Every year the Georgia injury attorneys at Finch McCranie, LLP get calls about people being seriously injured on All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs), especially children. Just last year we had a wrongful death case involving a minor and an ATV. In that case, we represented the family of a young girl who was thrown off of the back of an ATV while riding as a passenger, at night and with no helmet! As spring approaches, a quick warning about the dangers of ATVs is in order. When used appropriately and with proper safety precautions, ATVs can be an enjoyable form of recreation. However, when used inappropriately, these vehicles pose a great risk for catastrophic injury, including TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Consumer critics argue more limitations must be placed on ATV use. Backing then are some staggering numbers. For instance, children under the age of 16 account for two-thirds (2/3) of ATV-related deaths and injuries. Some states have passed regulations prohibiting young children from riding and requiring riders to wear helmets. One state (North Carolina) now requires safety training for all ATV riders. Unfortunately Georgia has no age restrictions and no helmet law. Regardless of what the lawmakers say, parents must insure their children are safely using ATVs, in order to avoid serious injuries or death. In our recent case, neither the driver of the ATV or the passenger were being properly supervised by adults. As a result of negligent supervision, she died. If you or a loved one have been injured on an ATV either as a result of a product defect of the ATV or because of the negligence of someone operating one, call the experienced lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP at (800) 228-9159.
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