ATV Accidents Are on the Rise
Pennsylvania has become famous for its abundance of ATV trails. A study in 2003 found more than 600,000 ATV owners in the Commonwealth and the numbers have grown since (nationwide, there are well over 7 million ATV owners).
While ATVs are more common in rural areas, they have become popular enough in urban area for cities like Philadelphia to toughen their enforcement of laws against riding ATVs on city streets.
The growth in popularity, however, has come with a corresponding increase in injuries. According to the US Consumer Protection Agency, ATV accidents resulted in more than 107,000 emergency room visits in 2011 alone. Of these accidents, more than 75% of the victims suffered devastating brain and spinal cord injuries. 27% of the victims were children under 16 years of age.
ATVs pose unique dangers. These vehicles can weigh as much as 500 pounds and travel between 45 and 100 miles per hour. ATVs are designed to drive along dirt trails, which pose their own hazards, such as sharp turns, uneven grounds, rocks and steep hills. Further, many users compete with their ATVs in races and extreme sports events where riders drive through obstacle courses and perform tricks while riding.
While more modern models have been outfitted with a variety of safety features, such as four wheel drive and power steering, none of these attempts have addressed the most common type of ATV accident: rollovers. These vehicles have a strong tendency to flip over, sending their riders flying through the air and into objects or, worse, pinning them underneath 500 pounds of metal and plastic.
There are not many federal regulations governing the manufacture, and use of ATVs and the states have mixed records when it comes to patient safety. In Pennsylvania, for example, state law mandates where an ATV may be operated (they can only be driven on private property, ATV trails, and other specifically designated areas) and provides that all riders must wear a helmet.
These regulations do little to address the inherent dangers of riding these vehicles, however. The cause of most injuries is a mix of their sheer power and weight combined with the rough terrain on which they are usually used.
Types of Injuries From ATV Accidents
ATVs are not street legal for a reason. They pose such a high threat to a rider’s health; it is not worth even trying to make such a dangerous vehicle legal because the legal cases would be endless. Some of the most common injuries are:
Having a roll cage attached to your ATV or wearing a helmet will help prevent any of the above injuries from happening, or at least, make them not as severe. Injuries are only on the rise when it comes to number and types of injuries reported and treated at hospitals.
The most sure way to prevent any type of injury would be to not ride an ATV, but the chances of stopping that are slim to none - which is why we are here to help!
Call Alvin de Levie to Help Your Case
Being injured in an ATV accident means you will have to file a personal injury claim. This process can be long, tedious and stressful. Don’t go through it alone.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you or someone you know has suffered a personal injury from an ATV accident, the Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie & Associates can help. Contact a dedicated member of our legal team by calling our firm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 215-351-1100 (Philadelphia Area), 814-238-5880 (State College Area) or 1-800-292-0458 (Toll-Free) for a consultation.
Alvin F. de Levie & Associates maintains offices throughout Pennsylvania, with locations in Philadelphia, State College, Clearfield, Bellefonte and Lock Haven, and we are willing to meet any clients throughout the Commonwealth.
Alvin F. de Levie is a 1973, Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a 1976 graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. He is an expert in Pennsylvania Law revolving around medical malpractice and personal injury.
Mr. de Levie has consistently been voted by his peers to receive Martindale-Hubbell's "AV Preeminent" 5.0 out of 5.0 rating. An AV Preeminent rating is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.
