If you drive a vehicle on major roadways, such as interstates or freeways, you have seen truck tire debris laying on the roadway. Sometimes this debris cannot be dodged, and it ends up hitting vehicles traveling down the roadway.
When truck tire debris is laying on the road, it is considered a road hazard. Any road hazard is just that, debris in the roadway that is hazardous to people and vehicles.
When vehicles hit debris and it flies up and hits another vehicle, they are not liable for those damages. However, if you have comprehensive insurance coverage, any damage your vehicle suffers should be covered by your own insurance policy.
How to Handle a Claim After Truck Tire Debris Hit Your Car
If your vehicle is damaged by truck tire debris that hit your car, you should pull your vehicle to the side of the road to a safe area away from traffic. Check the damage. If possible, get photos of the accident scene and of the damage to your vehicle.
Call the police and get an accident report completed. An accident report will be needed to file a claim with your auto insurance company. You will need to get an estimate for repairing the damage to your vehicle.
After getting the estimate, you will need to consider whether the damage is worth pursuing a claim over. As an example, if it will cost $500 to fix your vehicle’s damage, but you have a $500 deductible on your insurance, there is no need to file a claim because you will be paying for the damages out of pocket anyway.
What if the Truck Tire Debris Came From a Truck Traveling Near You
If the truck tire debris or tread fell from a truck traveling near you, you can hold the trucking company liable for your damages. However, you must prove that the tread or debris in question came from that specific truck.
Sometimes people believe the debris was thrown from a specific truck, only to find it had been laying on the road some time and that truck had just hit it in passing. If that is the case, then it is just considered road debris, and the truck that hit it is not liable.
You will have to present evidence to show that the debris flew from the truck in question, such as a dash cam recording, statements from eyewitnesses, or some other evidence your personal injury attorney can provide to show that debris came from that truck.
Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney
If tire debris hit your car, consult with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer will evaluate the evidence and your damages to determine how to proceed with an accident injury claim.
Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to have your claim reviewed by a personal injury lawyer in your area. Time is of the essence, so get your claim on track today.
