When a tire fails before or during a crash, the tire, wheel, vehicle, maintenance history, pressure information, repair records, photographs, and recall information can be important to preserve before the condition is changed.

If safe, photograph the vehicle and tire condition before towing, disposal, remounting, repair, or replacement. Keep the tire and wheel when possible, as well as tire identification information, purchase and installation records, rotation or alignment records, service invoices, vehicle data, crash report, tow documents, photographs, video, and witness details.

Check official safety information without assuming the cause

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides tire-safety information and a recall lookup. A recall notice, a worn tire, a road hazard, a service record, or a crash report alone does not establish why a failure occurred or who is responsible. Preserve the original record and verify the vehicle identification number, tire model, date, and applicable recall details.

North Carolina’s Products Liability Act defines product-liability actions and states that strict liability in tort does not apply to them in North Carolina. The facts, product condition, maintenance, warnings, causation, and current law require record-specific review.

Rosensteel Fleishman Car Accident & Injury Lawyers provides general information about discussing a North Carolina injury matter involving a tire failure.

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