Dangers of Under-Inflated Tires

All automobile tires are equipped with a rating that shows exactly how much the tires need to have in them. Unfortunately, a recent study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that a surprisingly large number of vehicles have inadequate tire pressure.

Under-inflated tires are an environmental hazard whenever they occur. When a tire is not inflated to the correct point and is in fact under-inflated, the tires wear out more quickly. This requires the owner or driver to replace the tires more frequently, causing not only a hardship to the driver’s wallet but also to the businesses that handle old tires. Another problem associated with under-inflated tires is lower gas mileage.

While the risks to the environment are negative, those to the driver and other cars on the road can be even more serious. Tires need to be inflated properly and not under-inflated so that all of the driver’s safety systems work properly. When tires are under-inflated, they contribute to both blow-outs and tire separations.

A tire blow-out is a hazard not only to the car with the now missing tire but also to other drivers. When the tire blows out, it is possible for the driver to lose control of his or her vehicle and make contact with another car or a solid object. At the same time, depending on the severity of the blow-out, the pieces of the tire can cause other drivers to swerve suddenly and get into accidents.

Overall, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that thousands of injuries could be prevented yearly if people would inflate their tires to the correct pressure.

Contact an Appleton Car Accident Injury Lawyer

If you were injured in an accident due to another driver’s negligent tire maintenance, contact an Appleton personal injury lawyer from Habush Habush & Rottier at 1-800-242-2874.