5 Injured In Crash On Interstate 75
Car accidents can happen when someone is distracted, Maybe they are not following traffic laws. In some cases, a malfunction can be to blame.
This is what recently happened in Florida, when a tire on an SUV blew out. The driver lost control, causing the vehicle to flip over several times. The accident occurred on the afternoon of August 1 on Interstate 75, near High Springs.
The driver, a 29-year-old woman from Lake City, was driving a Ford SUV with four small children inside. They were traveling south on I-75 when a rear tire blew out.
The driver lost control of the SUV. It flipped several times in the median. A 7-month-old baby was not in a car seat and it was ejected from the vehicle. All five occupants were transported to UF Health Shands, where they were treated for serious injuries.
Accidents Caused by Tire Blowouts
Tire blowouts happen more often than you may think. They cause 11,000 accidents and hundreds of deaths per year.
SUVs are especially susceptible to tire blowouts because they offer a lot of space inside. This means drivers tend to overload them with passengers and cargo. This puts a lot of pressure on the tires and can lead to blowouts.
Besides overloading, there are several factors that can lead to tire blowouts, including the following:
- Tire pressure (overinflation of underinflation by 25%)
- Tire tread depth
- Previous tire damage, such as tread separation
- Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunction or issues
There are also environmental issues that can cause tire failure, such as:
- Wet roads
- Slick surfaces
- Poorly maintained roads and shoulders
- Potholes
- Road damage
Tire blowouts are especially an issue for teen drivers, who may not maintain their vehicles as well as adults. Low treadwear and low tire pressure are the two biggest issues.
To prevent these issues, drivers should be aware of their dashboard lights, particularly the TPMS.
However, studies show that 10% of drivers ignore the TPMS alerts, allowing tire issues to persist. Only just over 40% of drivers regularly checked their tire pressure, and just under 60% could correctly identify the TPMS warning symbol.
You can also do your part by purchasing the proper kind of new tires for your vehicle and driving environment. You should also conduct regular and proper inspection and maintenance of your tires before the TPMS alert comes on.
Contact Us Today
It’s scary to think that tires or brakes can go out on a vehicle at any time, causing the driver to lose control and crash. Because of this, it’s important that drivers keep their cars and trucks well-maintained.
Still, it’s possible for a vehicle to have defective parts or crash due to someone else’s negligence. The Florida car accident attorneys at Meldon Law can determine liability if you have been involved in an injury crash. Get started with a free consultation. Call (800) 373-8000 or fill out the online form. We have four offices to serve you: Gainesville, Ocala, Fort Lauderdale, and Lake City.
Source:
gainesville.com/story/news/2022/08/02/baby-ejected-vehicle-75-crash-alachua-county/10218803002/
