Goodyear Tire Lawsuits
Goodyear tires have been on the road ever since the first rickety “horseless carriages” appeared in the early 1900s. Today’s automobiles are obviously much more sophisticated than those early models. But in many ways, the tires on these vehicles have not changed very much at all. That consistency has been the hallmark of Goodyear tires. Unfortunately, in many cases, it has also been their downfall.
A defective product case against a powerful multinational corporation like Goodyear is an extensive undertaking. Such a claim requires massive resources and the latest technological tools. At Halpern, Santos & Pinkert, our tire defect attorneys have these tools and resources. We also exercise old-fashioned values, like hard work on our cases and open communication with our clients. This combination usually produces results which exceed our clients’ expectations.
Your Claim for Relief
Aside from driver impairment, defective tires are one of the leading causes of car crashes in Florida. Defective tires usually cause sudden blowouts and loss-of-control collisions. When a vehicle careens over several lanes of traffic, the collision usually results in serious injuries, like:
- Head Injuries: Many people drive large SUVs and pickup trucks. These vehicles have large amounts of steel that offer protection against trauma injuries. But many head injuries, like whiplash, are motion-related and not impact-related. So, no matter how much padding or restraints these vehicles have, a serious head injury is almost inevitable.
- Broken Bones: Steel cage construction sometimes causes more injuries than it prevents. The weight often crushes bones instead of merely breaking them. So, doctors must often use metal pins and screws during corrective surgery and the victims must usually endure long-term physical therapy after the injury heals.
- Internal Injuries: These same forces cause internal organs to rub against each other. The abrasions cause serious blood loss. This blood loss often goes unabated for quite some time, because first responders are preoccupied with external trauma injuries.
Due to the serious nature of these injuries, defective tire crash victims are usually entitled to significant compensation.
To obtain these damages, victim/plaintiffs usually only must prove cause. Manufacturers are strictly liable for defective product injuries. It does not matter how careful, or how careless, the defendant was.
Some Defective Product Defenses
Although manufacturers are strictly liable for damages, there are some defenses in these cases. Company lawyers try to use these legal loopholes to reduce or deny compensation.
Product misuse is one such defense. In the court of public opinion, tire manufacturers often blame victims for exceeding weight loads and other such alleged product misuse. But in a court of law, the product misuse defense is much different. Generally, defendants must establish gross product misuse, such as using a lawn mower to trim ivy on a brick wall.
Lack of causation is another defense. Company lawyers claim that something else, such as driver impairment, caused the crash. But the defendant has the burden of proof on this issues and must normally establish facts by a preponderance of the evidence. Usually, such evidence does simply not exist.
Reach Out to Hard-Hitting Attorneys
Defective tire crashes usually cause serious injuries. For a free consultation with an experienced tire defect attorney, contact Halpern, Santos & Pinkert, P.A. Attorneys can connect victims with doctors, even if they have no insurance or money.
