Defective Tire & Blowout Accident Lawyers
Nationwide Trial Representation for Rollover & Catastrophic Crash Victims
A high-speed tire failure is never a routine traffic incident. When a tire suffers tread separation, sidewall degradation, or a sudden blowout on a highway, drivers face an instantaneous loss of vehicle control. In light trucks, SUVs, and passenger vehicles, these catastrophic structural failures routinely cause severe off-road crashes, jackknife collisions, and violent vehicle rollovers.
At Matthews & Associates, we do not operate as a case clearinghouse or settlement mill. Led by founder David P. Matthews—a Board-Certified Personal Injury Trial Specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization who has tried over 150 civil cases to verdict—our firm brings formidable national trial resources to complex automotive product liability cases. Our attorneys hold court-appointed leadership positions on Plaintiffs' Steering Committees in major federal litigation, taking on global tire manufacturers, component suppliers, and distributors on behalf of injured consumers nationwide.
Several major tire brands include:
- Bridgestone
- Continental
- Cooper
- Dunlop
- Falken
- Firestone
- General
- Goodyear
- Kelly-Springfield
- Kumho
- Michelin
- Toyo
- Uniroyal
- Various Chinese Manufacturers
- Yokohama
If you or someone you love was injured in an accident as a result of a defective tire, contact Matthews & Associates for a free legal consultation regarding a potential defective tire lawsuit.
We may file or settle a claim individually or as part of a group on a case-by-case basis.
Whether your claim is filed individually or as part of a group fighting the same defendant, our goal is always to provide each of our clients with individual attention. This boutique-level service, combined with our national litigation powerhouse capabilities, ensures you receive both personalized care and the resources necessary to take on the largest corporations and manufacturers.
Tire Failure Statistics You Should Know
Tire failures are a significant and often underestimated cause of serious crashes nationwide:
- Tire-related problems contribute to nearly 11,000 crashes each year in the U.S., causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, according to NHTSA
- A national crash study found that roughly 9% of crashes involved a tire-related problem before the crash occurred — consistent with DOT data already cited on this page
- NHTSA recorded 563 tire-related fatalities in 2022 alone
- For commercial trucking, tire blowouts are tied to an estimated 8,000 to 11,000 accidents each year, accounting for roughly 6% of all truck crashes, and contribute to more than 200 deaths annually
These figures reflect why insurers and investigating officers sometimes miss the real cause of a crash — a defective tire — and default to blaming the driver, as this page already notes.
Notable Tire Defect Cases and Recalls
Tire defect litigation has produced some of the most significant product liability outcomes in U.S. history, and understanding this history helps explain why manufacturers are held to such a high standard:
- The Ford/Firestone Recall (2000): Firestone recalled 6.5 million SUV tires after tread separation on tires fitted to the Ford Explorer was linked to more than 100 deaths — one of the deadliest product defect episodes in U.S. automotive history.
- The TREAD Act: The Firestone crisis led directly to a $41.5 million settlement and the passage of the TREAD Act, federal legislation that strengthened defect-reporting requirements and tire safety standards industry-wide.
- Commercial Truck Tire Investigations: Federal regulators have opened formal investigations into specific truck tire brands after clusters of blowout complaints, examining whether manufacturing defects — not driver error or overloading — contributed to fatal big-rig crashes.
These cases share a common thread: a defect that first appeared as a handful of isolated complaints later proved to affect an entire product line, and manufacturers often delayed action until litigation and regulatory pressure forced their hand.
Why Choose Matthews & Associates for a Tire Defect Claim
Tire manufacturers are large, well-insured corporations with legal teams built to defend product liability claims aggressively — and to argue that driver error, not a defect, caused the crash. Successfully proving a tire defect requires an attorney with the resources and trial credibility to take that fight seriously.
- Founded in 2005 by David P. Matthews, Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
- Our founder has tried more than 150 civil cases to verdict, including cases resulting in verdicts of $73 million and $34 million against corporate defendants
- Our attorneys have served in court-appointed leadership roles on Plaintiffs' Steering and Executive Committees in major national product liability litigation
- We retain experienced tire and vehicle engineers to inspect failed components and determine whether a design or manufacturing defect caused the failure
- We work on a contingency fee basis — there are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you
Engineering Failures Behind Defective Tire Lawsuits
Proving product liability in a tire defect case requires isolating manufacturing shortcuts, chemical contamination, and structural design flaws before critical crash evidence is altered or destroyed.
- Tread-Belt Separation: The most frequent cause of catastrophic tire lawsuits. Poor chemical adhesion between the steel belts and rubber tread causes the outer layer to peel away at highway speeds, throwing the vehicle out of control.
- Manufacturing & Plant Contamination: Moisture, oxidation, dust, or unapproved solvents introduced into raw rubber compounds during plant assembly prevent proper vulcanization, creating weak internal bonds that degrade under heat and pressure.
- Bead & Sidewall Failures: Defective steel bead wire construction or improper sidewall rubber thickness can cause a tire to explode violently during inflation or detach from the wheel rim under normal cornering forces.
- Outdated Design & Omitted Safety Belts: Failing to incorporate critical safety features—such as nylon cap plies or wedge inserts between steel belt edges—to save manufacturing costs on lower-tier tire model.
Holding Manufacturers, Distributors, and Retailers Accountable
Under strict product liability law, every entity involved in bringing a dangerous tire to market can be held legally responsible for resulting injuries:
- Tire Manufacturers: Design defects, manufacturing contamination, failure to conduct quality control testing
- Retread & Curing Operations: Defective vulcanization, using degraded casings for retreaded commercial tires
- Dealerships & Tire Retailers: Selling aged tires as new (shelf-life degradation), installing incorrect tire sizes or speed ratings
- Auto Service Centers & Shops: Failing to inspect tread depth, placing new tires on the front axle instead of the rear, improper mounting
We're Ready to Fight For You!
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“Always available & answers questions promptly.”
I've been working with Matthews & Associates for 2 years. I am impressed that the firm is always available and answers questions promptly. I am very satisfied with the services they provide and would recommend them.- Kweli Y. -
“Very professional from the beginning”
- Jeffrey E.Very professional from the beginning. always answered questions and had amazing follow through on insuring data submitted was accurate
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“They are so helpful, kind, and knowledgeable.”
I love these guys! They are so helpful, kind, knowledgeable, smart, and good with people. They answer all your questions and if they don't know the answer, it doesn't take them long to get you the answer! I wouldn't want anyone else to handle my suit. They are AWESOME!- Genie S. -
“Very informative and professional.”
- Lydia C.Very informative and professional. Answer thoroughly all my questions and concerns.
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“Matthews and Associates are very informative. Kept me up to date on what was happening with my case.”
- Ron S.Matthews and Associates are very informative. Kept me up to date on what was happening with my case. They were always polite when they were talking to me. Very professional and polite.
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“Matthews & Associates is one of a kind.”
Matthews & Associates is one of a kind. They treat you with respect. They support you when needed. Plus they have locations in Texas and California with wonderful customer service. Bilingual service is always available.- Sorangel T.
Defective Tire Lawsuit FAQs
How can I tell if my tire failure was caused by a defect, not just wear?
Many defects — such as tread separation starting inside the tire — aren't visible during a routine inspection. An engineer typically needs to examine the failed tire itself, which is why preserving the tire after an accident is critical.
What if the police report blamed me for underinflation or poor maintenance?
A police report reflects the officer's on-scene assessment, not a defect determination. Officers are not tire engineers, and many defect-related failures are initially misattributed to driver error. An independent inspection can reveal the true cause.
Can I still file a claim if my tire was part of a recall I never received notice about?
Yes. Manufacturers are legally required to notify registered owners of a recall, but many vehicles change hands without updated registration. Not receiving notice doesn't eliminate a manufacturer's liability for injuries the defect caused.
Who can be held responsible for a tire defect injury?
Potential defendants include the tire manufacturer, the vehicle manufacturer (if the tire was original equipment), the tire retailer, or a repair or inspection shop that failed to identify and warn about a dangerous tire.
What does it cost to hire a tire defect attorney?
Matthews & Associates handles these cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, and you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Call us at {F:P:Sub:Phone } for a free legal case review. Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer with 30+ years of tire defect litigation and rollover lawsuit experience.
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