What should I do if I have a tire blowout while Im driving? Ocala accident attorney gives safety advice.

 

A: This is an excellent question because a car tire blows out in less than one quarter of a second, meaning that there is no warning and very little time to react.  Your smooth ride suddenly becomes a struggle to remain in control of your car and avoid an accident.  Drivers will often jerk the wheel and slam on the brakes, making it even more difficult to control the car.  That is why it is so important to know how to handle a blown tire situation when you are driving.

To start, it is critical to mention that preparation ahead of time is the key.  Check your tires periodically for sufficient traction: you should be able to fit a car key into the tire groove.  Check your tires for sufficient air pressure by referring to the car manual for the correct air level.  These precautionary measures will help prevent a flat tire in the first place.  Also, keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times while driving so that you can maintain control at a second’s notice.

How To Handle A Tire Blowout:

1. Continue your rate of speed immediately after the blowout.   It is important to preserve your car’s forward momentum because you will have lost one quarter of your car’s traction from the blowout.

2. Gently counter-steer to offset pulling by the blown tire.  This should decrease the chances of drifting into another lane or oncoming traffic and help you avoid a head-on collision.

3. Once the car stabilizes, begin to slow down and carefully pull over to the side of the road.  From there you can collect yourself and contact a tow truck operator.

4. Always drive a safe distance behind the car or truck ahead of you.  This way, you can see foreign objects in the road, such as old tire treads, many of which are quite large and dangerous.

For more information, please see:

Tire Blow-out Litigation – Gainesville Accident Attorney Helps You Understand

When was the last time you checked your tires?




I am local Accident Attorney, Jeffrey Meldon, and I strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of and/or recovery from a serious accident. 

My Office and I take pride in our work, and the results we get for our clients.  

The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates is a regional law firm that is located in Gainesville, Florida. We are personal injury lawyers, litigators and trial lawyers that have been working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 37 years throughout North Florida and all over Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in their practice as accident attorneys.
We have been proudly representing injured accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Daytona Beach, Dunnellon, Palatka, The Villages, and Alachua County, Marion County, Columbia County, Citrus County, Volusia County, Sumter County, Putnam County  and the entire North and Central Florida since 1971.
For more information on how we can help you, or with any other question you may have, feel free to contact my Office at 1 800 373 8000.