Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Children injured by ATVs
Although many people enjoy riding on All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) they can be very dangerous for children. Parents should be aware of the dangers to make sure their children are safe.
All-terrain vehicles are motorized vehicles that have large tires and are designed for driving off highways and on uneven surfaces. According to the National Agriculture Safety Database, one-third of all deaths from 1982 to 2002 related to ATV accidents involved children under 16 years old. Injuries to the central nervous system were involved in 80% of deaths in ATV accidents. There were 698 deaths in children aged 1-19 years from ATV accidents between 1999-2001.
There were 404,249 children under age 20 injured in ATV accidents who were treated in emergency rooms. Experts estimate that helmets could reduce the risk of death by 42%, and reduce the risk of nonfatal head injuries by 64%.
The American Association of Pediatrics (AAP) is concerned about the number of young children who are injured in ATV accidents. They recommend that states prohibit the use of ATVs for children under 16 years. They also recommend banning the sale of three-wheeled ATVs and in addition, to recall three-wheeled ATVs because of the number of accidents associated with this type of vehicle. According to the AAP All-Terrain Vehicle Injury Prevention Report three-wheeled ATVs are dangerous because they have a they can reach speeds up to 50 mph, have a high center of gravity, a poor or absent suspension system, and no rear-wheel differential which makes a combination of dangerous factors. They also think that seat belts and roll bars should be required of ATVs.
Most injuries associated with Massachusetts ATV accidents occur when the driver loses control, the vehicle rolls over, the driver or passenger is thrown off, or there is a collision with a fixed object.
AAP recommends:
- children under 16 should not drive off road vehicles
- never allow riding double
- children over 16 with a drivers license should wear helmet, eye protection, and reflective clothing
- parents should not allow ATVs to be driven on streets or at night
- ATVs should have lights, reflectors and flags to make them more visible
- parents should set a good example by not drinking and driving ATVs
When you are interviewing personal injury attorneys ask critical questions, like: how long have you been practicing; what is the largest settlement or verdict you've obtained, and do you have experience with burn accidents involving children? Kiley Law Group, located in Boston and Andover, Massachusetts takes time when speaking with you about your case and works with you on a contingent basis so there are NO FEES unless our trained Boston child injury lawyers wins your case. Call now for a FREE evaluation of your case – 1-888-208-1695.
