Can Driving on Worn-Out Tires Cause a Car Accident in Tennessee?

Most states, including Tennessee, have a required tread depth for tires on a motor vehicle. This is because the tread is what makes a car able to travel safely along the roadways. When ice coats the pavement, adequate tread depth is what can prevent cars from sliding around. Tires can wear out after several years of use and could eventually “burst” if the tread is completely worn away. When this happens, cars can spin out of control and possibly collide with another vehicle, resulting in personal injuries for any of the occupants.

Tire Tread Depth

On average, a tire can last three or four years before needing to be replaced. Tennessee law states that tire tread depth needs to be at least 4/32 inches deep for front tires and 2/32 inches deep for back tires. Other factors that can affect a tire's safety and performance include:

• Improper air pressure

• Punctures/slits/holes in the tire 

• Bent rims

• Tread separation

• Mismatched tire sizes

• Cut or cracked valve stems

An easy way to check tread depth is to use a penny. Simply insert the penny with Abraham Lincoln’s head into one of the treads in the tire. If a person can see all of Lincoln’s head when the penny is as far as it can go inward, then it is time to replace the tires.

Proving Negligence After a Car Accident

If someone drives on tires knowing the tread depth is too low, and an accident occurs, the driver can face negligence charges. This can lead to the driver being required to pay monetary compensation to the injured parties. Tennessee uses a comparative negligence law in which both parties are investigated to find out who caused the car accident. They are both given a percentage of the blame, and whoever’s percentage is higher could be ordered to pay compensation for any of the following:

• Car damages

• Medical bills

• Loss of wages

• Wrongful death

Victims of negligence must be able to prove that the offender was acting negligently. That means they must provide evidence that the other driver knew his or her tires needed to be changed, but drove on them anyway, disregarding his or her own safety as well as that of other motorists on the road.

Contact a Jacksboro, TN Car Accident Attorney

Victims of auto accidents may need help collecting evidence in order to prove that another driver was at fault. If you or a loved one was injured in any type of vehicle crash, you should seek professional legal counsel. The knowledgeable lawyers at the Law Office of William F. Evans understand how to determine liability if another driver acted negligently, and we can help you receive the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation with our Campbell County personal injury lawyers, call our office today at 423-449-7980.

Sources:

https://cdn.ymaws.com/tida.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/State_Law_Summaries/TN.pdf

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/safety/documents/cdl02.pdf