According to a report from The Facts, the driver of a gas truck was killed in a tragic accident on Highway 288 in Brazoria County. Another person sustained minor injuries in the crash. An initial investigation suggests that the accident was caused by a tire malfunction. Here, our Brazoria County truck accident lawyer provides an overview of the accident and explains the dangers of tractor-trailer tire blowouts.
Preliminary Investigation: Tire Malfunction Likely Caused the Accident
A gas truck was heading southbound on Highway 288, close to the 288-B exit in Angleton, Texas. An initial report from the Texas Department of Public Safety finds that the truck’s tire suffered a catastrophic failure—it blew out, sending the vehicle sharply to the left. The truck then hit a guardrail on the side of the highway and rolled over. Sadly, the 63-year-old driver was killed in the accident. At the time of the report, the accident was still under a more comprehensive investigation.
Truck Tire Blowouts are a Serious Safety Threat on Our Roads and Highways
The most detailed evaluation of truck accidents is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Large Truck Causation Study. The agency reviewed nearly 150,000 tractor trailer accidents nationwide to determine exactly what happened. In its report, the FMCSA estimates that approximately 1 in 20 large commercial truck accidents are caused by tire malfunctions.
A tire malfunction has the potential to cause a truly catastrophic accident. When a truck tire blows out without warning, it may be all-but-impossible for the driver to control the vehicle. If it happens at a high rate of speed or in the middle of a busy stretch of highway the consequences can be devastating.
Truck Tire Malfunctions Have Many Potential Causes
In the overwhelming majority of cases, a truck tire malfunction could and should have been prevented with proper care. These types of accidents can happen for a wide range of different reasons. Some of the most common causes of tire truck blowouts in Texas include:
- Truck driver error (hitting curb);
- Poorly installed tires;
- Failure to conduct adequate pre or post trip inspections;
- Poorly loaded or overloaded trailers; and
- Tire manufacturer negligence.
Every large commercial truck accident requires an in depth investigation by an experienced attorney. If your crash was caused by a truck’s tire malfunction, you need to know exactly why it happened. Trucking companies and other large corporations may be liable for your accident.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Truck Accident Lawyer in Brazoria County
At the Kolodny Law Firm, our Houston, TX commercial truck accident attorney knows how to hold big insurance companies accountable for paying claims. If you were involved in a crash caused by a tire malfunction or tire blowout, we are ready to help. Contact us right away for a free review of your legal case. Our firm represents truck accident victims throughout Brazoria County, including in Pearland, Angleton, Lake Jackson, Liverpool, Iowa Colony, Surfside Beach, West Columbia, and Brookside Village.
Alan Kolodny is committed to representing injured clients in Texas and throughout the United States. Alan earned his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
He focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving the following matters: maritime and offshore accidents, including those under the Jones Act; automobile and 18-wheeler truck accidents; and industrial site accidents, work-related accidents, and claims for injured railroad workers under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
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