August heat in Georgia is brutal on tires. High pavement temperatures, heavy back-to-school traffic, and long interstate drives combine to dry out rubber, spike tire pressure, and expose weak spots. When a tread separates at highway speed, the result can be a violent loss of control—rollovers, multi-car pileups, and serious injuries. If you’re hurt in a tire blowout crash, knowing how fault works and what evidence to save can make the difference between a denied claim and a full recovery.
Hot weather accelerates tire wear and magnifies small defects. Underinflation causes sidewalls to flex and overheat; overinflation reduces the contact patch and traction; old or recalled tires are more likely to suffer tread separation. Add heavy loads for move-ins or vacations and you have peak risk in late summer. Despite the weather, Georgia is a fault state: drivers must keep vehicles safe for the road. That includes checking pressures, replacing worn or mismatched tires, and pulling over at the first sign of vibration or a bulge. When a driver ignores these basics—or when a tire manufacturer or service shop cuts corners—they can be liable for your injuries.
If a blowout crash occurs, focus on medical care first, then capture proof before the scene clears or debris is swept away. Early documentation is critical because tire evidence degrades quickly.
What to do after a tire blowout crash
- Call 911 and get evaluated. Concussions, neck and back injuries, and fractures are common after high-energy impacts.
- Photograph everything. Take wide and close shots of the tire, wheel, tread pieces on the road, vehicle damage, skid marks, gouges, guardrail strikes, and any cargo.
- Preserve the failed tire and tread. Ask the tow yard not to discard anything; note DOT numbers, brand, model, and size.
- Collect maintenance records. Save receipts for tire rotations, replacements, alignments, and inspections; get shop names and tech notes.
- Identify witnesses and cameras. Nearby businesses, traffic cams, or dash-cams may show the blowout and how drivers reacted.
- Avoid recorded statements. Do not guess about speeds or causes with insurers until you’ve spoken with an attorney.
Liability in tire blowout cases can involve multiple parties. A negligent driver may be responsible for operating on bald or mismatched tires, overloading a vehicle, or continuing to drive after vibration warnings. A tire shop can be at fault for improper installation, mixing incompatible tires, failing to torque lugs, or returning an unsafe tire to service. Manufacturers and distributors may face product liability exposure for design or manufacturing defects, age-related failures, or recalled models that remained in circulation. Trucking companies add another layer: federal rules require inspections and maintenance; skipped checks and worn retreads can point to corporate negligence.
Common injuries following blowouts include whiplash, herniated discs, shoulder and knee trauma from bracing, fractures, and traumatic brain injuries. Beyond emergency care, victims often need imaging, therapy, injections or surgery, and time away from work. A Georgia personal injury claim may include compensation for medical bills and future treatment, lost wages or diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, property damage or total loss, and—in cases of reckless conduct—punitive damages.
Gunn Law Group moves quickly to secure the failed tire, arrange forensic inspection, and map the crash scene before evidence disappears. We obtain shop records, recall data, and vehicle event-data recorder downloads, then work with engineering and medical experts to tie the defect or negligence to your injuries. Our team identifies every available insurance policy—driver, shop, distributor, and commercial carrier—and negotiates aggressively to pursue the maximum recovery Georgia law allows.
If a late-summer tire failure turned your drive into a disaster, don’t let an insurer blame “the heat” and walk away. Call the Big Gunn at 888-BIG-GUNN for a free case review with an Atlanta tire blowout accident lawyer who knows how to preserve evidence and win complex claims.
