Having a tire blowout while you are driving can be very frightening, and not everyone knows what to do when something like this occurs. Understanding how to handle a blowout in the safest way possible can keep you from having an accident, which can help protect you, your passengers, and other drivers on the road.
Nearly 200 people every year are killed from tire blowouts, and 11,000 are injured. The numbers used to be much higher before tire pressure monitoring systems were created and widely used, but there is still a risk of injury and death from tire blowouts.
A tire blowout tends to happen without warning. One moment the vehicle is stable, and the next it is pulling hard to one side. That sudden shift is what causes many secondary accidents. Drivers react quickly, sometimes too quickly, and that reaction can create more danger than the blowout itself. Knowing what to do in those first few seconds can make a significant difference in what happens next.
When a blowout occurs, you will generally hear a loud bang noise, and the car’s steering will be affected. A whoosh of air will leave the tire, and then you may hear the tire flapping or flopping against the road surface.
Whichever side the tire is on, the car will pull to that side strongly. When you aren’t expecting the sudden movement it can be startling, and it’s important that you keep a firm grip on the wheel to steer the car to safety. Don’t pull or jerk the wheel too hard, or you could end up overcorrecting and sending the car off the road or to the opposite side, which can be very dangerous.
The first few seconds after a blowout are where most drivers either regain control or lose it. The goal is not to react quickly—it is to react correctly.
Braking too soon can shift the vehicle’s weight forward, making the loss of control worse. The instinct to hit the brake is strong, but holding off for a moment allows the car to stabilize.
A brief, controlled press on the accelerator can help counteract the drag from the damaged tire. This may feel counterintuitive, but it can help keep the vehicle moving straight instead of pulling sharply to one side.
The steering wheel may feel heavy or uneven. Keeping it steady is critical. Small corrections are safer than large movements. Overcorrection is one of the most common reasons a blowout turns into a serious crash.
Once the vehicle feels more stable, ease off the accelerator and allow the car to slow down naturally. Look for a safe place off the roadway rather than stopping abruptly in a travel lane.
Other drivers may not realize what is happening. Hazard lights signal that your vehicle is disabled and give others time to adjust their speed and position.
These steps may only take a few seconds, but they can prevent a loss of control that leads to a more serious collision.
Just like any car accident, you want to make sure you take the right steps to ensure your safety. As you pull over to the side of the road, don’t slam on your brakes. Let the car slow down gradually, and then turn on your emergency flashers when you stop.
You want to be as far off the road as reasonably possible for your own safety, and you also want to make sure that your lights are flashing so other drivers can be aware of your vehicle. This can reduce the chances of someone hitting you or your car.
If traffic is heavy, staying inside the vehicle may be safer than exiting immediately. On high-speed roads, moving away from the flow of traffic, if it can be done safely, can reduce the risk of secondary impact. These decisions depend on the location and conditions at the time.
It’s important to assess the damage a blowout can cause. This damage may just be to the wheel itself, but the rim could also have damage. Even with a new tire, you don’t want to try to drive on a damaged rim, so having it checked is important.
You also want to look at the body of the car, because a blowout can sometimes send pieces of tire up into the air. When that happens those pieces can strike the side of your car and cause dents, scratches, glass breakage, and other types of damage. Take pictures of that damage if possible, as that can help your insurance company when you make a claim.
It is also worth checking for damage underneath the vehicle. In some cases, loose tire fragments can strike components that are not immediately visible. If anything feels different when the vehicle is restarted, it is better to have it inspected rather than continuing to drive.
The causes of a tire blowout can vary, but age, dry rot, and driving your car when tire pressure is incorrect can be some of the biggest culprits. Another cause of tire blowout can be a defect or a problem with the tire itself.
If there is a manufacturing defect in the tire that has caused the blowout, that’s something you’ll definitely want to contact a lawyer about. It may mean that you can receive compensation for the damage that was done to your car.
In some situations, the cause is not immediately clear. A tire may appear intact but still fail due to internal separation or structural weakness. When that happens, identifying the source of the problem may require closer inspection or expert evaluation.
A tire failure can sometimes involve more than a simple mechanical issue. When injuries occur, questions about liability can arise quickly. Felix Gonzalez can review the circumstances of the blowout, examine whether a defect or third-party issue played a role, and explain what steps may be available to recover compensation. If there are concerns about how the incident happened, having the situation reviewed can provide clarity before moving forward.
If you think that your tire blowout was the result of a defective tire, contact the Felix Gonzalez Law Firm, PC and let us help you with your case. We have offices in San Antonio and Temple where we talk with you about your accident case.
We can address the issue, determine whether there was fault on the part of the tire manufacturer, and work with you to get fair compensation for vehicle damage and any injuries you or others in your car may have sustained.
