Massachusetts Personal Injury Library

Youth-sized ATV for your child? Think twice before you buy.

Controversy rages over whether children should ride ATVs. After a sharp rise in injuries and deaths that accompanied children riding vehicles designed for adults, manufacturers began marketing youth ATVs. However, many medical experts and products liability lawyers don’t believe the design can accommodate the variations in children’s body sizes. This is especially true of certain Yamaha ATV models made prior to 2007 that are considered defective by the oversight agencies.

The other issue is the average child’s ability to manage the machine’s power and speed. Some children may not be capable of using brakes, acceleration and many other multi-tasking skills needed to ride safely. You may wish to enroll your child in a government-sponsored safety class first. Visit ATV Safety to learn more.

Which laws govern ATV use?

The federal government does not place a legal age restriction on ATV driving, but has partnered with manufacturers to recommend that riders younger than 12 should not operate youth-sized ATVs. Adult-sized machines should not be used by those under 16.

Many states, however, have adopted age-restriction laws that govern those driving on state lands-but not private property. The Consumer Products Safety Commission sponsors links to the state laws in your area.

If your child has been involved in an ATV accident caused by a defective product, contact an experienced Boston product liability attorney at Kiley Law Group, LLP. 1-888-208-1695.