ATV Accident Attorney

As more and more people are enjoying the great outdoors on all-terrain vehicles, the number of accidents involving these sometimes-dangerous vehicles is increasing, also. Men and women and girl and boys of all ages are finding these vehicles to be an exciting mode of transportation and fun. However, when not ridden properly, or when a driver or passenger is young and inexperienced, these vehicles can be deadly.

According to reports, over 550 people died as a result of ATV accidents in 2006, with 100 of those deaths being children. Government safety offices suspect those numbers are even higher due to some incidents not being reported. Over 146,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries in that same year. In more than 75% of the accidents in which speed could be determined, the ATVs were going too fast, and in 60% of the deaths, riders were not wearing helmets.

Stricter Regulations Wanted

The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) has called for stricter rules on who can ride and drive ATVs by law. Because so many of the injuries and deaths in ATV accidents are children, something must be done, according to the CPSC. Many parents of young victims, especially, have called for tighter restrictions placed on the speed of ATV's being used by children. Even if they wear helmets, kids are dying from injuries sustained in ATV accidents. According to reports, most of the injuries and deaths to children are the result of youngsters riding adult-sized ATVs.

Parents want the CPSC to do more to keep young kids off ATVs that are clearly too big for them. While parents have called for the ban of selling ATVs to adults who may let children ride or drive them, the CPSC has declined to do so. How would any salesperson really know who was going to ride the ATV once it left the store? Many ATV distributors have agreed to voluntarily not sell to adults they think will allow their kids to ride, but, for obvious reasons, this is a very difficult judgment to make.

For the past two years, the CPSC has considered certain regulations to minimize the number of injuries and deaths as a result of ATV accidents. One of those regulations would be to require the installation of equipment to limit maximum speeds the ATVS could travel, based on the rider's age.

It is clear that something must be done to reduce the number of children dying in ATV accidents. If you own an ATV, you must be certain that whomever you allow to ride it is fully capable of doing so, and always require all drivers and riders to wear helmets. These vehicles can be very dangerous when everything is working properly, but when there is a defect in the design or manufacture of an ATV, the danger is even worse.

If you or your loved one has been injured or killed in an ATV or bike accident, please contact an experienced bike injury lawyer in your area today.