ATV ACCIDENT RESULTS IN DEATH & SERIOUS INJURY

The Georgia injury lawyers have written before that with the growing popularity of ATV’s or All-Terrain Vehicles, serious injury and death cases are on the increase in Georgia, especially among children. Yesterday, we read about a 12-year-old Alto, Georgia girl who was killed last Friday night about 8:30 p.m. in an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in Banks County. According to the Georgia State Patrol the girl was driving the vehicle when it overturned on private property. A 15-year-old passenger, who was not identified, was injured and taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. Unfortunately Georgia is one of only five states with no ATV safety legislation. Between 1982 and 2003 there were 177 fatalities involving ATV’s. Of the 177 deaths, one third were children under 16. In 2004, there were 12 fatalities involving ATV, 50% of which were children under 17.
Almost all ATV accidents involving fatalities or serious injuries occur while violating one or more of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s “Rules of ATV Operation”. These rules are as follows:
A. Children under sixteen should not ride adult-sized ATV (90 + cc’s).
B. Take a hands-on safety course.
C. Always wear a helmet while on an ATV.
D. Never drive an ATV on paved roads.
E. Never drive while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
F. Never drive an ATV with a passenger, and never ride as a passenger.
Despite these common sense rules, we continue to see children operating ATV’s and worse yet, operating them with passengers. Every new ATV that has come from the factory in recent years has a decal that warns the driver not to ride passengers. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured on an ATV, call the ATV injury lawyers at Finch McCranie LLP at 1 (800) 228-9159.