Texas Truck Tire Blowouts: What Drivers Should Know When Driving Near an 18-Wheeler or Big Rig
SERIOUS ATTORNEYS FOR SERIOUS INJURIES
By late June, the asphalt on I-35 through Denton and Dallas can run far hotter than the air above it, and that punishing surface goes to work on your tires. One that sits a few pounds low, or has worn thin, or has simply aged past its prime, can give out without warning once the heat builds inside it.
When a tire lets go at highway speed, the driver can lose control of the vehicle in a heartbeat, and the people nearby pay the price. In 2024, tire-related crashes killed 511 people on American roads. If a blowout hurt you or someone you love this summer, you may have a claim against whoever let that tire reach the road.
What Causes a Tire to Blow Out?
The physics is not complicated. When a tire runs low on air, its sidewalls flex more with every rotation, and that constant flexing generates heat. Pile on a 100-degree afternoon and pavement that climbs far higher, and the temperature inside the tire can pass the point the rubber was built to handle.
Pile on a 100-degree afternoon and pavement that climbs far higher, and the temperature inside the tire can pass the point the rubber was built to handle. Sustained highway speeds add even more heat, which is why so many failures occur on long summer trips. None of this is rare, either.
According to a 2012 NHTSA study (DOT HS 811 617), a vehicle running on tires underinflated by more than 25% below the recommended pressure is three times more likely to experience tire problems during the pre-crash phase compared to vehicles with properly inflated tires.
You may face a totaled car or truck, a hospital stay, and an insurer that wants to blame the road or the weather rather than a person. The truth is usually more specific. Somebody chose to keep rolling on a tire they should have replaced, or sold a tire that left the factory flawed, or skipped the inspection that would have caught the danger. An attorney who handles these cases can find somebody and hold them to account.
How Long Can You Drive Without New Tires?
At 70 miles an hour, a blowout gives you almost no time to think. The truck yanks hard toward the side that blew, and the steering turns heavy and stubborn. Keeping the vehicle straight instead of spinning into the next lane can come down to a second or two of steady nerves that not every driver has.
Federal investigators count roughly 33,000 tire-related crashes involving passenger vehicles in a typical year, with around 19,000 people hurt. Every figure in that count represents somebody whose summer was irrevocably changed on a single stretch of highway.
Who Is At Fault for a Truck Crash Involving a Worn Out Tire?
Liability comes down to why the tire failed. When the owner or driver keeps running a bald or underinflated tire, that neglect can land the fault on them. A built-in defect points somewhere else.
If the tire carried a design or manufacturing flaw out of the factory, the maker can owe you under Texas product liability law, and a shop that mounted the wrong tire or ignored an obvious crack may share the blame, too.
Tire neglect is shockingly common, by the way. Only about 19% of drivers keep their tires properly inflated, which leaves four in five rolling on the very condition that invites a summer blowout.
What Happens When a Truck Tire Falls Off While Driving?
Big rigs raise the stakes. A loaded 18-wheeler that throws a tread on I-35 can scatter debris across three lanes and crush a passenger car beside it.
Federal regulations require commercial motor carriers to maintain tires in a safe operating condition. Under FMCSA rules (49 CFR §393.75), carriers must ensure tires show no tread or sidewall separation, no exposed cords, and meet minimum tread depth requirements; at least 4/32 of an inch on front steering axle tires and 2/32 of an inch on all other axle tires.
When a trucking company stretches a tire beyond its service life to save money, and a blowout follows, that choice can make the company itself liable, not just the driver. These cases require quick work, since skid marks fade and the ruined tire can vanish before anyone can preserve it.
What To Do Right After a Tire Blowout
The first hours after a truck tire blowout often decide whether the full story ever surfaces, so a little presence of mind goes a long way. Your health comes first. Even aches that feel minor are worth a doctor’s look, since internal injuries have a way of staying quiet until they turn serious.
- If you can do it safely, set the blown tire and its wheel aside rather than letting them get tossed, because that ruined rubber is frequently the heart of a defect or neglect case.
- Snap photos of the debris, the skid marks, and the damage to the cars before a tow truck hauls everything off and the scene resets.
- When an insurer calls for a recorded statement, you are allowed to wait until a lawyer has walked through the details with you.
- Evidence slips away fast in the days after a crash, so moving early gives you the firmest footing.
No family should have to piece together the aftereffects of a serious car crash involving a truck on their own. If you were recently involved in a Texas truck accident and suffered serious injuries like back and spinal cord injuries, head trauma, internal organ damage, broken bones and fractures, or a burn, contact our injury attorneys to learn more about your options.
FAQs
What Is the Average Settlement for a Truck Accident in Texas?
Every truck accident settlement in Texas depends on the injuries involved, who is found responsible, and how strong the evidence is, so there is no single “average” number that applies to every case. Claims involving serious injuries, lost income, or a defective part like a failed tire tend to be valued far higher than a routine fender-bender. An attorney can review your medical bills, lost wages, and the facts of the crash to give you a realistic range for your specific situation.
How Long Does a Semi-Truck Accident Settlement Take?
Timelines vary widely based on how clear liability is, the severity of the injuries, and whether the trucking company’s insurer is willing to negotiate in good faith. Straightforward claims can sometimes be resolved in a matter of months, while cases involving disputed fault, serious injuries, or litigation can take a year or more. Preserving evidence quickly, such as the failed tire itself, often helps move a claim forward faster.
Need Help After an 18-Wheeler or Big Rig Crash Involving a Tire Blowout? Contact Our Top-Rated Dallas & Denton Truck Accident Attorneys Today
A tire failure you did not cause can still upend your North Texas (Denton, Dallas-Fort Worth, and beyond) summer with surgeries, missed work, and bills that keep arriving. You should not take on the tire maker or a trucking company by yourself.
Our team digs into what made the tire come apart, preserves the evidence before it disappears, and goes after every party responsible. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500, serving Denton, Dallas, and the surrounding North Texas area, for a free consultation, and let us carry the legal load while you heal.
Attorney Responsible: John “Tony” Ross
