Carbon fiber clincher bike rims are susceptible to heat under braking which can cause the tire to blow off the rim. Seek immediate medical attention after the accident. These documents can be used as evidence. Then call Warshafsky Law's personal injury attorneys.
When a bike tire explodes, the rider is usually thrown from the bicycle. There is a high potential for injuries to the rider and even to others traveling on the roadway. Warshafsky Law has represented many injured bicyclists and considers it our responsibility to fight for the highest possible financial award for our clients.
The most common cause of tires exploding is when riders using clincher wheels descend a long hill and brake repeatedly. This heats the rims to the point the portion of the tube inside the rim is also heated. As a result, the tube expands--often to the point of exploding and blowing the tire off the rim. Carbon fiber clincher rims are more susceptible to such blowouts than aluminum rims.
Our bicycle accident attorneys advise anyone injured in a bike tire blowout to seek medical attention immediately after the accident. This documentation can be used by us as evidence against other liable parties.
Carbon clincher rims are appealing to many cyclists because they are lighter than the more common aluminum rims. In a quest for the lightest wheels possible, many riders will also use latex tubes. The combination, especially with carbon clincher rims manufactured several years ago, has had disastrous results for some riders when braking to control speed on long, steep grades.
The problem has been traced to carbon clincher rims transferring heat to the thin latex tubes, which causes them to either bulge out to the point they deform the heat-softened carbon rim or simply explode--which results in the tire being blown off the rim. As you can imagine, a tire blowing off a rim on a steep downhill usually results in a horrific crash.
While today's carbon clincher wheels have resolved most of the issues with carbon rims, particularly in regard to the epoxies used in laminating the carbon wheels, there are still many riders using carbon rims made some years ago. If you have such wheelsets, our advice would be to not use any of the lighter-weight latex tubes with them and to not use these wheels on any course with long, steep descents that require you to ride the brakes.
While each case is different, Warshafsky Law will pursue the maximum amount of money for your case. If any part of your bike failed, we will make sure any negligence by the manufacturer, dealer, or any mechanics whose work led to a tire explosion, is explored. If you or a loved one was hit by a motorist, we can help. If environmental issues such as potholes or debris on the road caused your accident, we will stand up to the government entities responsible for maintaining roads in a safe fashion.
With Warshafsky Law, you will get the maximum compensation possible for your injuries. If you or a loved one have had an unexpected bicycle tire explosion while using a carbon rim, schedule a free consultation with our personal injury attorneys. You may have grounds for a lawsuit to recover for medical expenses you incurred as a result of the accident. Our attorneys have won cases against business and institutions before, even getting a settlement after a case of carbon monoxide poisoning.
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