Like any other vehicle, ATVs can be involved in accidents. And also, like any other vehicle, some ATVs are inherently more dangerous than others. Knowing the ins and outs of your particular ATV can go a long way in ensuring your safety. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made a website specifically to promote ATV safety. It highlights six main safety tips.
- Take an ATV safety training class
- ALWAYS wear a helmet and other safety equipment
- Only allow one person to ride any ATV
- Do not drive an ATV on paved roads
- Do not allow children to operate an adult ATV
- Do not drink and drive
Many of these tips are self-explanatory. The CPSC website expands on each of these points with statistics.
- ATVs are inherently unique. ATV handlers with formal training have a lower injury risk.
- Head injuries are common in ATV accidents, and helmets can prevent damage. It is also recommended to wear full-body protection.
- ATVs are made for one person. Having more than one person on an ATV can cause drivers great difficulty.
- ATVs are built for off-road environments, and are subsequently difficult to handle on developed roads. Many fatalities occur with ATVs colliding with cars.
- Children riding appropriately sized ATVs are half as likely to be injured as children riding adult ATVs.
- Like all things, drugs and alcohol make ATV operation much more difficult and dangerous. Don’t do it.
For more information on ATV Safety, visit the CPSC ATV safety website here. If you or a loved one has the misfortune of being involved in an ATV accident, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at (800) 333-0000. Our law firm has handled numerous lawsuits involving faulty ATV manufacturing and ATV accidents, and as always, we’ll fight for you!
