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ATV Safety

March 20, 2017
dhdlaw

All-terrain vehicles (known as “ATVs”) come in all shapes and sizes.  They are powerful machines capable of traveling over rough terrain at high speeds.  ATVs are also extremely dangerous.  Safety should be paramount to ATV drivers and passengers.  Reckless or negligent operation of an ATV can lead to catastrophic injury and even death.  Contact one of the Allentown injury law attorneys at Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC today at 888-777-7098 if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an ATV accident.

How Dangerous are ATVs?

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “there are more than 700 deaths and 100,000 injuries each year involving ATVs.”  ATVs are very dangerous to operate and riders must always exercise extreme caution when doing so.  In its 2015 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries, the CPSC found the following:

  • There were 340 ATV-related fatalities in 2015, 547 in 2014, and 581 in 2013.
  • Of the ATV-related fatalities reviewed, 22 percent of the fatalities were children age 16 or younger.
  • In 2015, there were an estimated 97,200 ATV-related, emergency department-treated injuries.
  • The age group of 55 and older was the only group to see statistical increases from 2014 to 2015.

These statistics suggests that while ATVs can be dangerous to anyone, younger and older riders are more vulnerable to ATV-related injury or death.

What Steps Can My Family Take to Remain Safe While Using ATVs?

The CPSC has issued guidelines that should be followed to make the operation of an ATV as safe as possible.

  • Stay Off Paved Roads. ATVs are not meant to be ridden on paved roads and an ATV will never win out in an accident with a car or truck.
  • Age Appropriate. Never allow children to operate ATVs that are designed for adults.  Children do not have the physical or mental capabilities to operate adult ATVs safely.
  • Restrict Riders. Each ATV is designed to carry only a certain number of riders.  Never allow for more people to ride on the ATV than it was designed to carry.
  • Protective Gear. ATV riders should always wear helmets and other protective gear.
  • Training. Receiving appropriate training is critical to safe ATV operation.  The CPSC recommends that all drivers receive hands-on training.

Of course, no one should ever operate an ATV after using alcohol or other drugs.

Who is Responsible for My ATV-Related Injuries?

Failing to operate an ATV in a controlled and safe manner can lead to serious injury or even death.  Drivers must always be aware of their surroundings and maintain control of the ATV at all times.  Failing to do so can be considered reckless or negligent behavior.

Injuries that result from the reckless or negligent operation of an ATV are usually the responsibility of the driver.  However, an ATV-related injury may arise when the ATV was poorly designed, improperly assembled, or poorly maintained

Determining who is responsible for your injuries is the job of your personal injury attorney.  Contact us today to discuss your injuries and how we can get you the compensation that you deserve.

Contact Drake, Hileman & Davis, PC

Seek immediate medical attention if you have been injured while using an ATV or if you were injured by someone else’s operation of an ATV.  After you have received a thorough medical evaluation, contact an Allentown injury law attorney at 888-777-7098 to discuss your legal options.

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