Orlando ATV & Recreational Vehicle Accidents
More than 10 million all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are in use in our country today as work vehicles and as recreational vehicles. ATVs handle differently from other vehicles, such as motorcycles and cars, and can be hazardous to operate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the most common ATV accident is a rollover accident.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says it received reports of 327ATV-related fatalities occurring in 2011. The CPSC further estimates that there were 107,500ATV-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in the United States in 2011. About 29,000 of these injuries (27 percent) were to children younger than 16 years old.
From 1982 through 2011, there were 485 ATV-related fatalities in Florida, according to the CPSC, the sixth-highest total in the nation. From 1982 to 2007, 109 children under age 16 were killed in ATV accidents.
At the Florida law office of Frank M. Eidson, P.A., our auto accident lawyer has handled many ATV accident claims on behalf of victims throughout the Orlando, St. Cloud and Deland areas. He has recovered millions of dollars in successful verdicts and settlements and has the knowledge and experience necessary to helping you recover fair compensation if you or a family member of yours has been injured in an ATV accident that was someone else’s fault.Contact the Frank M. Eidson law firm today to discuss your potential claim.
ATV Accidents – An Overview
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is a motorized vehicle designed for off-road use with low-pressure tires, a seat that is straddled by the operator, and handlebars for steering. Currently, only four-wheeled models are produced in the United States; production of three-wheeled ATVs ended in 1987 because of safety concerns.Still, an estimate 2.4 million three-wheelers had already been sold and many remain in use today.
In addition to exciting recreational uses for ATVs, all-terrain vehicles are commonly used for such work as:
- Farming
- Forestry
- Ranching and handling livestock
- Law enforcement
- Search and rescue
- Special events (festivals, parades, etc.).
But the oversized, deep-tread and low-pressure tires, narrow wheelbase and high center of gravity that enhance the maneuverability of an ATV on hills, in sand, through culverts and over other rough terrain, also increases its risk of rolling over, the CDC explains.
And because, like motorcycles, an ATV offers no structural protection to riders in an accident, an ATV rider faces an increased risk in an accident.
The CPSC says in the 2013 edition of its annual report about ATV-related deaths and injuries that:
- The plurality of the ATV-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2011 were diagnosed as contusions/abrasions (26 percent) or fractures (23 percent).
- The majority of the ATV-related, emergency department-treated injuries in 2011wereinjuries of the arm (29 percent) and the head or neck (28 percent).
Another look at ATV injuries, by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in 2011, said ATV injuries most often happen during recreational use, and that 80 percent of injuries are to the driver rather than to a passenger.Although only 15 percent of ATV riders are children, they account for 27 percent of ATV injuries, and 28 percent of deaths.
Injuries are also increasing in people older than 50 years, the AAOS says. When older riders are injured, they have more frequent and more severe thoracic (neck and back) injuries, with longer hospital stays and more complications.
If you of a family member of yours has been injured in an ATV accident that was not their fault, you may be eligible to receive compensation for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost income, and pain and suffering. ATV accidents can be caused by negligent and reckless use of these potentially dangerous recreational vehicles, and those whomisuse an ATV cause injury to others should be held liable.
In many cases, a minor child injured in an ATV accident was under the supervision of an adult ATV owner who did not take proper safety precautions, such as ensuring the child was properly instructed in operation of the ATV and/or was equipped with a helmet or other protective gear. While you may be reluctant to file a legal claim against a friend, neighbor or community organization, it is proper to keep in mind that a settlement would be paid by the liable party’s insurance company. You must also consider the expenses and losses you face.
Orlando personal injury / auto accident attorney Frank M. Eidson has helped many Orlando, St. Cloud, and Deland-area families after accidents that have resulted in catastrophic injury. He can analyze your ATV accident to determine who or what organization should be held liable, and help you obtain the compensation you and your family deserve.
Contact Our Orlando ATV Accident Attorney
Frank M. Eidson has a successful track record over 24 years of work in Central Florida in handling the type of unique and complicated personal injury and wrongful death cases that arise from ATV accidents. If you or a loved one of yours has been injured in an ATV accident, please don’t hesitate to contact Frank M. Eidson, P.A., in Orlando.
At the office of Frank M. Eidson, P.A., we recognize that ATV accidents can be life-changing when they happen to a child or a family’s breadwinner, and we treat every client with compassion, dignity and respect. Frank Eidson is the only lawyer in his law practice, so he leads each case and every client gets to know him. They soon learn that they can trust him to understand and look out for their best interests.
Having an experienced Orlando ATV accident lawyer on your side counts when you and your family need and deserve compensation to deal with a long and difficult recovery. If Frank M. Eidson is your ATV accident attorney, you have that experience. Call today to discuss your accident and the legal options available to you.
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