What To Do If You Have A Tire Blowout While Driving
Nobody expects to have a tire blowout on them while they are driving, whether you are driving slowly on a backroad or full speed on a highway. The experience can be terrifying, and in many cases is dangerous both for the passengers of the vehicle that had the blowout, as well as all other cars around them that may be hit with debris or struck by a vehicle as it loses control. The following steps are some important things to remember if you have a tire blowout in order to keep yourself and your passengers safe from harm.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a tire blowout that you are not at fault for, then you have a right to compensation from the at-fault party or their representative insurance policy. If someone else caused the blowout, then you should not have to take on the financial burden of someone else’s dangerous or negligent behavior, and the team of personal injury attorneys at Fasig | Brooks is happy to help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Tips For Handling a Blown-Out Tire
The following tips are meant to give you a general idea of how you can stay safe on the road, and mitigate the risks that come with a blowout in your vehicle. Knowing how to handle these dangerous situations safely can keep you, your passengers, and everyone else on the road safe as you get out of the road and safely to a shoulder or breakdown lane.
Know The Ways To Identify a Blowout
First of all, how can you know whether or not your tire just blew out? Knowing how to recognize a blowout is the first step to handling it properly, so it is important that you keep these indications in mind while you are on the road:
- A loud boom or bang as the tire blows out, followed by the sound of air rushing from the tire, and finally the loose rubber of the tire flapping
- A rapid slowing of your vehicle, as if you suddenly hit a large patch of mud on one side of the vehicle
- Feeling your car being pulled sharply to the left or right, depending on which tire blew out
Know-How To Drive Through a Blowout
A driver’s reactions to a blowout can either avoid a collision or may directly result in an accident depending on whether or not they know how to handle this scary surprise. Use the following tips to get your vehicle out of traffic and to the side of the road so that you safely wait for a towing company.
- Keep both hands firmly on the wheel to counteract the strong pulling
- Don’t swerve in one direction or the other in response to the pulling
- Don’t slam on your brakes or come skidding to a stop
- Reduce your speed gradually while you make a plan to get off of the road
- Use your turn signals to indicate the direction you will be moving off of the road
- Come to a complete stop at the side of the road
- Put out emergency beacons such as roadside flares or cones to alert oncoming traffic
Know What To Do After a Tire Blowout
Once you have safely navigated your vehicle to the side of the road, take a moment to collect yourself and let your adrenaline subside. This is a scary experience to go through, and it is important that you allow yourself to settle down a bit. Remember that no matter how frustrating it is to have a tire blow out, avoiding an accident and serious injury is the most important thing to focus on. 738 people were killed due to tire blowouts in 2017, and by safely handling your own blowout you are not part of this statistic.
- Put out emergency beacons to avoid causing an accident
- Call a tow company and inform them of your blowout
- Stay safely in your vehicle until someone arrives to help
Staying safe is your top priority, and making sure that you do your part to keep everyone else on the road is equally important. By following these steps, you are doing your part to contribute to safe travel for everyone. If you are in an accident that someone else caused due to a tire blowout, contact our firm now for your free initial consultation and learn how we can help you get the compensation that you deserve.
