What Legal Options Do I Have After an ATV Accident?

 Posted on March 30,2021 in Recreational Vehicle Accidents

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs), quads, or four-wheelers can be useful and enjoyable. Unfortunately, these vehicles can also cause severe and often fatal injuries. If you or a loved one were hurt in an ATV accident or you were hurt by someone riding an ATV, you may have questions about your legal rights. Are ATV accidents treated the same as car accidents? Do ATV riders have to carry insurance? Will I be compensated for my medical bills after an ATV collision? The answers to these questions will depend on many different factors, so it is important to speak with a skilled injury attorney for individualized guidance.

16-Year-Old in Lake County Suffers Traumatic Brain Injury in ATV Incident

In January of this year, a 16-year-old Lake County girl suffered a traumatic brain injury after being ejected from an inner tube being pulled by an ATV. She was unresponsive for several days following the accident but is now awake and relearning how to function. Although this ATV incident was atypical in that it involved a person being towed behind the vehicle, ATV accidents causing injury or death are not uncommon. In 2018 alone, there were over 81,000 ATV accidents in the U.S. Over a quarter of these accidents involved children.

Liability for an ATV Accident

In Illinois, ATV drivers are required to have liability insurance. This insurance, like typical auto insurance, is intended to compensate an injured person in the event of an accident. However, many ATV owners do not carry enough insurance to adequately compensate someone for injury-related losses. In cases such as these, a personal injury case may be filed against the at-fault party. The party who is liable for ATV injuries may be an ATV driver, the owner of the property on which the accident occurred, the manufacturer or designer of a defective ATV part, or another party. Fault may also be shared between the injured person and another party. Fortunately, in Illinois, individuals who are partly responsible for their own injuries may still be entitled to partial compensation for damages if they are less than 51 percent at fault for the accident.

Contact a Waukegan ATV Accident Lawyer

If you or your child were hurt in an ATV accident, contact Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. to discuss your legal options. You may be able to get compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages caused by missed work, pain and suffering, and more. A Lake County ATV accident attorney from our firm can work with you to determine who is liable and seek financial recovery. Call 847-662-3303 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/ct-lns-brain-injury-support-st-0301-20210226-guu62qmqdrhqhho474xhkuouom-story.html

https://www.cpsc.gov/s3fs-public/2018AnnualReportofATVRelatedDeathsandInjuries.pdf?VGaf1cuZ_D0SGxct2eRpZUwcgME4LKDy