Houston Car Accident Lawyer Blog

One of the most important safety features of a car is its tires. When you think about it - they are the only part of your vehicle that is supposed to make contact with the roadway. Moreover, many other parts of the car are at the mercy of tires including the brakes and steering system.

When considered in those terms the value of that rubber increases dramatically! Please keep the following information in mind the next time you go shopping to replace your worn out wheels.

*Although it is often a consumer's first reaction to make a purchase based on price - when you think about the fact that a driver - and even his or her family's - life may hang in the balance then - well - cost should be a secondary consideration. So when you go out shopping for tires think about them along the lines of their long-term benefits. Too, one should be able to expect that the more expensive tires will outlast a cheaper one - and therefore be a smarter purchase in the end.

*Make sure that the tires you purchase are the type that have been recommended for your vehicle. Don't be tempted to be oversize tires - they can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle in certain conditions.

*Don't buy retreads. Again, they may sound like a good deal - and may even come with some guarantees - but when a tire blows and you're driving even 55 miles an hour that guarantee will not help you get off the road safely.

And now - a few final tips - check the tire pressure frequently under-inflation is a leading cause of tire failure.

Continue reading "Tire Care for Safety" »

One of the most important but under looked safety features on your car or your tires. It is critically important that you care for them to keep your family safe.

There are several issues that you should be aware of regarding the care of your tires. The first is proper inflation. If you're tires are overinflated or underinflated it can not only affect the life of the tires but also can lead to tire failure.

Another factor that is often overlooked is the age of the tire. Most manufacturers now recommend at most a six-year life of a tire. Where people get in trouble on the age of tires is either when a car has not been used much or when the tire was a spare tire. They may look like they have plenty of tread but with older tires the rubber does not hold together and the results can be disastrous.

There are is a simple way to check the age of any tire that you are unsure. A DOT number is located on the outside wall of the tire. The last four digits will be numbers and the first two numbers are the week the tires made in the last two are the year-so 5107 means made in the 51st week of 2007.

Check the tire for recommended pressure and maintain it at that level also check the age of the tire to avoid tire failure and keep yourself and your family safe.

Continue reading " Tire Care Tips" »

In our last article on being safe in your car we began a conversation about tire safety.

With statistics placing the number of deaths due to inappropriate tire care at about four hundred persons a year, a review of proper tire care is a timely topic indeed.

Adequate tire pressure is the second most important obligation for drivers in relation to tire safety.

Unfortunately, under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure and improper air pressure can cause a tire to blow out or fail. Consider the following information gleaned from our resources regarding air pressure in tires:

"Air Pressure: Tire pressure is measured in pounds per square inch, or psi. Tires lose air through the process of permeation. Changes in outdoor temperature can affect the rate at which a tire loses air. Typically, a tire loses one pound to two pounds of pressure per month, and even more in warm weather".

To help avoid under inflation of tires have the air pressure checked professionally at least once a month. This can be done at your dealership or a reputable service station.
Another method is to or buy a good air pressure gauge and carry it in your car.

Now I realize there are many car buffs out there who pride themselves on caring for their own automobiles and I would never discourage that endeavor. But I would advance the notion that for those of us less mechanically inclined there are a number of automobile service companies that employ trained experts whose job is to detect defects in all areas of the automobile - including tires - and a regular check-up is the most prudent course of action for car owners.

Just remember, your tires keep you rolling and the safety of you and your passengers depend on them so start a tire inspection safety routine.

Continue reading "Tire Safety Tips Part 2" »

Arguably one of the most important safety considerations in maintaining a car is proper care of the tires.

In fact, it is so crucial we will spend the next two blogs reviewing the topic. Statistics support the premise that tire safety requires the serious attention of drivers.

The National Traffic Safety Administration estimates tire failures and blowouts contribute to 414 deaths and 10,275 non-fatal injuries each year in the U.S. (for more information refer to the website cited at the end of this blog).

The first and simplest step in tire care begins with a regular and quick visual examination of tires to ensure there is adequate tread. This is as simple as walking around the car and eyeballing the tires for obvious cuts and worn spots. Any defects that are visible on the tires require the immediate attention of the automobile owner
.
According to our references "you can check your tires for proper tread by taking a penny and pinching Lincoln's body between your thumb and forefinger. Put Lincoln's head in a groove on the tread. If any part of Lincoln's head is obscured by the tread, the tire has good tread. If you can see above his head, visit the dealership of your choice to purchase new tires".

One final word on the topic of tire tread - although tire sales persons may advance the notion that retreaded tires are safe as well as economical - avoid this type of purchase.

Don't be penny wise and dollar foolish - remember always, safety first and that many car accidents are caused by a tire blowout. We will continue our discussion on tire safety in the next blog.

Continue reading "Tire Safety Tips" »

A family on their way to Mexico for a family vacation was involved in a fatal auto accident, which tore the family apart. A woman and a11-year-old child died in the one car accident.

According to reports, the pickup truck went out of control after the left rear tire separated from their family's truck. Tire failure is particularly dangerous when the tire blowout happens on a rear tire.

Rear tire failure often leads to rollovers and serious injury or wrongful death auto accidents.

Drivers frequently lose control after a rear tire blowout because the vehicle tends to pull hard to the side of the tire failure.

In effect, one tire is rolling perfectly and creates little friction with the road and the other failed tire is grabbing the road and not rolling, causing the vehicle to pull toward the side of the tire failure.

If your tire goes flat suddenly experts recommend you do the following to avoid an auto accident:

• Hold the steering wheel tightly and steer straight ahead.
• Slow down gradually. Take your foot off the gas pedal slowly, but do not hit the brakes.
• Let the car slow to a stop, completely off the road.
• Apply the brakes when the car is almost stopped.

A fatal car accident happened Monday morning when a Ford Explorer and a blowout causing it to roll and strike a concrete barrier. The auto accident happened on Highway 59 outside of Houston Texas.

A 30-year-old woman lost her life in the rollover accident. Her mother and four children survived the car accident. The deceased's are mother was taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital at the Woodlands for treatment.

Fortunately for children in the vehicle sustained little or no injury. Apparently, according to reports seatbelt use is an issue in the ongoing investigation.

This terrible car accident is one that we see frequently when a driver is faced with the emergency situation of a blowout. The danger of rolling is increased when the tire that fails is on the rear of the vehicle, making the vehicle much harder to control.

Many times with tire blowouts the auto accident leads to fatal consequences.

Continue reading "Blowout causes fatal car accident in Splendora" »