When ATV Accidents Occur in Illinois

 Posted on July 29,2019 in Recreational Vehicle Accidents

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are popular throughout the United States, especially in rural areas where they are used for recreation and farm work. Illinois is no exception to this trend, but along with the increased popularity of these motorized vehicles, there has been an increase in the number of serious and even deaths from accidents involving ATVs.

ATV Accidents by the Numbers

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there are about 650 deaths and 100,000 injuries every year involving ATVs and in 2014, the most recent year where reporting is considered complete, there were 588 reported ATV-related fatalities in the country in that year alone and 73 (12%) were children younger than 16 years old. In Illinois alone, there have been 283 ATV related deaths between 1982 and 2014.

Causes of ATV Accidents

There are many causes of ATV accidents but the most common are:

• Driving on a paved road when most ATVs are designed for off-road; 
• Lack of proper gear; 
• Performing dangerous stunts; 
• Riding in areas considered unsafe for ATVs;
• Driving an ATV under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Riding an ATV with more than one person (most ATVs are designed for one person);
• Allowing a child under 16 to ride an adult ATV;
• Not being trained by a qualified instructor before riding an ATV; and
• Failing to observe state laws and local ordinances.

What to Do in the Event of an Accident

If you are involved in an accident, you should promptly seek medical help. This is true even if you feel fine, as there can be internal or delayed injuries that you might not see or feel until much later.

If you are able to do so, document the accident by taking pictures, including pictures of the vehicle, the scene and any visible injuries on you. If the accident involved another vehicle, get the other driver’s license and insurance information—again, assuming you can do so at the scene. If there are any witnesses, take names and contact information. If you are the one who crashed into another vehicle or damaged someone’s property, get their names and detailed information. All this information will help you down the road when you seek compensation for your injuries.

Speak to a Skilled Illinois ATV Accident Attorney

If you have been injured in an ATV accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, a knowledgeable Waukegan ATV accident lawyer can help you obtain full compensation for your injuries. For a free consultation, call the law office of Salvi & Maher, L.L.C. at 847-662-3303.

Source:

https://www.cpsc.gov/Research--Statistics/Injury-Statistics