Personal Injury & Accident Lawyer Blog

We’ve relayed a few tragic cases of ATV accidents recently that resulted in serious injuries and fatalities, and it seems that the number of accidents on these vehicles is on the rise.  Now that more coverage is being dedicated to this growing issue, reports are beginning to surface that detail the statistics that surround the problems related to riding ATV’s for either recreational or agricultural uses.

The Journal-Star in Lincoln, Nebraska recently published an article that laid out a few relevant statistics, and in a word, they are troubling:

“In rural Nebraska, ATV accidents have become the leading cause of agricultural fatalities. From 2004 through 2007, one-third of ag fatalities involved ATVs, which are handy for many tasks on farms and ranches, as well as for recreation.

The Consumer Product Safety Safety Commission reported last year that serious injuries because of ATV crashes have increased for eight years in a row to a total of 150,900 in 2007. Since 2001, the number of injuries serious enough to require emergency room treatment has risen by 37 percent. Nationwide, at least 542 ATV fatalities were reported.

The Yamaha Rhino ATV, which has side-by-side seating for the driver and a passenger, has been targeted by lawsuits alleging that it is unstable and prone to rollovers. Yamaha has offered free repairs to improve safety.

Safety experts are particularly concerned about the number of ATV accidents involving children. About one-third of injuries and deaths happen to children age 16 or younger.”

At least some good could be coming from these senseless tragedies.  The University of Nebraska Extension began a program last year designed to provide training and general education for the proper operation of ATV’s.

If you own an ATV, you need to take proper precautions when driving it.  If you or someone you love has been injured or worse in an ATV accident, you need to contact the attorneys at the Phillips National Injury Group as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.