Preventing ATV Injuries in Wisconsin
Summer is Deadly for Wisconsin ATV Riders
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. posted in Recreational Vehicle Accidents on Monday, July 9, 2012.
ATV riding is a big part of summer fun in Wisconsin, but it can be very dangerous if not done with an eye toward safety. Every year, the ATV accident death rate spikes during the summer months.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, almost 700 people died as a result of ATV accidents between 2004 and 2010. During that same time period, about 136,000 people ended up in hospital emergency rooms because of ATV accidents.
By June 2012, 28 children under 16 years of age and 130 adults had already been killed in ATV accidents. Seventeen of those deaths happened during the Memorial Day weekend. Wisconsin has not been immune to this trend; dozens of Wisconsin ATV riders have been killed or injured in accidents this season.
ATV Safety Tips
Although all riders are at risk of having an accident, the likelihood of a crash is much more acute among inexperienced riders. To help prevent accidents, new riders should keep the following tips in mind:
- Take a riding course. The course is hands-on and teaches drivers how to handle situations that could happen while riding off road.
- All riders, regardless of age or experience, should wear safety gear – a helmet, long pants, long sleeves and knee and elbow pads.
- Inexperienced riders should not carry a passenger, and no rider should ever carry more people than the ATV was made for.
- Do not drive the ATV on paved roads. Because of the solid rear axle, the ATV doesn’t turn as well on paved roads and could flip over or strike an object.
In addition to these tips, parents should make sure that children under age 16 never drive an adult ATV. The CPSC reports that more than 90 percent of the children who are involved in accidents were riding adult ATVs. Adult-sized ATVs are simply too large for children’s bodies.
By following these tips, you can help ensure that the summer ATV season is a safe one for you and your family.
Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “Annual Rise in Summer ATV Deaths Prompts CPSC to Urge Safety on the Trails,” June 28, 2012.
If you need legal representation following an accident, contact a Milwaukee personal injury attorney with Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. for a free consultation.