All-Terrain Vehicle Accidents
All-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, can provide hours of enjoyment to those who want to ride on trails and other areas that are not open enough for cars. However, many people do not realize the dangers that come with riding ATVs. In 2002, studies show that there were 357 ATV-related fatalities, and an additional 113,900 injured riders.
The first ATVs had three wheels. This was supposed to be helpful for steering purposes, but it was soon found to be an extremely hazardous design. Three-wheelers were hard to balance and often flipped over. Thus, ATV manufacturers turned to a four-wheeled design to stabilize their vehicles and help protect riders.
Sadly, four-wheeled ATVs are still not very safe, as you can see from the above statistics. These rates have risen even higher, with at least 555 dying from ATV accidents in 2006 alone. At least 100 of those deaths were children. Consumer advocate groups and parents argue that ATV manufacturing companies do not think of children when they are building their products.
It is true that many accidents related to ATV crashes could be the fault of the driver. Taking unnecessary risks while driving, not wearing helmets, and other such decisions can all contribute to injuries. However, a major concern of parents is that the ATV industry does not provide child-sized models. This means that many children are riding full-size, full-power vehicles which often get out of control.
While the ATV industry claims that it asks dealers not to sell high-powered vehicles to people who may take children for rides, many dealers do not abide by this request. This can result in injuries or even death to people around you.
Contact Us
If you or someone you know has been injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. For more information on product liability and other forms of personal injury law, contact an experienced Wisconsin motor vehicle accident lawyer at the firm of Habush Habush & Rottier S.C. ® today by calling 800-242-2874.
