Firestone Tires
Defective Firestone tires, especially those on Ford pickups and Sports-Utility Vehicles (SUVs), resulted in many deaths and led to increased scrutiny of SUVs by consumer advocacy groups. Firestone tires models ATX, ATXII and Wilderness, manufactured by Bridgestone/Firestone and installed on Ford Explorers among other models as original equipment, are subject to tread separation, which can lead to a tire blowout. On August 9, 2000, Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford announced jointly that Firestone would recall approximately 14.4 million tires that contain this safety-related defect.
More than 200 deaths (and 700 injuries) in the United States have resulted from Ford Explorers rolling over as the result of tread separation on one of its Firestone tires. The tires are clearly defective, as some have fallen apart after less than 2,000 miles of wear and at speed of only 20 miles per hour. This means that the blame for the accidents and damage caused by these flawed products falls on the manufacturer Bridgestone/Firestone and its parent company Ford.
Automobile tires are among the strongest components on a car when properly inflated. They are capable of absorbing thousands of pounds of impact without breaking or deflating. Therefore, when tire failure occurs, it means that there is something structurally wrong with the tires and the way in which they were installed on a particular vehicle. The defective tires made by Firestone and installed on many Ford Explorers present significant danger not only to anyone operating a vehicle with the tires but also any bystanders who might be present when a tire malfunctions.
Ford Explorers are extremely prone to deadly accidents when the defective tires malfunction because of their design. Ford Explorers, along with most SUVs, have a very high center of gravity and are not always able to execute hard twists and turns without rolling over. The problem with the Firestone tires in the tread of tire can come off for no reason, either causing a blowout or leaving the car with a vastly under-inflated tire. This sudden tire problem can cause the car to swerve and force the drive to make a hard recovery turn. It is exactly this type of situation that is highly dangerous to SUVs as their high center of gravity can trip up the car and cause it to roll.
Much litigation has been brought against Firestone for the manufacturing and distribution of the faulty tires and Ford for producing a defective vehicle based on its tendency to roll. Claims have been sought by people who have been affected by an accident involving the faulty tires for damages including: wrongful death, past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical expenses and past and future earnings. Monetary compensation is a definite possibility for anyone affected by the defective tires.