ATV ACCIDENTS
Your Rights in an ATV Accident Case

brampton ATV Accident Attorneys

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 135,000 people are injured every year because of an accident involving a recreational all-terrain vehicle (ATV). What’s more is that over 700 are involved in a fatal accident; one-third of such fatal accidents occur to children who are under 16 years of age. This is nothing to take lightly. If you have been injured in such an accident, no matter whether it was recreational or if it was while on the job, you could have grounds to file a personal injury claim to recover full and fair compensation.

The main causes of ATV accidents include the following:

  • Operator Behavior– Often, ATVs are being used is in rural land. Should the operator not know the way to handle the vehicle, it can cause them to be ejected, for the vehicle to rollover, or for them to simply lose control.
  • Incorrect Number of Passengers– Another common cause is when an operator puts a passenger on an ATV when it is clearly designated as one person only. ATVs may have the “room” to fit another body, but they commonly not built to safely hold more than one. Not just because of weight limits, but also because a passenger doesn’t have the ability to maneuver with the vehicle. When operating a smaller ATV, the driver will have to shift their weight to stay balanced; a passenger won’t be able to intuitively shift with the vehicle and will be vulnerable to falling off or throwing off the entire vehicle’s balance.
  • Defective ATV– Should the throttle stick, steering lockup, suspension be faulty, or tires blowout, it can lead to an accident. In these cases, the vehicle operator will not be at fault, but rather the designer or manufacturer.

ATV Accidents Can Lead to Serious Spinal Injuries, Especially for Children

When it comes to ATV accidents, studies have shown victims frequently suffer spine injuries. The people who are most commonly hurt are women and older children. In fact, recent research showed that between 1997 and 2006, there was a 240% increase in the amount of child-related ATV injuries. Between those same years, there was a 436% increase in the number of spine injuries resulting from ATV accidents. Children who sustained a spine injury in an ATV accident are at an increased risk of associated injuries in the future. Not only are they at risk of suffering again, but there is concern that the injury may not be fully treated the first time around if the condition is not noticed during the first X-ray. Regardless of whether an injury is not fully-treated or if a later injury aggravates the condition, such spinal injuries can cause lifelong pain for the victim.

In addition to spinal injuries, riders can also suffer from the following:

  • Abdominal injuries
  • Closed head injuries
  • Spinal fractures
  • Appendicular skeletal fractures
  • Neurological injuries

Because there is a serious danger for spinal injuries, ATV manufacturers work hard to improve the safety of their vehicles, as well as usage instruction quality and warnings. Still, there are many times that even precautions are not enough to help someone avoid an accident.

If you or someone who you love has been injured, our firm can help.

Take the First Step: Call 800.793.3903 for a Free, Confidential Consultation

At Hurt In brampton, we are prepared to take on personal injury claims of all kinds—including those involving ATV accidents. While not as common as some other motor vehicle accidents, it is important to note that these types of accidents can lead to debilitating and even life-threatening injuries. It is therefore extremely important that you do not hesitate to get the involvement of a our firm as soon as possible so we can help you.

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