Educate yourself on auto tire recalls to better prevent unnecessary accidents triggered by faulty tires.
If you are like most California motorists, you likely do not give your tires much thought as long as they remain inflated. That said, you should take out some time every now and then to see if the tires currently on your vehicle are involved in a recall. Doing so can keep you from becoming involved in an avoidable accident or a product liability case.
How tire recalls are handled
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration is tasked with keeping drivers informed of whether their tires have shown signs of being defective. If such signs crop up, the NHTSA will either suggest or force a tire manufacturer to recall the dangerous tires. That said, you cannot solely rely on the administration to know if your tires have been recalled. This is because third-party sales and drivers who do not fill out and submit their tire warranty cards can create gaps.
How you can do your part
Rather than set it up so you receive a notification from the NHTSA every time there is a tire recall, it is better that you use your phone to set up an alert. Specifically, enter the brand, size and make of your current tires along with “+ recall” as a search term and set the alarm for once a week. Should your tires ever become recalled and news outlets start to report on them, you will be notified so you can take action.
How to handle a recall
Should you discover the tires on your vehicle have been recalled, you can call the number provided in the recall alert. It is best that you not drive your car until you have replaced the tires. Know that the tire manufacturer will likely take care of the cost of dismounting the old tires and mounting new ones.
How to take proper care of your tires
Even if there is not a tire recall, you can still be involved in a car accident if you do not take steps to take care of properly built tires. Take out time to check your tire pressure in the middle of the winter and summer seasons. Shifts in temperature expand and contract the air in your tires, which can leave them under or even overinflated. Check the owner's manual for your car to see what the proper pressure is. Alternatively, you can contact a knowledgeable auto mechanic or the store where you bought your tires to see what pressure they should be at for a specific season.
Your personal injury resulting from a recent auto accident in California may have been caused by faulty tires that have yet to be recalled. Do some research with the NHTSA, and reach out to an attorney to see what your legal options are.
