Due to a seasonal increase in the rate of ATV accidents, injuries, and even deaths, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging all ATV owners to exercise good judgement and safe riding.
Some of the statistics provided by the CPSC are incredibly sobering. Each year, there are nearly 700 deaths related to ATV accidents and around 136,000 trips to the emergency room. Year to date, preliminary reports suggest at least 130 adults and 28 children under the age of 16 have died this year solely from ATV accidents. 17 people (14 adults, 3 children) were killed on Memorial Day weekend alone. Many of these ATV injuries occur from inexperience, and the CPSC highly recommends ATV driving training courses.
The CPSC offers some safety tips for ATV drivers.
- All ATV drivers, adults and children, should take a hands-on ATV safety course from a certified instructor.
- Always wear protective gear – especially a helmet – when riding ATVs.
- Do not ride on a single-rider ATV as a passenger or carry a passenger if you drive one.
- Never allow more people on any ATV than the vehicle was designed to carry.
- Do not drive ATVs on paved roads. ATVs have solid rear axles, which make turning on paved surfaces difficult and dangerous and increase the risk of the ATV overturning or hitting another object, such as a tree or car.
- Do not permit children younger than 16 years old to drive or ride adult ATVs. Children younger than 16 years old lack the developmental skills to safely drive adult ATVs, and more than 90 percent of all injuries to children involve this scenario. Likewise, children younger than 6 should never be on an ATV – either as a driver or passenger.
To learn more about safe riding and the safety of your family on ATVs, visit ATVSafety.gov
The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker actively pursues cases against the manufacturers of ATVs who fail to provide adequate protection to their riders. If you or a loved one was injured in an ATV accident, contact us today at (800) 333-0000 to schedule a free consultation.
