Pirelli Defective Tire Lawsuits
Between the period of 2001 and 2009, there were a number of recalls issued for Pirelli tires. The problem was related to the method by which the steel belts that attach the treads to the body of the tire were bonded together. It takes a sophisticated degree of engineering in order to properly bond steel to rubber, and the process is fraught with difficulties. Nonetheless, the vast majority of tires pass safety standards and operate without a serious problem. In at least three different instances, Pirelli tires did not.
June 2001: Pirelli Recalls Desert Dogs and LT245/75R16 Tires
In 2001, Pirelli recalled two different sets of tires citing “variability in component adhesion during production.” In plain English, the treads were not properly bonded to the body of the tire and this caused tread chunking and eventual failure. When the treads fail at high speeds, the potential for serious injury and dead is very high. The tire will literally blow out causing the driver to lose control of the car. Often, this results in the car rolling over. Deaths can and do arise out of these sorts of accidents.
The recall began in 2000 when a Brooklyn father of two was left a quadriplegic after a Pirelli tire blew out on his car. He lost control of the vehicle as the tire blew out causing the car to roll over. Ten weeks later, he died. His wife filed a lawsuit against the tire maker.
April 2008: Pirelli Recalls Load Range E Tires
These tires were mainly produced in 2005 and 2006 in a Brazilian facility. Over 8000 of the tires were recalled after it was determined that they suffered tread separations under “adverse conditions” and higher than usual operating temperatures. According to a statement released by the company, the recall was voluntary and there were no injury lawsuits related to the tires.
September 2009: Pirelli Recalls P Zero Corsa Tires
Pirelli issued a recall of its P Zero Corsa tires in 2009 when it was discovered that the tires were more likely to suffer tread separations. Pirelli cited problems with the adhesion process as a prime reason for initiating the recall.
What to Do If You Believe Your Tire is Responsible for Your Accident
If a tire failure is to blame for an accident, you will need a personal injury lawyer who understands how these cases are tried. Product liability lawsuits involving tires are quite complex. They are much different from other kinds of personal injury lawsuits. Nonetheless, the burden of proof is often lower in product liability suits than it is in other kinds of tort cases.
In a product liability suit, a plaintiff need only show that the actual or proximate cause of their injuries was the defective product. In other words, you don’t have to prove negligence. You just need to show that the product was responsible for your injuries.
If you’ve been injured by a defective tire or lost someone you love in an accident caused by a defective tire, give the defective tire attorneys at Halpern, Santos & Pinkert a call or contact us online and we will help you hold the manufacturer responsible.
