A California auto accident involving an Oroville police officer was caused by tire tread separation, according to a ChicoER.com story. Reportedly, the right rear tire of the officer’s vehicle separated from the rim, which caused the vehicle to veer to the right and head towards the median. The officer’s vehicle hit a light pole after spinning out of control on Highway 70. No other vehicles were involved in the crash and the officer and his canine did not sustain injury.
A California Highway Patrol spokesman stated that it is not atypical for a tire to separate due to a defect or another non-visible cause. The OPD Police Chief asserted concern over why the tire separated in the first place and wants the cause determined so that similar incidents do not happen in the future.
Comparable to other professional motor vehicles, tires on police vehicles are required to be frequently checked and properly repaired when necessary. Tire maintenance is one of many necessary steps to help ensure that a vehicle is safe to take to the road and that tire problems will not lead to an accident. While the police chief stated that the tires on police vehicles get replaced before they arrive at half the wear mark recommended for regular vehicle replacements, it is possible that either poor tire maintenance or a tire defect caused the tire disintegration that led to the Oroville crash.
Auto accidents involving tire tread separation can lead to serious injury or even death. When tires separate due to a tire manufacturing defect or design flaw, or because of an incorrectly repaired tire, injured victims or family members of wrongful death victims can seek compensation to help offset associated expenses, losses, and damages. The Los Angeles tire defect attorneys at Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP have extensive experience in tire defect litigation involving tire tread separation, tire belt separation, tire failure and other tire-related defects. If you or someone you care about has been injured in an auto accident that you believe was caused by a defective tire, contact us today for a free consultation by calling 877-800-1700.