How Can a Tire Get Loose?
There are several reasons why a tire can become loose and detach from a dump truck:
- The studs and/or bolts become loose or break;
- Over-tightening;
- Insufficient tightening;
- Use of incorrect parts;
- Poor maintenance;
- Poor-quality parts;
- Failure to use specialized parts that would prevent the tire from coming off.
“In many of these cases, we find that the company servicing the vehicle was negligent,” says attorney Fred Pritzker. “When this happens, the driver and the truck owner are often share legal responsibility with that company because they should have taken steps to make sure the tire was on properly.”
Tragic Death Caused by Loose Dump Truck Tire
The tragic death of a man from Backus, Minnesota, was caused by a tire that had come off of a dump truck, according to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office. The man was getting his mail at the end of his driveway when the tire hit him. The man was transported to a St Cloud Hospital, where he died. The driver of the dump trunk, also of Backus, Minnesota, was unaware that the tire had come off, according to the sheriff’s office.
Our law firm handled a similar case where a tire came off of a truck, instantly killing a husband and father. The family hired Fred Pritzker, a Minnesota traffic safety lawyer with a national practice. Fred and his team conducted an independent investigation and discovered that a specialized nut could have been used to prevent the tire from coming off. Fred won a 7-figure recovery for the family.
The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota State Patrol are investigating. Two questions that need to be answered are the following:
- Why did the tire come off of the dump truck?
- Did the driver not realize the tire came off and, if so, why not?
Fred provides free consultations to families. He understands that they are hurting and need help. Most people are not familiar with the legal system, particularly wrongful death lawsuits. You can call Fred at 1-888-377-8900.
