Tire Blowout on I-75 in Sumter County Results in 6 Injuries

A van carrying six passengers crashed shortly after noon on Tuesday on Interstate 75 in Sumter County. All six people were taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The driver of the van, a 44-year-old man of Federal Way, Washington, experienced a right rear tire blowout. The van initially collided with a guardrail and then landed in the center of the two northbound lanes of I-75.

The northbound lanes of I-75 were closed until 1:38 p.m. on Tuesday as a result of the crash.

Tire blowouts on the highway can cause a vehicle to spin out of control. Unfortunately, once a blowout occurs, there may be nothing the driver can do to prevent an accident. However, there may have been various things a driver could have done before the blowout to keep it from happening.

Defective tires are a main cause of tire blowouts on the roadways. When the steel and rubber in a tire are not properly bound together, this can cause tread separation, which essentially tears the tire apart. Tread separation tends to occur most frequently when travelling at higher speeds and in hot weather. Another main cause of tire blowouts is misused tires. When a car is installed with a tire that does not adequately support the weight, size and speed of the vehicle, a new tire can easily blowout unexpectedly. In most cases, when the wrong tire is placed on a vehicle it is the result of negligence. Under or overinflated tires can also lead to a tire blowout. Overinflated tires cause internal pressure that can cause a blowout, whereas underinflated tires put added pressure on the sidewalls of the tire, which can then lead to a disastrous failure.

All of these causes for tire blowouts are the result of someone’s negligence or carelessness. Whether the driver, tire manufacturer, mechanic or some other party is at fault for an accident caused by a tire blowout, a Villages Automobile Accident Attorney at Whittel & Melton can help you identify who is liable for damages. If you or someone you care for has suffered injuries in an auto accident due to a tire blowout, please do not hesitate to contact us today online or call 352-369-5334. We can make sure you receive adequate compensation for your injuries. Your initial consultation with us is always free.

Photo credit: The Tire Zoo / Foter.com / CC BY