Tire Tread Separation Causes San Diego SUV Rollover Accident
Officials say a tire defect may have caused a San Diego car accident, which killed two people on the 15 Freeway the evening of November 9, 2009. According to a 10news report, the 2002 Chevy Trailblazer SUV driver by 40-year-old Ramon Arciniega was going north near Deer Springs Road in Escondido when the tread separated from the left rear tire causing Arciniega to lose control of the SUV. The Trailblazer crossed over onto the right shoulder and rolled down an embankment flipping several times before it came to rest on its roof. Arciniega and a passenger -- 52-year-old Evangelina Quiroz – were taken to an area hospital. Two other passengers – both said to be from Mexico – were fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been released.
My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved these two deceased victims. I also sympathize with Arciniega and Quiroz who were apparently seriously injured in this rollover car crash. I wish them the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I hope their injuries were not catastrophic. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.
Rollover Accidents Are Catastrophic
Rollover accidents tend to be deadly due to the sheer intensity and violence involved in the vehicle striking the ground often, repeatedly. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are at least 10,000 fatal rollover accidents in the United States each year. That number accounts for nearly 25 percent of all traffic accident deaths in the country.
If the news report is accurate, alcohol or drugs did not play a part in this fatal car accident. The cause of this tragic rollover crash seems to be a vehicle defect, tire tread separation, which could be the result of a defective tire. If a tire tread separation is proved to be the result of a manufacturing or design defect, then the victims' family would have a claim against the tire manufacturer for compensation toward their damages. If I was representing these victims or their families, I would be looking for evidence to support a claim against General Motors, the maker of the Chevy SUV. In my opinion, a normally skilled driver should be able to handle a SUV at highway speeds when a tire blows out. I do not believe that this SUV meets that standard.
Chevy Trailblazer Roof Crush Issues
Also, Chevy Trailblazer SUVs, especially model years 2002 to 2005, were rated poorly in a recent roof crush study performed by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety. The Trailblazer along with the Chevy Blazer and the Ford Explorer ranked poorly in this study, which means that the roofs on these SUVs crumple on impact crushing the vehicle's occupants causing traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and paralysis. In cases where a an auto product defect is suspected, the vehicle and in this case the tire, should be preserved, unaltered, so they can be examined thoroughly by an expert for product defects or malfunctions. A reputed San Diego personal injury lawyer who has successfully handled auto product liability claims against large auto makers such as Ford or General Motors will be able to help the victims recover fair compensation for their injuries, damages or loss. Of course, no amount of compensation is adequate to soothe these victims' pain or replace what they have lost. But, by holding wrongdoers accountable for such negligence that causes injury to consumers, we encourage auto manufacturers to take responsibility and build safer vehicles.
The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.
