Tyler Gross | June 3, 2025 | Car Accidents
When the check engine light comes on, most drivers understand the importance of addressing it promptly. While they may not pull over right away, many are quick to call their mechanic and schedule an inspection. But what about the low tire pressure warning—should it be taken just as seriously?
The answer is yes. Ignoring low tire pressure can significantly increase your risk of an accident. Underinflated tires reduce your vehicle’s handling and stability, making it harder to stay in control—especially at high speeds or during sudden maneuvers. In severe cases, prolonged low pressure can cause the tire to overheat and fail, resulting in a dangerous blowout.
What Causes a Tire Blowout?
Several factors can cause tire blowouts, including low tire pressure. When the pressure in your tire is low, the sidewalls may begin to flex under the weight of your car. When you continue to drive in this state, heat builds up in the tire. If enough heat builds up, the rubber may separate from the wheel.
If this happens rapidly enough, you will experience a blowout. This means your tire completely separates from the wheel, leaving you driving entirely on metal. You have limited control of your vehicle in this situation.
Blowouts can also be indirectly caused by low tire pressure. When your tires have low pressure, it becomes harder to control your vehicle. This can make it difficult to avoid hazards on dangerous roads or intersections.
For example, you might see a pothole coming up but be unable to avoid it because low tire pressure affects your steering. Striking that pothole could then result in a blowout. While the tire pressure didn’t directly cause the blowout, it wouldn’t have happened if your tires had the proper pressure.
The Consequences of Low Tire Pressure
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 646 traffic fatalities in 2023 were caused by tire-related crashes. Nearly all of these fatalities were preventable if the driver of the vehicle had taken better care of their tires.
Remember, it isn’t just your life you are putting in danger when you ignore low tire pressure warnings. You are also putting the lives of anyone else in your vehicle in danger, as well as other drivers on the road and their passengers.
Legal and Financial Risks of Ignoring Tire Maintenance
In Florida, failing to address low tire pressure and other tire-related issues could expose you to legal and financial consequences. Under the state’s modified comparative negligence law, if you are found to be 50% or less at fault for a crash, you can be held financially responsible for your share of the damages. However, if you are more than 50% at fault, the injured party may not recover damages at all.
Neglecting obvious signs of tire problems—such as a low pressure warning—can be used as evidence of negligence if it leads to a crash. While blowouts can’t always be predicted, ignoring warning signs significantly increases your risk and liability.
Even though Florida doesn’t require annual vehicle inspections, that’s not a license to ignore maintenance. Routine checkups, including monitoring tire pressure and overall condition, can help protect not only your safety but also your legal standing in the event of an accident.
Stay Safe by Staying Inflated
Low tire pressure may seem like a minor inconvenience, but it carries serious risks that can lead to dangerous blowouts, costly accidents, and legal consequences. By paying attention to your vehicle’s tire pressure warning and conducting regular maintenance, you can protect yourself, your passengers, and others on the road.
If you’ve been injured in an accident related to a tire blowout, contact Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to speak to an experienced Fort Walton Beach car accident lawyer.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in North Florida
If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers in Florida at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have five convenient locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview, Milton, and Mary Esther.
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Pensacola Office
803 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 434-3333
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Navarre Office
9933 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 757-2898
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Crestview Office
1501 S Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
Phone: (850) 407-7726
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Milton Office
6373 US-90
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 790-7790
Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Mary Esther Office
151 Mary Esther Blvd Suite 103A
Mary Esther, FL 32569
Phone: (850) 809-0170