NTSB Seeks to Improve Tire Safety Nationwide

The NTSB held a meeting recently to discuss solutions that will alert the public to the need to replace old or defective tires and make it easier for vehicle owners to get the information they need. Each year, about 11,000 car accidents nationwide are caused by bad tires. About 6,000 people, including hundreds in Nebraska, are injured in these crashes, which also claim about 200 lives.

Yet many vehicles are still driving on tires that are old, worn, or cracked - or worse, on tires that have been recalled by the manufacturer for containing a dangerous defect.

The NTSB notes that one reason why vehicles with defective tires stay on the road is that drivers have trouble accessing the information they need to know if their vehicle's tires have been recalled. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) maintains a database that allows vehicle owners to look up their car by VIN to see if any recalls apply to it. Automakers also strive to contact as many vehicle owners as possible when a recall occurs. But no similar system currently exists for vehicle tires. As a result, many recalls occur without tire owners ever knowing that they should take their tires to a dealership for replacement or repair.

At Cullan & Cullan, LLC, our Omaha auto product liability attorneys fight for the needs of every client we represent. If you've suffered catastrophic injuries in a car crash or other accident, contact us today for a free and confidential case evaluation.