According to a report by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately eight hundred deaths and close to 135,000 injuries are reportedly caused by ATV accidents each year in the United States. In 2011, there were about 327 fatalities and 107,000 injuries as a result of ATV accidents. There were an estimated 99, 600 ATV-related injuries treated in emergency departments in 2013 across the US An estimated 25% of these injuries involved children under the age of 16. Serious, sometimes fatal, ATV accidents occur due to a number of reasons, including:
- Some people who operate ATVs use them for off-road travel, often in rugged terrain where they can easily crash, get swept away when crossing a river or roll over. Part of knowing how to operate an ATV is being familiar with the type of terrain you are traveling and how to navigate it. It is also important to know your machine’s limitations.
- Many ATV riders speed without wearing proper protective gear, such as a helmet. While there is no law that requires you to wear a helmet, goggles or other safety equipment, it is important to do so. Wearing a properly fitted helmet can lower the risk of injuries by 60% and fatalities by about 40%. When you crash at high speed without wearing helmet, it can lead to devastating consequences such as severe brain injury, or even death.
- Alcohol is another cause of ATV accidents. Since off-road vehicles like ATVs do not require licenses, many people think that it is a free pass to drink alcohol and drive them. Driving an ATV under the influence can be just as dangerous as driving a car. In fact, it is even more dangerous as it lacks many safety features. Like many of the worst accidents involving motor vehicles, many of the worst accidents that occur on ATVs involve alcohol.
- Another possible cause of ATV accidents is that the vehicle has a defective auto part installed in it. Defective parts can be just about any part of the ATV – the clutch, tires, throttle, gas tank, shifter, fender, etc. if you think that a defective part caused the accident, you may be eligible to file a product liability claim.
There are federal and state laws pertaining to ATV safety that ATV manufacturers and sellers need to observe. They are required to make sure that the highest standards of quality are observed in the making and distribution of these vehicles to ensure that riders are not in any danger of sustaining serious or life-threatening injuries.
The Top Law Firm in the Big Apple
If you or a loved one has been injured in an ATV accident caused by another person’s negligence or recklessness, you should immediately seek the help of a reliable and experienced personal injury attorney at Rosenberg, Minc, Falkoff, & Wolff of RMFW Law at 212-344-1000. If your ATV fails on you and causes you to get hurt you may have a case. The ATV is not supposed to be a riding risk, it is supposed to work properly. If you have been hurt by someone’s ATV negligence, you need legal help. Going after the seller or the manufacture is going to require legal assistance. Give us a call. The first meeting is free. We know how to formulate winning cases for our clients. We want to win as badly as you do.
