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Why truck tires blow out
Common causes include low air pressure, worn tread, old or damaged tires, poorly done retreads, heat on long runs and too much weight. A tire that is underinflated flexes more and builds heat, which can lead to a sudden failure. Debris on the road can also puncture a tire, though a well-kept tire is less likely to fail from it.
Weight plays a big part. A truck carrying more than its tires are built to handle puts extra stress on each one. Our page on overloaded truck crashes explains how weight problems are proven. A blowout can also make a truck swerve or jackknife, which is covered in what causes a truck to jackknife.
Who may be responsible
The carrier is expected to inspect and maintain its tires, and the driver is expected to check them before trips. The FMCSA publishes each carrier’s inspection and out-of-service data (FMCSA SAFER), which can show a history of tire or maintenance violations. Read who is liable in a truck accident for how fault can be shared.
A tire shop may share fault if it installed the wrong tire, did a bad repair or retread, or missed a clear problem. A tire maker may be responsible if the tire had a defect. Each of these claims depends on the facts and on an engineer’s inspection of the tire, which a lawyer can arrange.
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Evidence to save
The pieces of the failed tire, often called tire debris or gators, can show whether the tire wore out, ran low on air or had a defect. They are often swept off the road within hours. Photograph them if it is safe, and tell your lawyer right away so a written request can go out to save them.
Maintenance logs, inspection reports, purchase records for the tire and the driver’s pre-trip inspection notes all matter. Engine data and dashcam video can show how the truck reacted after the blowout and whether the driver kept control. Federal rules require carriers to keep drivers’ duty status records for six months (49 C.F.R. 395.8).
What to do now
Get medical care and follow up with your doctor. Photograph the truck, its tires, the tire pieces on the road, the USDOT number and your vehicle. Write down witness names and numbers, the police report number and every claim number. If debris hit your car without a collision with the truck itself, note that too.
Do not sign a release or give a recorded statement to the trucking insurer before talking to a lawyer. Keep receipts for treatment, repairs and missed work. The general deadline to file an injury lawsuit in California is two years (Code of Civil Procedure 335.1). In Washington it is generally three years (RCW 4.16.080).
How Beverly Law can help
We ask the carrier to keep the tire, its maintenance records and its truck data, and we bring in an independent tire engineer when needed. We also look at every insurance policy that may apply. Interstate for-hire carriers hauling ordinary freight must carry at least $750,000 in coverage (49 C.F.R. 387.9). See what drives the value of a truck case.
You owe no fees or costs unless we win. Learn more on our California truck accident lawyer page. The first conversation is free, there is no obligation, and our team speaks Spanish. We explain each step in plain language and keep you updated. Call (310) 552-6959 or use the form on this page.
Common questions
Who is liable when a truck tire blows out?
Often the trucking company, which is expected to inspect and maintain its tires. A tire shop, a cargo loader or a tire maker may share fault depending on why the tire failed. An inspection of the tire pieces usually shows the cause.
Is a tire blowout an accident nobody can be blamed for?
Usually not. Most blowouts trace back to wear, low pressure, heat, overloading or a bad repair, which are things a carrier can check. Even a sudden failure often has a cause that someone was in a position to catch.
What if tire debris from a truck hit my car?
You may have a claim even if the truck never touched your car. The carrier’s tire records and the debris itself can show why the tire failed. Write down the truck’s company name and USDOT number if you saw them, and photograph the debris.
How do I prove the truck’s tires were bad?
With the tire pieces, maintenance and inspection records, tire purchase records, the driver’s pre-trip inspection and the carrier’s public inspection history. An independent tire engineer can examine the remains. Save the evidence before it is thrown away.
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Car and truck accident lawyer — Beverly Law
If you were hurt in a car or truck crash in California and Washington, talk to a personal injury attorney. Free, confidential, English or Spanish. You owe no fees or costs unless we win.
Related pages
Can I sue a truck driver for hitting me? · Who is liable in a truck accident: the driver, the trucking company or the broker? · Rear-ended by a semi truck: what to do · Hit by a semi truck on the freeway: your rights · Jackknife truck accident: who is at fault? · All car and truck accident questions
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Important: This page is general information about California and Washington law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Last reviewed: November 5, 2026.