heat, weakening the tire’s structure until failure occurs. Even a 10% drop in pressure can trigger this disaster.
Environmental Hazards
Each season brings its own risks for tire integrity, with Missouri’s extreme temperatures pushing tires to their limits. Summer heat can drive road surfaces above 140 degrees, while winter potholes create impact damage that compounds over time.
Overloading
Every pound above a truck’s rated capacity multiplies the stress placed on tires. This stress concentrates particularly on rear tires, which already face four times higher blowout risk than front ones. When combined with high speeds, overloading creates perfect conditions for failure.
Poor Tire Maintenance
Missing inspections and ignoring wear patterns can dramatically increase blowout risk. Regular rotation schedules and tread checks help you avoid this. In fact, data from the NHTSA shows that properly maintained tires can last 4,700 miles longer and significantly reduce accident risk.
Mechanical Issues
Misaligned wheels create uneven wear patterns that weaken tire structure. Additionally, worn suspension components multiply stress on tires, and brake problems can create hot spots that degrade rubber compounds.
Manufacturing Defects
Factory flaws in truck tires are rare but dangerous. A tiny defect in the steel belting or rubber bonding might pass inspection but grow worse over time. Unlike maintenance issues that show warning signs, these hidden problems often fail without warning at highway speeds.
Why Truck Tire Blowouts in Missouri Are So Dangerous
When a truck tire blows out, it creates a chain of dangerous events that happens in mere seconds, like a bomb going off. Truck tires run under extreme pressure (100 PSI or higher), so when they fail, the explosion is powerful enough to shake the entire truck.
Here’s what happens in those critical moments:
- The tire explodes with tremendous force, sending rubber debris flying across the highway
- The truck immediately pulls sharply toward the side of the blown tire
- The driver must fight against this sudden movement but often has under one second to react
- The massive weight of the truck makes it nearly impossible to maintain control
- The trailer can swing outward due to the sudden drag from the failed tire, frequently leading to a jackknife situation
A truck tire blowout creates immediate danger for everyone nearby. Other drivers must dodge both the out-of-control truck and the flying tire debris — all while traveling at highway speeds.
Common Accidents Following Truck Tire Blowouts
Even the most experienced truck driver may be unable to prevent an accident once a tire blows out at high speed. Here are some truck accidents that can happen as a result:
Jackknife Accidents
A jackknife occurs when the trailer swings outward at a sharp angle from the cab due to the sudden drag of a blown tire. These accidents can block multiple highway lanes and create devastating multi-vehicle crashes.
Rollover Accidents
The violent force of a tire blowout can make the entire truck tip onto its side, especially if the driver overcorrects while trying to maintain control. These are particularly dangerous at highway speeds.
Head-On Collisions
A truck experiencing a blowout may veer suddenly into oncoming traffic, leading to catastrophic head-on crashes with other vehicles.
Multi-Vehicle Pile-Ups
When other drivers suddenly brake or swerve to avoid the truck or tire debris, it can trigger a series of collisions involving multiple vehicles.
Cargo Spills
The sudden violent movement from a tire blowout can cause improperly secured cargo to break loose, creating additional hazards as the cargo scatters across the highway.
Run-Off-Road Accidents
The sudden loss of control can force the truck off the highway entirely. This potentially leads to collisions with roadside objects, structures, or even buildings, creating hazards for both the truck driver and nearby pedestrians or properties.
How Truck Drivers Can Prevent Tire Blowouts
Most tire blowouts are preventable through proper maintenance and vigilant monitoring. Here’s how truck drivers and companies work to reduce blowout risks:
Regular Inspection
Drivers must conduct thorough pre-trip inspections using proper equipment, not just visual checks. Drivers should also constantly examine wear patterns that might indicate alignment issues or deeper structural problems.
Using Modern Monitoring Systems
Advanced technology like tire pressure monitoring systems and thermal imaging equipment can detect problems beforehand. These systems provide real-time alerts about pressure changes and developing hot spots.
Keeping Proper Records
Trucking companies should maintain detailed service records that track rotation schedules, alignment checks, and replacement dates for each tire.
Loading Cargo Properly
Proper cargo distribution prevents excess tire stress. Even the slightest imbalance can multiply pressure on certain tires, which is more than likely during long hauls or in extreme weather conditions.
Road Safety Training
When companies invest in regularly training their drivers, it enables them to identify early warning signs of tire problems. They learn to detect unusual wear patterns, understand pressure readings, and recognize when it’s time to seek immediate maintenance.
Monitoring Temperature and Weather
Drivers should adjust their inspection routines based on Missouri’s weather conditions since temperature changes can significantly affect tire pressure and performance. This is especially important during extreme heat or cold snaps.
Who Is Liable for a Truck Tire Blowout Accident in Missouri?
Multiple parties can share liability for a single accident. Here are the potentially responsible parties in Missouri:
The Trucking Company
The trucking company could be liable when poor maintenance practices or ignored safety protocols lead to a blowout. This includes when the business fails to replace worn tires, skips routine inspections, or pushes trucks beyond safe operating limits.
Driver
Drivers can be held liable if they fail to conduct proper pre-trip inspections, ignore visible tire damage, or continue driving despite warning signs of tire problems.
Tire Manufacturers
If the tire fails due to a manufacturing defect or design flaw, the tire manufacturer can be held responsible. This applies even if proper maintenance procedures were followed.
Third-Party Service Providers
Outside providers like maintenance companies that service a truck’s tires are also sometimes at fault. They can be blamed if they perform inadequate repairs, fail to identify dangerous tire conditions, or incorrectly inflate tires. If improper loading or cargo weight distribution leads to tire failure, a cargo loading company could be liable as well.
Government Entities
In some cases, poor road maintenance, such as large potholes or road hazards, directly causes a tire blowout. When this happens, the government entity responsible for road maintenance could be held accountable.
What to Do After a Truck Tire Blowout Accident
Your immediate actions can greatly impact your ability to recover compensation. Here are some important steps you should follow:
- Document everything possible about the accident scene
- Seek immediate medical attention, even for seemingly minor injuries
- Preserve any evidence, including photographs and witness information
- Contact experienced legal counsel before speaking with insurance companies
- Don’t accept initial settlement offers without a professional review
The sooner you begin documenting and preserving evidence, the better position you’ll be in to pursue fair compensation for your vehicle accident injuries and damages.
Experienced Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer
Don’t let a truck tire blowout accident devastate your future. At Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, we’ve helped countless victims secure the compensation they deserve for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Our deep understanding of both the technical and legal aspects of these cases gives you a great chance for a successful outcome. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Our experienced team will review your case, explain your rights, and show you how we can help put your life back on track after a serious truck accident. For immediate legal assistance schedule a no-obligation case evaluation. The sooner you reach out, the sooner we can start fighting for you.
Our experienced Missouri truck accident lawyers have helped residents across the state and in cities including St. Louis, Florissant, Kansas City, Kirksville, Cape Girardeau, and more.
