Defective Tire Stem May Cause Car Crash
A lawsuit filed in Florida claiming that a fatal rollover crash was caused by a cracked stem on a tire valve has prompted a federal investigation and a recall of 6 million valve stems nation-wide.
It's estimated that up to 36 million of the potentially defective valve stems were manufactured in China by Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp. between July 2006 and November 2006. A U.S. distributor, Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, N.C., notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the potential problem after it was named in the Florida suit.
With so many valves in circulation, the defect could lead to more accidents.
The Florida suit was filed by the widow of a man killed last November when the right rear tire of his 1998 Ford Explorer failed, triggering a rollover crash. The suit blames the accident on a crack on the stem of the rubber valve used to fill the tires with air.
In May, Dill issued an advisory to tire retailers indicating a problem with surface cracks on the outside of the valve stem's rubber near the rim hole due to ozone exposure. Dill said in the bulletin that it has received a "number of parts" showing surface cracks.
The company has asked retailers to return all valve stems manufactured in 2006 and to inspect valve stems installed from September 2006 through June 2007. The problem, however, is that the valve stems can't be tracked once they leave the warehouse.
We recommend that any car owner who has had a tire replaced after July 2006 should have their valves checked immediately for signs of cracking.
If you have any questions regarding car accident injuries, please contact us.
Source: LawyersUSA
It's estimated that up to 36 million of the potentially defective valve stems were manufactured in China by Shanghai Baolong Automotive Corp. between July 2006 and November 2006. A U.S. distributor, Dill Air Control Products of Oxford, N.C., notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the potential problem after it was named in the Florida suit.
With so many valves in circulation, the defect could lead to more accidents.
The Florida suit was filed by the widow of a man killed last November when the right rear tire of his 1998 Ford Explorer failed, triggering a rollover crash. The suit blames the accident on a crack on the stem of the rubber valve used to fill the tires with air.
In May, Dill issued an advisory to tire retailers indicating a problem with surface cracks on the outside of the valve stem's rubber near the rim hole due to ozone exposure. Dill said in the bulletin that it has received a "number of parts" showing surface cracks.
The company has asked retailers to return all valve stems manufactured in 2006 and to inspect valve stems installed from September 2006 through June 2007. The problem, however, is that the valve stems can't be tracked once they leave the warehouse.
We recommend that any car owner who has had a tire replaced after July 2006 should have their valves checked immediately for signs of cracking.
If you have any questions regarding car accident injuries, please contact us.
Source: LawyersUSA
