Tire Manufacturing Defect Attorneys in Atlanta

Are You in Need of an Atlanta Tire Manufacturing Defect Attorney?

When a tire fails unexpectedly on the road, the consequences can be catastrophic. High-speed blowouts, tread separations, and sidewall failures may cause devastating rollover crashes, multi-vehicle collisions, and other serious types of accidents.

At Butler Prather LLP, we represent individuals and families in Georgia and across the country in cases involving defective tires, catastrophic injuries, and wrongful death. With decades of experience and a long record of high-value verdicts, our firm is trusted to take on the most complex and high-stakes litigation.

Why Choose Us Over Other Tire Defect Lawyers in Atlanta

If you have suffered serious injuries, or if a loved one lost their life loss due to a defective tire, you may have a valid product liability claim. When it comes to seeking justice for our clients, the Atlanta, GA tire defect attorneys Butler Prather LLP won’t back down from anybody.

Here’s what sets are law firm apart.

• $2.5 billion verdict against Ford in 2025. The largest jury verdict in Georgia history involving a product defect.
• $1.7 billion verdict in 2022. Another major product liability victory involving a defective vehicle.
• 10 verdicts over $100 million. More than any other trial lawyer in U.S. history.
• Record-setting verdicts across multiple states, including Georgia, Missouri, Tennessee, and Alabama.
• More than 35 years of experience handling catastrophic product liability and injury cases.
• Over 30 states litigated. We’ve successfully handled cases across the country.
• AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, recognizing the highest standard in ethics and skill.
• James E. Butler Jr. has been featured in the Atlanta Bar Association's Legends of the Bar Series
• Super Lawyers recognition for James E. Butler Jr. and Ramsey B. Prather based on peer reviews and independent research.
• Known for taking on major manufacturers and winning in court, including auto and tire industry giants.

Don’t Let Defective Tires Destroy Your Future

Call (706) 322-1990 for a free case review of your manufacturing defect case with Butler Prather LLP.

Why You Should See a Tire Defect Lawyer Right Away

Tire defect cases are evidence-driven. The sooner you contact an attorney, the better chance you have of preserving critical elements of your case:

• Tire and vehicle evidence must be preserved. If the tire is discarded or altered, proving the defect becomes far more difficult.
• Accident scenes change quickly. Skid marks, debris fields, and road conditions must be documented immediately.
• Witnesses become harder to reach. Timely interviews ensure details are captured while memories are fresh.
• Manufacturers begin preparing defenses immediately. You need an experienced legal team doing the same on your behalf.
• The statute of limitations is ticking. You typically have only two years to file a claim in Georgia.

We move fast to preserve evidence, retain forensic experts, and secure the crash site and vehicle before key data disappears. If you suspect a defective tire played a role in your accident, reach out immediately.

Do You Have a Legitimate Case?

You may have a valid tire manufacturing defect claim if:

• A tire failed before the end of its expected lifespan
• The failure caused a crash or worsened injuries during a crash
• There were no significant signs of impact damage or driver misuse
• The vehicle was properly maintained and the tire was not excessively worn

We consult with tire experts, accident reconstructionists, and materials engineers to evaluate the failure mode. If a defect is present, it may be due to a design flaw, manufacturing error, or inadequate warning label. Even if the tire was recalled, you may still be eligible to recover damages.

Tire defect cases are not limited to private vehicles. Commercial vehicles, delivery trucks, RVs, and trailers may also be affected.

Tire Defects That Cause Injuries

Tires are complex safety components, and even small flaws can result in serious injuries or death. Common tire defects include:

• Tread Separation: The most dangerous defect, often occurring at highway speeds. The tire's tread separates from the casing, leading to sudden loss of control.
• Sidewall Blowouts: Caused by weak or improperly cured rubber, resulting in explosive failure.
• Bead Failures: The bead is where the tire contacts the rim. If improperly formed or installed, it can slip or rupture.
• Manufacturing Contamination: Foreign materials in the rubber can create weak spots that later fail.
• Under-Curing or Over-Curing: If the tire isn't cured properly during production, its structure may be compromised.
• Design Defects: Some tire models are inherently flawed due to poor structural design.

Each of these issues can cause a sudden loss of control, rollover crashes, ejection from the vehicle, and fatal injuries.

What's the Legal Process for Filing a Tire Manufacturing Defect Claim?

Our firm handles every aspect of the legal process, so you can focus on recovery. Here’s how a typical case progresses:

1. Initial Consultation – We review your case at no cost to determine if a defect claim is viable.
2. Evidence Preservation – We help ensure the tire and vehicle are secured and prevent any tampering.
3. Expert Analysis – We engage tire design experts, crash reconstructionists, and materials scientists to analyze failure points.
4. Crash Investigation – We gather police reports, witness statements, video footage, and vehicle data.
5. Filing the Lawsuit – We initiate a product liability claim against the tire manufacturer, distributor, or seller.
6. Discovery Phase – We obtain internal design documents, testing reports, and recall history from the manufacturer.
7. Negotiation or Trial – We negotiate aggressively but prepare every case as if it will go before a jury.

We have taken on and won against some of the largest product manufacturers in the world. If a fair settlement is not offered, we do not hesitate to take your case to court.

The Statute of Limitations in Georgia

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for personal injury and product liability claims is generally two years from the date of the injury. For wrongful death claims, it is also two years from the date of death. Every case is different and there are exceptions. That’s why we strongly encourage you to speak with a qualified attorney about your claim as soon as possible.

Experience, Results & Relentless Advocacy

Work with the firm that’s trusted nationwide for handling complex product liability litigation. Call (706) 322-1990 today.

Types of Accidents Caused by Defective Tires

Defective tires can lead to a wide variety of high-impact crashes, including:

• Rollover Accidents: Sudden tire failure can cause a vehicle, especially SUVs and trucks, to flip.
• Run-Off-Road Crashes: Tread separation can pull a vehicle violently to one side.
• Head-On Collisions: Blowouts can push a vehicle into oncoming lanes.
• Multi-Vehicle Collisions: A single loss of control can create chain-reaction crashes.
• Commercial Vehicle Accidents: Tire defects in tractor-trailers or delivery vans can cause massive highway pileups.

These crashes often result in catastrophic injuries, making them among the most serious personal injury cases we handle.

Types of Damages Available

Our firm fights for the full and fair value of your case, not just what the insurance company is willing to offer. In a successful tire manufacturing defect case, you may be entitled to recover damages for:

• Medical expenses (past and future)
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Permanent disability or disfigurement
• Loss of companionship (in wrongful death cases)
• Funeral and burial costs
• Punitive damages if the manufacturer acted with reckless disregard for safety

Proving Liability in a Tire Manufacturing Defect Claim or Lawsuit

Butler Prather LLP gathers internal records from the manufacturer, expert testimony, crash simulations, and prior complaints or recall data to build a strong liability case. Our attorneys have decades of experience overcoming the defense tactics of major corporations.

To win a tire defect case, we must prove that:

• The tire was defective when it left the manufacturer’s control
• The defect caused or significantly contributed to the accident
• You suffered injuries or loss as a result of that defect
• A safer, feasible alternative design was available

How a Tire Defect Attorney Can Help

Tire defect cases are not like typical car accident claims. They require a highly specialized legal team with experience in product liability and a deep understanding of tire design and failure modes.

At Butler Prather LLP, we:

• Secure and preserve all physical evidence
• Hire industry-leading experts in tire engineering and crash analysis
• Handle communication with manufacturers and insurance companies
• Cover litigation costs upfront
• Prepare every case for trial, not just settlement

We are known for out-preparing and out-working the opposition. That reputation helps us deliver real results for our clients, in and out of court.

Case Results

Product Liability / Michelin Tires

In Johnny and Patricia Bates v. Michelin North America, Inc. and Michelin Corporation in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, Mr. Bates was paralyzed on Christmas Day 2008 due to a tread separation of a Uniroyal Laredo tire manufactured by Michelin, causing his GMC Jimmy to roll over.

The plaintiffs contended that the tire had significant design and manufacturing defects, including the lack of a nylon cap. The proceedings were marred by Michelin's repeated discovery abuses, leading Judge Totenberg to issue a 60-page order condemning Michelin for a pattern of withholding relevant documents and willfully violating court orders. These actions warranted the severe sanction of issue preclusion. Ultimately, the case was settled for a confidential amount.

Product Liability / Bridgestone/Firestone

Leonard And Randall Heavrin v. Bridgestone/Firestone, et al, State Court of Walker County, Georgia. On November 10, 2005 Leonard and Nancy Heavrin were killed when a Firestone Steeltex Radial R4S II tire on another vehicle suffered a belt/tread separation and then exploded, causing the vehicle to go out of control, cross the median and strike the Heavrin vehicle head-on, decapitating both Mr. and Mrs. Heavrin, who were on their way to visit family members in Florida.

The striking vehicle was an F-250 pickup truck which was traveling on Interstate 24 near Manchester, Tennessee when the wreck occurred. The Firestone Steeltex tires at issue were manufactured at Firestone’s now-closed Decatur, Illinois plant. Other tires manufactured at the Decatur, Illinois plant were recalled by Firestone and the plant was shut down shortly after the tire at issue was manufactured due to quality problems.

In addition to manufacturing defects, one of the design defects claimed by Plaintiffs was Bridgestone/Firestone’s failure to include a nylon cap in the design of the tire. The case settled for a confidential amount.

What Clients Are Saying About Us

THEY HIT A GRAND SLAM HOMERUN! - Timothy White (5-Star Google Review)

I had the privilege to work with this firm on a pretty-serious injury case. I did what I could for the client, then referred her to Butler Prather to litigate the case. THEY HIT A GRAND SLAM HOMERUN! I tell people all the time that these are THE BEST litigators in the country and perhaps the world. Look no further for a better law firm, it simply doesn't exist.

Everyone was thorough, available, and compassionate- Kathy Thrasher (5-Star Google Review)

Mr. Jim Butler and his colleagues worked diligently on my behalf. Their ability to navigate our situation gave me and my family peace of mind that our case was in competent hands. Everyone was thorough, available, and compassionate as they guided and assisted me through this difficult time.

Speak With a Trusted Experienced Atlanta Tire Manufacturing Defect Attorney

At Butler Prather LLP, we’re not just experienced in tire defect litigation; we’re leaders in the field. With billions recovered and some of the largest verdicts in product liability history, we know how to fight and win.

Call us today at (706) 322-1990 for a free consultation with a legal team that has the resources, reputation, and results to go up against the tire industry’s biggest names.

You won’t owe us anything unless we win.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a manufacturing defect in a product liability case?

A manufacturing defect occurs when a product is improperly made or assembled, making it dangerous to use even if the design was safe. It means the product deviated from its intended design and failed during normal use, causing injury or damage.

How is a manufacturing defect different from a design defect?

A manufacturing defect is an error that happens during production, such as a cracked tire bead or contaminated material. A design defect, on the other hand, affects every product in the line and is inherently unsafe even when manufactured correctly.

Do I have a case if I was injured by a defective product?

You may have a case if you were using the product as intended, the product failed due to a manufacturing flaw, and that failure caused your injuries. An attorney can help determine whether the product was defective and whether the manufacturer can be held liable.

How do you prove a tire manufacturing defect?

Proving a manufacturing defect usually requires preserving the product, hiring experts to analyze the failure, and obtaining records from the manufacturer. It must be shown that the product deviated from its intended design and directly caused the injury.

Can I still file a claim if the product was recalled?

Yes. A recall does not prevent you from filing a claim. In fact, if the product was recalled for safety reasons and you were injured before or after the recall, that may strengthen your case. Recalls are often used as evidence in litigation.

What types of compensation can I recover?

You may be eligible to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, permanent disability, loss of earning capacity, and in some cases, punitive damages if the manufacturer acted with reckless disregard for safety.

How long do I have to file a tire manufacturing defect lawsuit in Georgia?

In Georgia, the statute of limitations for product liability cases is typically two years from the date of injury. However, it’s important to consult an attorney quickly to avoid losing your right to file due to delays or exceptions.

Why should I choose Butler Prather LLP?

Butler Prather LLP has over 35 years of experience and has won some of the largest product liability verdicts in U.S. history, including a $2.5 billion verdict against Ford. We have the resources, courtroom experience, and expert network needed to take on major manufacturers and win.

Meet Our Atlanta Tire Defect Attorneys

James E. Butler Jr.

James E. Butler Jr. is the founding partner of Butler Prather LLP and one of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the United States. With more than four decades of courtroom experience, Jim has built a national reputation for delivering record-setting verdicts in high-stakes cases involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, business torts, and more.

Jim has set Georgia’s largest verdict record on six separate occasions, across four distinct types of civil cases: medical malpractice, trucking, business torts, and auto product liability. In addition to his plaintiff-side litigation, Jim has successfully defended corporations in multi-jurisdictional lawsuits, navigating high-pressure environments with speed and precision.

Ramsey B. Prather

Ramsey B. Prather is a partner at Butler Prather LLP and a nationally recognized trial attorney who represents clients in complex civil litigation involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, and whistleblower (False Claims Act) claims. Known for his sharp legal strategy and ability to handle high-stakes cases, Ramsey has helped secure some of the largest verdicts in Georgia history.

In 2025, Ramsey served as co-lead counsel in the $2.5 billion jury verdict against Ford Motor Company, the largest verdict ever returned in Georgia and one of the largest product liability awards in U.S. history. That case involved a fatal roof crush defect in a Ford Super Duty truck. He also played a key role in the $280 million trucking wrongful death verdict secured by the firm in 2019.

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Atlanta Office:
12 Lenox Pointe NE
Atlanta, GA 30324