Woman Alleges Defective Tire Responsible for Fatal Accident

By Richard Seward

Published on May 15, 2007

While traveling from San Antonio, Texas to Mexico, Irma Ramirez claims a tire blew out on the family's van causing it go out of control. Ms. Ramirez and her two daughters sustained serious injuries, but her husband, Isai, and sons, Israel and Isaac, where killed in the accident.

The lawsuit filed by Ms. Ramirez names Cooper Tire and Rubber Company as the responsible party. It is just one of several similar lawsuits that have been filed against the popular tire company. Currently, it is alleged that defective tires produced by the company have been responsible for more than 200 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

Rocky Pickering, a former Cooper Tire employee believes that a potential defect in manufacture may cause the tires to blow out. Often, when a tire sits for too long, the tread can lose the tackiness that helps to hold it to the inner tire. When this happens, a spray is used to restore adhesion. However, Pickering claims, when too much of the spray is used, it can have the opposite effect and can potentially reduce adhesion.

A theory posed by many tire experts suggests that Cooper tires fail because the lack of a belt wedge along the shoulder of the tire can potentially result in the tire coming off while driving.

Written statements from Cooper Tire and Rubber Company repeatedly defend the company's manufacturing process and the quality of its tires.

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