Los Angeles Defective Tire Lawyer

Common Causes of Tread Separation

The more you understand the makeup of a tire, the easier it is to identify defective tires and pinpoint their role in your accident.

Tires are built in five layers: 

1. Carcass, or green tire
2. Skim tire
3. Steel belts
4. Second skim tire
5. Treads

Since tires are made by hand, workers are responsible for affirming that each tire has been made correctly and is safe for road use. The layers may not adhere correctly if dirt and moisture are not cleaned off the tire surfaces after each step. In other cases, a company may use old skim stock to make tires; tire separation becomes more likely as the rubber deteriorates over time.

Tires may also suffer from design defects in addition to the above manufacturing defects. State-of-the-art tires include a nylon overlay between the steel belts and the tread. This overlay seals the inner tire and prevents separation. Despite its proven safety value, this feature increases manufacturing costs and is usually left out unless you buy a high-performance tire.

Understanding the Statute of Limitations for Defective Tire Accidents

Handling a legal claim after an accident involving defective tires requires awareness of the statute of limitations, which specifies the period during which you must initiate legal action. In California, you generally have two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit, including claims related to defective tires. This requirement is established by California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1.

The time limit usually begins on the day of the accident or from when the defect that led to the accident was discovered. Failing to file your claim within this timeframe could result in forfeiting your right to seek compensation for injuries, damages, and other related losses.

The statute of limitations can vary based on specific circumstances. For example, if the tire defect was not immediately noticeable, the time limit might begin from the time the defect was discovered. Additionally, if fraudulent behavior was involved, different rules might apply.  

It is important to consult with a legal professional soon after the accident to help ensure you meet all required deadlines and maintain your right to pursue justice. At Shoop | A Professional Law Corporation, we provide guidance on filing deadlines and assist you in navigating the legal process.

How We Investigate Defective Tire Accidents

Defective tire cases are built on careful technical work, not guesswork. After a serious crash, physical evidence can be lost quickly if steps are not taken to preserve it. We move fast to secure the tire, vehicle, and any available debris so that specialists can study them before they are altered, discarded, or repaired. This early work helps connect the failure of the tire to what happened on the roadway, whether the collision occurred on a Los Angeles surface street or on a major route such as the 101 or 110.

Once evidence is preserved, we coordinate detailed inspections with engineering and failure analysis consultants who understand modern tire construction. These inspections may include reviewing the tire’s manufacturing history, analyzing the age and storage conditions of the tire, and comparing the failed tire to industry standards. We also gather photographs from the scene, law enforcement reports, data from any on-board systems, and witness statements to reconstruct how the accident unfolded. For collisions in and around Los Angeles County, we may obtain additional records from investigating agencies to help ensure the technical analysis is supported by a complete factual record.

As we build the case, we look beyond the single tire to see whether the failure is part of a broader pattern. That can include researching prior claims or recalls involving the same model of tire, reviewing information from federal regulators, and examining service records from dealerships or shops that handled the tires. By connecting these threads, we aim to show whether the crash was the result of a design decision, a manufacturing lapse, or a failure in how the tire was sold or maintained. This systematic approach is particularly important when a defective tire lawsuit involves serious or permanent injuries that will affect a person for the rest of their life.