The son of a husband and wife who were killed in a motorcycle crash in Westmoreland County last year filed a wrongful death lawsuit last week against the tire manufacturer.
William G. Shank, 56, of New Alexandria, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Mary Jane, were riding on a 2007 Harley Davidson Heritage Soft Tail motorcycle on June 10, 2012, when the rear tire blew out as they drove along Route 22 near Auction Barn Road in Derry.
Mr. Shank died at the scene. Mrs. Shank, 52, died ten days later from the injuries she sustained in the crash.
Their son, William J. Shank, is now suing the maker of the tire, Goodyear Dunlop Tires North America LTD, along with Z&M Cycle Sales for the wrongful death of his parents. The couple’s son claims that the tube inside of the rear tire was defective and the fatal motorcycle accident was the result of its failure.
It includes claims for negligence and wrongful death. The lawsuit alleges that the Dunlop tube inside the Goodyear tire was defective.
Tire blowouts cause vehicles to lose control. This increases the risk of injury due to possible rollovers and collisions with other vehicles or objects. Travelling at high speeds or in SUVs increase the likelihood of injuries as a result of a tire blowout.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that each year there are more than 400 fatalities and more than 10,000 non-fatal injuries resulting from flat tire/blowout causes.
A spokesman for Goodyear said he could not comment on pending litigation.
A manager at Z&M Cycle Sales said he had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment.
In cases where it is believed that an auto defect either led to an accident or a safety feature failed to work in an accident, those who are injured have the right to file a product liability lawsuit against the manufacturer. In cases where people are killed due to these types of accidents, their family members may be able to file a lawsuit.
Manufacturers of goods must be held responsible when their products put consumers in danger. Product liability claims force the makers and sellers of goods to consider consumer safety in everything they do. These claims have forced many companies to make better, safer products so as to protect future consumers from injuries or death.
Please feel free to contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
