Tire Blowout Statistics and Who’s Liable When One Causes a Crash

Updated September 2, 2026

Originally published November 19, 2019

Tire failure causes an estimated 11,000 crashes every year in the United States, and in 2024 alone, 511 people died in tire-related crashes. A blowout at highway speed can send a vehicle into a spin or a rollover before the driver has any real chance to react — and depending on why the tire failed, liability can fall on the driver, a trucking company, a repair shop, or the tire manufacturer itself.

Why Tire Blowouts Happen

Underinflation is the single biggest preventable factor. Research shows only about 19% of consumers keep their tires properly inflated, and an underinflated tire runs hotter, wears unevenly, and is significantly more likely to fail catastrophically at highway speed. In 2024 and 2025 combined, tire problems were the number one reason commercial trucks were cited and pulled out of service — more than 250,000 vehicles were flagged, and roughly 84% of those citations were for flat, leaky, or underinflated tires.

Other common causes include tire age (rubber degrades even with good tread), manufacturing defects, improper repairs, overloading a vehicle beyond its tire rating, and road hazards like potholes or debris.

Who Can Be Held Liable for a Tire Blowout Crash

The Driver

If a driver ignored visible warning signs — a tire pressure warning light, visible wear, or a known slow leak — they can be held liable for failing to maintain their vehicle in safe operating condition.

A Trucking Company or Fleet Operator

Commercial carriers are required to inspect tires as part of routine vehicle maintenance. A company that skips inspections or ignores maintenance logs showing a known problem can be held directly liable, separate from the driver.

A Tire Manufacturer or Retailer

If the tire failed due to a manufacturing defect, improper mounting, or a defective repair (like an improperly patched puncture), a product liability claim may apply against the manufacturer, installer, or repair shop — regardless of how carefully the driver maintained the vehicle.

A Government Entity

If road debris, potholes, or poor roadway maintenance caused the blowout, a claim against the public entity responsible for that roadway may be possible, though these claims come with short filing deadlines.

What Evidence Matters in a Tire Blowout Case

• The failed tire itself — preserved, not discarded, since physical inspection can reveal defect vs. wear vs. road hazard
• Maintenance records, especially for commercial vehicles
• Tire age and manufacturing date (found on the sidewall)
• Photos of tread wear and the failure point
• Vehicle event data recorder information showing speed and driver response

The single biggest mistake people make after a blowout crash is letting the vehicle — and the tire — get scrapped or repaired before it’s inspected. Once that evidence is gone, it’s far harder to prove what actually caused the failure.

What to Do After a Tire Blowout Accident

• Call 911 and get medical attention, since blowout crashes often involve rollovers or high-speed spins with serious injury potential.
• Don’t let the vehicle be towed to a scrapyard or repaired before the tire and vehicle are inspected.
• Photograph the tire, the tread, and the roadway if you’re able to safely do so.
• Get the tire’s DOT code (on the sidewall) if possible — it identifies the manufacturer, plant, and manufacture date.
• Talk to an attorney before the evidence disappears. These cases move fast, and the physical tire is often the single most important piece of evidence.

How We Handle Tire Blowout Cases

These cases often require bringing in an accident reconstructionist or tire failure expert to determine whether the blowout was caused by a defect, neglected maintenance, or a road hazard — each of which points to a different defendant. Our team has recovered nearly $250 million for clients across roughly 15,000 cases, and we move quickly to preserve the physical evidence these cases depend on.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many crashes are caused by tire failure each year?

NHTSA estimates roughly 11,000 crashes annually are tied to tire failure, and 511 people died in tire-related crashes in 2024 alone.

Who is liable if a tire blows out and causes a crash?

It depends on the cause — potential defendants include the driver (if they ignored warning signs), a trucking company (for poor maintenance), the tire manufacturer or installer (for a defect), or a government entity (for road hazards).

What should I do with the failed tire after a blowout accident?

Preserve it. Don’t let it be discarded, repaired, or scrapped before it’s inspected — it’s often the key piece of evidence showing what actually caused the failure.

Can underinflation make a tire manufacturer not liable?

Not automatically, but it can shift more responsibility to the driver or fleet operator if a proper inspection would have caught the problem. Determining the actual cause requires expert analysis of the failed tire.

Hurt in a Tire Blowout Accident? Don’t Let the Evidence Disappear.

Call Batta Fulkerson Law Group right away — we can help preserve the evidence that determines who’s actually responsible. Schedule your free consultation. No fees unless we win.