The summer months – though often overshadowed by winter – can mean hazardous times for tires. Super hot pavement, extra driving miles for vacations, and even high speeds enjoyed on open roads are all risk factors for tire-related accidents.

At Beattie Law Firm, we want you to travel safe. Part of making sure you’re doing everything you can to stay that way is to be diligent in maintaining your car’s optimal tire conditions.

Did you know that if you have a tire-related crash and the fault is something you could have controlled with regular maintenance, you could be liable? The fact is that no matter how smart our cars get, our tires still need hands-on attention.

Here are some tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for making sure your tires are ready to get you safely from Point A to Point B:

• Know and maintain the appropriate tire pressure for your tires (find the information in your owner’s manual).
• Keep a tire pressure gauge on hand and check for under-inflation (tires can lose as much as one PSI a month, so be on guard).
• Listen when your car talks to you (use your car’s tire pressure monitoring system if you have one and take action quickly).
• Check the treads (follow the penny test: put a penny in the tread of the tires with Lincoln’s head upside down; you shouldn’t be able to see the top of Lincoln’s head).

The flip side of a tire-related accident whose blame falls on the shoulders of the operator is a tire-related accident due to defective tires. In this case, the driver may be blameless. Unfortunately, the repercussions of this type of accident can be just as debilitating or long-lasting.

If you or someone you know is a victim of this type of failure in manufacturing or tire design, please contact us. Beattie Law Firm specializes in helping victims who, through no fault of their own, are facing difficulties in result of a tire-related accident.

Contact Beattie Law Firm for a free consultation with an attorney at 515-263-1000 or write a message here.