NHTSA investigates flaw in Goodyear tires and car accidents

Louisianans place immense trust in their vehicles. They trust those who manufacture every part. One of the fundamental parts of any motor vehicle is the tires. If there is a problem with the way the tires are made, people can be placed in danger of being in a car accident and suffering severe injuries and death. When there is a spate of accidents with a specific type of tire, researchers will examine the situation and seek common denominators. This is especially egregious if companies are not forthcoming with this information to help those who are in jeopardy be aware of the potential dangers. Such is the case with a certain kind of Goodyear tire that is used on motorhomes.

According to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there might have been up to 95 injuries and fatalities because of Goodyear tires that were sold from 1996 to 2003 and placed on motorhomes. These issues have come up in the past 20 years.

Settlement agreements that were previously sealed were unsealed by a judge in Arizona. The tires were initially designed for delivery vehicles and were not meant to be used on vehicles that traveled at higher speeds on freeways. The lawsuit asserted that the company had sold these tires and knew that there was an issue, but nonetheless, concealed the problem.

Goodyear manufactured an estimated 160,000 of these tires. The investigation centers on around one-quarter of those. Allegations related to these tires and injuries and deaths came to 38 between 1998 and 2002. There were 57 from 2003 to 2015. The company informed the government of nine claims with 13 injuries and one fatality. A separate case from 2012 resulted in a judge saying that Goodyear tried to hide these problems with the G159 tires by settling cases. The company says that it is cooperating fully with the investigation by the NHTSA.

With tire problems that have been allegedly strategically concealed by companies to shield themselves from legal cases, people might not know that injuries they suffered or loved ones they lost in a crash might have been because of a faulty part in their vehicle. Whether the accident occurred in a motorhome or not, it is important to have a full crash reconstruction and investigation to determine if these tires were a factor. A legal professional with experience in car accidents can help with examining the case and pursuing a legal filing.

Source: thedetroitbureau.com, “Goodyear Tire Defect Linked to as Many as 95 Motorhome Deaths and Injuries,” Paul A. Eisenstein, April 6, 2018