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Los Angeles All Terrain Vehicle Accident Attorneys
All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are
3 or 4 wheeled motorized vehicles used for off-road riding. ATV's
are equipped with gasoline powered engines and are designed for
one driver only. ATV's were designed in the late 1960's and first
sold in the United States in the early 1970's. This type of vehicle
is very popular and is commonly used for recreation, rescue efforts
in emergency situations, and agricultural maintenance. Every year,
many people, including children, are severely injured due to ATV
accidents. Serious physical injury, property damage, brain damage,
paralysis, and death may result from an ATV accident. If you have
been in an ATV-related accident you may be entitled to medical costs,
vehicle repair compensation, pain and suffering, loss of earnings,
and future loss of earnings.
The statistics concerning All
Terrain Vehicles in the United States show that:
- In 1998 there were over 60,000 reported ATV-related
injuries.
- In 1997 over 30,000 children under the age
of 16 were injured in ATV-related accidents.
- It has been estimated that ATV-related injuries
have doubled in the past 5 years in the United States.
- In a recent 5 year period ATV-related injuries
requiring emergency room assistance have increased over 100 percent.
There are many different factors
that may cause accidents while operating an All Terrain Vehicle.
Some causes of accidents are:
- Improper positioning on the vehicle.
- Too many riders on the vehicle.
- Lack of protective gear.
- Operating an ATV at unsafe speed.
- Operating an ATV under the influence of drugs
or alcohol.
Other causes of All Terrain Vehicle
accidents are related to the production or manufacturing of the
vehicle. Manufacturing defects are flaws in the manufacturing process
that may result in injuries. Failure to warn is when a manufacturer
knows of a hazard regarding the product and does not warn consumers
of it. Design defects are errors in the manufacturer's design of
the product that make the vehicle dangerous.
There are many preventative measures
regarding All Terrain Vehicle accidents. Riders of all ages and
levels of experience should be aware of these preventative measures.
Here are some tips for safe riding:
- Learn proper handling of the vehicle by taking
an All Terrain Vehicle training class.
- Inspect your vehicle before riding. Look for
proper air pressure in tires, locate all controls and cables,
make sure headlights and taillights work, and check that fuel
and oil levels are adequate.
- Become educated about All Terrain Vehicles
by reading the safety manual that accompanied your ATV.
- Familiarize yourself with and follow laws that
apply to ATV operation in your state.
- Drive responsibly, be aware of your surroundings
and weather conditions, and only ride on designated trails.
- Never allow passengers to ride on your ATV.
- Only ride your ATV during daylight hours.
- Wear protective gear at all times. This includes
a properly fitting helmet designed for ATV use, gloves, long sleeves,
long pants, and boots.
- Ride an ATV that is appropriate for your size
and age.
- age 6+ Under 70cc
- age 12+ 70cc - 90cc
- age 16+ over 90cc
- Supervise children while riding ATVs at all
times.
It has been proven that children
under the age of 16 are the most at risk for accidents while operating
ATVs. Many states do not require an age limit, license or training
to operate ATVs. A typical adult-size ATV weighs between 500 and
1,000 pounds and can travel as fast as 75 miles per hour.
Every year there are thousand
of ATV recalls in the United States. Here are a few recent recalls
of ATVs:
- In 2001 in California, Suzuki voluntarily recalled
over 7,000 youth ATVs that had drive chain problems that could
injure or possibly kill a child rider.
- In 2000 in California, Honda voluntarily recalled
over 125,000 ATVs for problems that could possibly cause drivers
to lose control of the vehicles and experience injuries.
- In 2000 in California, Kawasaki recalled approximately
47,000 ATVs because of faulty drive belts that had been the cause
of 12 reported injuries to riders.
After an ATV-related accident,
contact a doctor immediately regarding any pain, suffering, or injury
that resulted from your accident.
The Law Offices of Kirk Bernard,
has years of experience in All Terrain Vehicle accident matters.
Our skilled team of attorneys will investigate the facts, assess
your claim, establish which parties and insurance companies are
to be held responsible, and organize all of the details of composing
and presenting your case. If you have suffered and injury as a result
of an All Terrain Vehicle accident, call a California ATV Accident Attorney at the Law Offices of Kirk Bernard.
Please click here to read a recent news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAVE BEEN
SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT, CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!
Call Kirk Personally - "I'm Here to Help
You!"
1-800-CALL KIRK
1-800-225-5547
The Law Offices of Kirk Bernard
10940 Wilshire Blvd. Ste. 2150
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Voice: (310) 578-7700 • Fax: (310) 208-5777
www.4injured.com
• www.washingtonelderabuse.com
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