Tire Marks Tell a Story in Car Accident Claims
If another driver’s negligence leaves you injured in a car accident, you have plenty to contend with – not the least of which is proving the other motorist’s negligence. The fact is that tire marks left on the road in the aftermath of your accident can play an important role in your claim, and even if you are not able to capture evidence of these marks, someone at the scene is very likely to do so for you. Further, the sooner you engage an experienced personal injury attorney, the sooner he or she can get to work gathering all the evidence in your case, including tire marks at the scene.
Tire Marks at the Scene
The tires on our vehicles tether them to the road, and when the vehicle jerks suddenly (such as in an attempt to avoid an accident), they tend to leave skid marks on the road. These skid marks can help fill in the blanks when it comes to putting together a complete picture of how the accident in question happened and can go a long way toward corroborating your account of the accident.
Tire Marks Decoded
Those tire marks make statements, and some of the most basic statements include:
Short Tire Marks – Short tire marks on the road often indicate that the driver did not have enough time or enough expanse of the road to come to a safe stop. These marks are often the result of a distracted driver who recognizes too late that they need to stop or slow down.
Curvy Tire Marks – Curvy tire marks on the road are generally indicative of a driver who lost control of his or her vehicle. This pattern could occur as a result of speed that either exceeds the speed limit or is too fast for the condition of the road (including the effects of bad weather).
The Absence of Tire Marks – If there are no tire marks at the scene, it can mean that the motorist who crashed into you did not attempt to slow his or her vehicle in the buildup to the accident. Often such crashes are predicated on impaired or drowsy driving (which share similar cognitive and physical effects) – or to a mechanical failure.
Marks that Veer across Lanes – When a motorist’s tires leave marks that veer across lanes, it defines his or her car’s trajectory, and it can be indicative of drunk driving, a tire blowout, extreme distraction, and more. Motorists are responsible for remaining safely in their own lanes, and when they fail to accomplish this, the result can be deadly.