Tire and Mechanical Failures in Truck Accidents

Large commercial trucks are complex machines that require strict maintenance, quality components, and skilled inspection to operate safely. When a truck has tire failure, brake defect, or other mechanical malfunction, the consequences on the roadway can be catastrophic. Fully loaded tractor-trailers traveling at highway speeds that suddenly lose control due to equipment failure often cause devastating collisions, rollovers, pileups, injuries, and fatalities.

The truck accident lawyers at Willis Law, help victims injured in truck accidents caused by truck tire blowouts, steering tire failures, and mechanical defects to secure the justice and monetary compensation they deserve. With more than 40 years of experience holding trucking companies, maintenance providers, and manufacturers accountable, our team has the expertise to investigate and litigate even the most complex mechanical failure cases.

Truck Tire Blowout Accident Lawyer

Truck tire blowouts can cause catastrophic accidents within seconds. When a semi-truck tire explodes, the massive truck and trailer may swerve into other lanes, overturn, or scatter debris across the highway, causing impacts with other vehicles or causing other vehicles to lose control, go off the road or rollover. Victims of these crashes often suffer life-changing injuries, spinal cord injuries, TBI, or fatalities.

At Willis Law, we have extensive experience investigating tire blowouts, tracing the cause to either maintenance neglect or defective tire manufacturing, and pursuing maximum damages for our clients. We work with tire experts and forensic engineers to uncover the true cause and secure full compensation for our clients whether handling complex mechanical and maintenance failure claims, we know how to hold trucking companies, tire repair shops, tire retreading (recapping) companies, product manufacturers accountable. We move quickly to preserve crucial evidence and build a powerful case for the injured victims and their families.

Common Types of Mechanical Failures Leading to Truck Accident

Truck Tire Blowouts and Tread Separation

A sudden front steering tire or trailer tire fails or blowouts, it can cause a truck driver to instantly lose control. At high speeds, a steering tire blowout can cause a semi-truck to veer across lanes, jackknife, or roll over entirely. Even if a driver regains control, the large pieces of shredded tire, known as “road gators,” can fly into the lanes of nearby vehicles, forcing dangerous evasive maneuvers that lead to secondary crashes and rollover accidents.

Tire blowouts may result from:

Inadequate tire inspections or maintenance
Overloaded trailers exceeding weight limits
Manufacturing defects or recalled tires
Improper inflation or worn tread
Improper Re-treading or Recapping of tires
Improper Tires Repairs
Continued Use of Worn Out or Old Tires

In these cases, both trucking companies and possibly the tire manufacturers may bear legal responsibility.

Brake System Failures in Truck Accidents

Faulty brake systems can prevent truck drivers from stopping safely in slow traffic, in construction zones, on hills, or in emergencies. Brake failure is often caused by:

Worn brake pads or shoes
Defective air brake systems
Excess or Overloaded Loads
Poor brake maintenance or inspection
Overheating due to heavy loads

When brakes fail, especially when faced with slow or stopped traffic in front of them, a fully loaded tractor-trailer can become a deadly force, unable to stop in time to prevent rear-end collisions with stopped or slower vehicles in front of them.

Steering and Suspension Defects

Loss of steering control can be just as dangerous as a tire blowout. Mechanical issues such as:

Steering gear malfunctions
Tie rod or ball joint failure
Suspension component defects

can cause the driver to lose the ability to steer, particularly in sharp turns or sudden maneuvers. Steering linkage or steering malfunction failures frequently lead to rollover accidents, highway crossovers, or vehicles leaving the roadway entirely.

Dangerous Emergency Highway Shoulder Stops

Mechanical failures sometimes force truck drivers to pull onto the shoulder. However, emergency stops on narrow or unprotected shoulders can create deadly hazards for both the truck and approaching motorists. Trucks parked partially in traffic lanes due to mechanical breakdowns have caused severe rear-end crashes, particularly at night or during poor visibility conditions.

When trucking companies fail to properly maintain their fleets, causing drivers to break down in unsafe areas, they can be held liable for resulting collisions.

How We Investigate Truck Mechanical Failure Cases

Holding trucking companies or manufacturers accountable for mechanical failure accidents requires fast action and technical knowledge. Our team immediately moves to preserve key evidence by:

Subpoenaing maintenance records, inspection logs, and repair histories
Downloading electronic data from onboard systems (ECM/"black box" data)
Securing and inspecting failed components such as tires, brakes, and steering parts
Working with forensic engineers and mechanical experts to identify defects or maintenance negligence

Our investigation focuses not only on the truck driver’s actions, but also on:

By building a case based on mechanical and forensic evidence, we position our clients for maximum financial recovery.

Compensation Available After a Tire or Mechanical Failure Truck Accident

Victims injured in truck crashes caused by mechanical failures often suffer catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord damage, amputations, and fatal injuries. We pursue full compensation for:

We also pursue punitive damages where appropriate, particularly when evidence shows trucking companies knowingly allowed unsafe vehicles to operate.

Contact a Nationwide Truck Accident Lawyer for Tire Blowouts and Mechanical Failures

If you or a loved one were seriously injured due to a truck tire blowout, brake failure, or other mechanical malfunction, you need a law firm that knows how to fight back against powerful trucking companies and their insurers.

At Willis Law, our lead attorney is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, bringing more than four decades of experience to your side. We serve clients nationwide and collaborate with local attorneys where necessary to fully protect your rights.

Call Us Today for a Free Case Review. No Fees Unless We Win.