Vehicles using today’s superhighways often travel at high speeds. The high speeds require both sound braking systems and tires with sufficient tread depth. If one or the other is missing or deficient, the outcome could be a traffic accident with tragic consequences. A recent collision near downtown Tampa exemplifies the results of driving a car with inadequate tread depth.
The accident
According to reports from the Florida Highway Patrol, a 22-year-old man from Tampa was heading south on I-275 and approaching the westbound exit to the downtown expressway. An SUV marked with insignia of the Tampa Police was stopped on the outside lane with its signals flashing. As the southbound vehicle attempted to slow, the driver lost control of his vehicle, and he collided with a vehicle driven by a 21-year-old man from St. Petersburg. The two vehicles then spun on the paved roadway and crashed into a guard rail. The car driven by the 22-year-old then crashed into the rear of the police department’s SUV.
A fourth southbound vehicle, driven by a 72-year-old man from Kentucky, attempted to slow to avoid the disabled vehicles in the roadway, but road conditions did not permit such a sudden stop. The vehicle hit the car driven by the 21-year-old. The 21-year-old suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. The other three drivers and a passenger in one of the cars suffered only minor injuries.
The police attributed the cause of the accident to insufficient tread depth on the tires of the vehicle driven by the 22-year-old man. The man was also cited for careless driving.
Aftermath
The 21-year-old man has undetermined but serious injuries. He may wish to bring a claim for damages against the 22-year-old man. Anyone who is trying to make a similar decision may wish to consult an experienced accident attorney for an evaluation of the evidence and an estimate of the likelihood of recovering damages for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.