You see the dash warning light come on telling you that one of your tires needs air. You can’t feel it as you drive, but you know it’s low. How often do you just keep on going? Do you assume that underinflated tires aren’t really a big deal?
Many people ignore those lights or put off adding air to the tires. This does create a significant risk on the roads, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which cites tire issues as one of the reasons for the high number of annual car accidents. The NHTSA says that these issues are inherently dangerous.
One study found that about one out of every 20 accidents could be traced back to tire problems. This may not sound like many until you look at the sheer amount of traffic accidents every year and realize that one out of 20 still comprises thousands and thousands of accidents. The Department of Transportation says there are more than 5,000,000 accidents annually.
Of course, there are other tire issues, like a lack of tread or a blowout. They factor into those stats. However, the same study claimed that drivers with a tire that was 25 percent under the proper pressure were approximately three times as likely to crash. Clearly, this was a significant issue that put those drivers and others in danger.
Have you been hurt in an accident caused by a driver who did not take proper care of his or her vehicle? If so, you may be able to seek financial compensation for your medical costs, lost wages, and more.
Source: NBC, “Those underinflated tires could kill you,” Mark Duncan, accessed April 06, 2017