5 Important Facts to Know After an ATV Accident in Pennsylvania

November 30, 2022
dhdlaw

While riding an ATV can be fun—and can be essential for getting to hard-to-reach offroad destinations—it can also be dangerous. Even if an ATV rider is being safe and riding within his or her limits, there are still various factors that can lead to a serious accident. If you have been injured in an ATV accident in Pennsylvania, here are five important facts you need to know.

Fact #1: ATV Owners Can Be Held Responsible for Riders’ Negligence

Under Pennsylvania law, ATV owners are responsible for accidents caused by riders’ negligence in many cases. This means that if you were injured in an ATV accident caused by a negligent rider, you may be able to file a claim against the owner regardless of whether the owner was present at the time of the collision. As long as the rider had the owner’s permission (“express or implied”), the owner is legally responsible for the financial and non-financial costs of your injuries.

Fact #2: Property Owners Can Be Held Liable for Hazards and Dangerous Conditions

If you were involved in an ATV accident caused by an issue with the property where you were riding, you may have a claim against the property owner. Poorly designed trails, unmaintained trails, trails with deep ruts and potholes, and various other issues can cause even the safest ATV riders to suddenly and unexpectedly lose control. The law of premises liability applies in these types of situations, and injured riders will be able to pursue successful premises liability claims in many cases.

Fact #3: ATV Accidents Can Also Result from Manufacturing and Design Defects

Manufacturing and design defects can also lead to sudden and unexpected ATV accidents. If the ATV on which you were riding was defective, you may have a claim against the manufacturer. This is true whether you own the ATV or it belongs to someone else. Examples of ATV defects that can lead to accidents include brake and tire defects, engine and transmission defects, and design defects that make ATVs prone to rolling over.

Fact #4: Recovering Compensation for an ATV Accident Usually Involves Filing an Insurance Claim

Whether you have a claim based on negligence, premises liability or an ATV defect, recovering just compensation will most likely involve dealing with the at-fault party’s insurance company. ATV insurance, homeowner’s insurance, commercial liability insurance and umbrella insurance policies all cover accident-related injuries in appropriate cases.

Fact #5: You Can Hire a Lawyer for Your ATV Accident At No Out-of-Pocket Cost

Rather than dealing with the insurance companies on your own, you can hire a lawyer to deal with them for you—and you can do so at no out-of-pocket cost. At Drake, Hileman & Davis, P.C., our ATV accident lawyers handle all cases on a contingency-fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless you win.

Discuss Your ATV Accident Claim with a Pennsylvania Lawyer for Free

If you would like to speak with a lawyer about filing an ATV accident claim in Pennsylvania, we encourage you to contact us promptly. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call 888-777-7098 or get in touch online now.