Ohio ATV Accident Lawyers
Have you been injured in an ATV accident? A knowledgeable and experienced Ohio ATV accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options to seek compensation for your injuries in an ATV accident lawsuit.
In the event of an ATV accident, you should never accept the first settlement offer offered by an insurance adjuster. Furthermore, you shouldn’t settle for a law firm that will do that either.
Choose a lawyer who will fight hard to get you the maximum compensation for your claim.
At GB Law, a law firm located in Columbus, our experienced Ohio personal injury lawyers have been representing victims of serious injuries for more than 35 years.
We have recovered more than $200 million for our clients and have a long record of success in personal injury claims and cases, across the state of Ohio.
Contact our firm today for a free, no obligation legal evaluation of your case.
What are All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) defines an all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, as a motorized, off-road vehicle having three or more low-pressure tires, handlebars for steering control, and a straddle seat for the operator. (1)
ATVs are powerful vehicles, and novice operators and passengers may not understand how powerful they are. They are extremely heavy and can go very fast.
Other names for ATVs you may hear are:
- Light utility vehicles (LUVs)
- Four-wheelers
- Quad bikes/quads
- Three-wheelers/trikes
ATV Injury Statistics
According to a 2021 U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) report, there were 1,591 deaths associated with ATVs from 2016–2018 and 526,900 injuries caused by ATVs and other off-highway vehicles from 2016–2020 (2).
In 2020, the most common types of injuries were (3):
- Head and neck injuries (30%)
- Arm and hand injuries (30%)
- Torso injuries (20%)
- Legs and feet injuries (20%)
The following catastrophic injuries can be caused by ATVs and may lead to temporary or permanent disability:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Loss of limb(s)/traumatic amputation
How Do Most ATV Accidents Happen?
Inexperienced Operators and Riders
When new riders first hop on an ATV, they can put themselves and others in danger. Inexperienced operators can lose control of the vehicle, leading to collisions and rollover accidents that can pin or crush other ATV passengers or pedestrians.
Negligence Entrustment to a Minor
ATVs should not be entrusted to minors. In fact, most ATVs have specific warnings that state minors should not operate ATVs. These warnings often go ignored. A minor operating an ATV can seriously hurt someone else such as a passenger on the ATV, a pedestrian, or another ATV driver. This can give rise to a negligent entrustment claim.
Manufacturer Defects
Many ATVs have been negligently manufactured or designed. A defective ATV can lead to catastrophic injury and fatal accidents.
Where Do ATV Accidents Occur in Ohio?
While ATV accidents can occur anywhere in Ohio, most accidents occur on private property in rural areas far away from hospitals.
After a collision or loss of control accident, ATV accident victims may be taken to hospitals via helicopter or air ambulance without even being asked. The cost of a “life flight” can be tens of thousands of dollars.
Combined with medical bills, a surprise out-of-network bill showing up a few weeks after an accident for $40,000 or $50,000 can be financially debilitating and can lead to destroyed credit and eventual medical bankruptcy.
However, ATV accident victims may be entitled to compensation for any pain and suffering they experienced from the accident and resulting injuries.
GB Law works on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not pay any fees or bills unless we recover compensation for you.
What Safety Precautions Should Ohio ATV Riders Take?
If you ride an ATV, you are at risk for serious injuries in a collision. Although it is not possible to guarantee your safety, there are things you can do to be a safer rider and reduce your likelihood of being involved in a crash.
Some of the steps the CPSC recommends individuals and their family members take to be safer on ATVs include (4):
- Never allow a child to ride an adult ATV
- Do not ride ATVs on paved roads
- Get training from an expert on operating an ATV
- Never allow more riders than the manufacturer designed the ATV to ride
- Wear a helmet, appropriate boots, gloves, and protective clothing
What Should You Do After Being Involved in an ATV Accident?
Even if you follow all of the ATV injury prevention tips and the law, ATV accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one is injured in an Ohio all-terrain vehicle accident, take the following steps.
Step 1: Get Medical Treatment Immediately
After being involved in an accident with an ATV, you should seek medical treatment right away. Even if you don’t feel any pain or show any outward signs of an injury, it’s possible you are hurt.
Delaying medical care can be used against accident victims’ cases, resulting in a denial of the compensation they need.
Step 2: Contact an Attorney
Having an Ohio ATV lawyer review the facts of your accident can save you time and possibly money. At GB Law, we offer a free and immediate initial consultation to discuss:
- Whether you may have a claim
- Who may be liable for your injuries or a loved one’s wrongful death, including adult owners of ATVs who “negligently entrusted” their ATV to a minor
- Whether an independent investigation is necessary to determine the cause of your accident
- How to preserve important evidence for a negligence claim
- Why it is necessary to complete medical treatment
- What claim forms and releases you should sign and which you should not
- What information you need to provide to the insurance company
Lawyers understand the law and can provide expertise on subjects most people are not well-versed in.
For example, homeowners, renters, and even farm owners insurance covers injury claims involving ATVs. In other words, don’t assume you don’t have a claim just because a “normal” vehicle was not involved.
Our Ohio ATV accident lawyers work to provide clients with the best information and legal representation. Contact GB Law today for a free consultation.
Who is Liable in an Ohio ATV Accident Lawsuit?
If your recreational vehicle accident was caused by another party’s negligence, you may have a personal injury or wrongful death claim against another ATV operator, a property owner, or the manufacturer of the ATV.
ATV accident claims can be challenging, especially product liability claims against a manufacturer or retailer. We are often approached by other personal injury attorneys for assistance in Ohio ATV accident cases because we understand the unique aspects of these cases and have more experience than most.
Our Ohio ATV attorneys are not afraid to take on challenging ATV accident claims and will not hesitate to bring an Ohio ATV lawsuit to trial if a fair settlement is not offered.
GB Law handles all types of Ohio personal injury cases, from more straightforward car and motorcycle accidents to more complex rideshare and truck accidents.
If You’ve Been Injured in an ATV Accident in Ohio, Contact Our Attorneys for a Free Consultation
It is critical to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible following an accident. Contact our Ohio ATV accident attorneys to discuss your case at 614-881-2488 or fill out our free case review form.
Sources
- 2021 CPSC Report
- 2021 CPSC Report
- 2021 CPSC Report
- CPSC News Release