How Semi Truck Tire Blowouts Can Lead to a Personal Injury Claim

 Posted on April 29, 2025 in Truck Accident

Truck accidents can cause severe injuries and result in significant damages, including tragic loss of life. An unfortunate common cause of big rig crashes with smaller vehicles is tire blowouts, which are most often the result of negligence. In Colorado, if you were injured or lost a loved one in a truck accident caused by a tire blowout, you may be able to recover damages. An experienced Fort Collins, CO truck accident attorney can help you file a claim and identify the recoverable damages available to you.

Types of Accidents Caused by Truck Tire Blowouts

Some types of accidents are unique to commercial trucks because of their weight and dimensions. When a tire blows out, the truck driver could lose control of the vehicle, and any of the following may happen:

• Jackknife accident: The truck trailer swings around, landing at an angle with the cab. This could cause the truck to skid off the road and hit other vehicles.

• Rear-end crashes: When an out-of-control semi hits the back of another vehicle, the damage is inevitably severe.

• Rollover accidents: Large trucks have a high center of gravity, making them a greater risk for rolling over in general. A tire blowout can destabilize the truck, causing the driver to lose control and the trailer to roll.

• Head-on crashes: These are less common but the most deadly. They often happen when a blowout causes the driver to lose control and veer into oncoming traffic.

Any of these accidents can result in devastating losses, including death.

Causes of Truck Tire Blowouts

Most tire blowouts on semi trucks are the result of some form of negligence. For example, over-inflating a tire causes it to extend its capacity, and that, combined with the heat that is generated when the truck is in operation, can cause the tire to blow. Under-inflating is also dangerous, causing cracks, damage to internal parts, and explosions.

Regular wear and tear is among the most common causes of tire blowouts. Truck drivers and trucking companies have a responsibility to maintain their trucks, and when they fail to notice or neglect to change an aging tire, the risk of a blowout is significantly higher. Similarly, recklessly overloading truck trailers puts excessive pressure on the tires, potentially causing a blowout.

Liability for Accidents Caused by Truck Tire Blowouts

Several parties could be liable for a truck tire blowout. Truck drivers and trucking companies are the most obvious. However, when a blowout is the result of overloading cargo, the loading party could be responsible for an accident caused by the blowout. If the trucking company outsources maintenance and repairs, that third party could be liable for failing to replace an old tire. Colorado has extensive laws regarding the availability of damages and who is liable in personal injury cases. Working with an attorney means you have somebody on your side who understands these laws and works to hold every liable party responsible.

Speak With a Fort Collins, CO Truck Tire Blowout Accident Attorney Today

The financial, physical, and emotional repercussions of a tire blowout accident can add up quickly for victims and their families. At Hoggatt Law Office, P.C., we fight aggressively to hold at-fault parties responsible for their actions because we believe in protecting our clients’ right to fair compensation. If you were injured or lost someone you love in a truck tire blowout accident, call 970-225-2190 to speak with a knowledgeable Larimer County, CO truck accident lawyer today to schedule your free consultation. Se habla Español.