Five people were burned to death after the SUV that they were riding in fell down a steep embankment on I-5 South in Mission Viejo and exploded into flames. Witnesses think that the driver may have lost control of the vehicle because a tire blew out.
The SUV, a Chevrolet Tracker, reportedly rolled over at least twice before crashing through a fence, striking a tree, and landing on its roof behind the El Paseo shopping center. Police say the bodies of the victim were burned beyond recognition.
Tire Blowout
Tire blowouts are one of the common cause of Orange County, California rollover crashes. A tire blow out might happen if a tire is defective or worn out.
Many tire blowouts that happen could have been prevented if only the tire manufacturer had not created a defective tire or a maintenance shop did not improperly inspect a tire or make a mistake by mismatching tires. SUV's are more likely to rollover during a tire blowout.
The hot weather during the summertime can increase the chances of a tire blowout becoming happening. Excessive heat on the hot roads, combined with braking often, driving at high speeds, friction, and too much cornering can cause the tire to heat up.
Yesterday, another one-car accident--this one, an eyewitness believes was caused by tire tread separation--injured 12 people who were riding in an SUV designed to carry 9 people. Three of the victims were children.
While tire manufacturers, auto repair shows, tire stores, and tire maintenance repair workers must make sure that they don't make, sell, or install defective tires, the driver of the vehicle also needs to make sure that he or she is taking steps to decrease the chances of a tire blow out so that other people don't get hurt.
Drivers need to check to make sure there is enough air pressure in their tires and ensure that there aren't any thread or sidewall cracks. A good way to do this is to make sure that your vehicle is up-to-date on regular maintenance appointments.
Tire blowouts, defective air bags, faulty seatbelt systems, and SUV rollover accidents are just some of the kinds of auto products liability cases that our Orange County, California personal injury law firm handles.
5 killed in single-vehicle accident in Orange County, LA TImes, August 4, 2009
Woman Dead, 11 Others Injured After Possible Tire Blowout, Las Vegas Now, August 3, 2009
Related Web Resources:
Extreme Heat Can Cause Tire Blowouts, StarTribune, June 27, 2009
Contact Howard, Nassiri LLP today to discuss your Mission Viejo, California car accident case.
