1st Victim of ATV Injuries in Wisconsin Reported
Wisconsin ATV Season Off to a Dangerous Start
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
This spring has brought a spate of dangerous ATV crashes to the state of Wisconsin. As of mid-May, at least three individuals had been killed and several others had been severely injured. The accidents are drawing attention to the need to use proper safety precautions when operating a four-wheeler or other type of all-terrain vehicle.
ATV injuries in Wisconsin are relatively rare but they do happen. The most recent accident occurred on May 17 in Lebanon; a rider was seriously injured after being ejected from his ATV.
Earlier that week, a Jefferson County man died from head injuries he sustained when he lost control of his ATV and struck a tree. The force of that collision ejected him from his vehicle and sent him flying head-first into a second tree.
Just days before that crash, a Dodge County man was riding through a farm field when he hit an embankment and was launched off his ATV. He suffered severe injuries and had to be transported by helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee.
ATV Safety Tips
These are just a few of the many ATV crashes that have injured Wisconsin residents so far this spring. Crash rates are expected to get worse as the summer progresses.
All ATV riders – even those who have years of experience – can benefit from keeping the following safety tips in mind:
- Take a safety course: Training courses are required by state law for all riders born after January 1, 1988. However, even adult riders should consider getting professional training.
Wear the right gear: Helmets should never be considered optional. In addition, riders should wear goggles, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt to protect against flying debris. - Don’t carry passengers: Safe ATV use requires drivers to use their body weight to control the vehicle. Carrying a passenger makes ATVs unstable and hard to control
- Don’t let kids on adult vehicles: About one-third of all ATV deaths and serious injuries involve children riding on adult-sized ATVs. If kids are going to ride, they need to use youth-size vehicles.
- Stay sober: Never ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In addition to being extremely dangerous, riding under the influence is a crime, just like drunk driving.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can help reduce ATV accidents rates in Wisconsin. If you need legal representation following an ATV accident, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.
Source: Watertown Daily Times, “Area Sees String of ATV Accidents,” May 18, 2012.