North Chicago & St. Louis Injury Updates
We have to talk about ATVs. No matter how safe you think they are, accidents can happen – and they can lead to catastrophic injuries. All-terrain vehicles provide people with great ways to get around off-road, both recreationally and for commercial purposes. But you also need to know the stats surrounding ATV accidents.
ATV Accidents and Catastrophic Injuries
When we examine information available from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we can see that there were 283 reported ATV deaths in Illinois between the years 1982 and 2014. From 2015 to 2017, there were 49 reported ATV deaths in this state. This is the latest current data available at the state and federal levels related to ATV fatalities.
There is more current information related to injuries caused by ATV accidents across the country. In 2019, there was an estimated 96,000 total ATV injuries. Out of these, 25,800 of the injuries were to children under the age of 16, and 12,900 of these injuries were to children under the age of 12.
Unfortunately, ATV accidents often result in severe injuries. Even if a person is wearing a helmet, ATV riders and passengers are exposed when an accident occurs. There are no metal frames around most ATVs, and an accident could result in a person being thrown off of the vehicle or having the ATV roll over onto an individual. Some other common causes of injuries or death caused by an ATV accident include fire and drowning as a result of falling into a body of water after an accident.
It is not uncommon for those involved in an ATV accident to sustain the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Amputations
- Crush injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken or dislocated bones
- Crush injuries
- Lacerations or penetrating injuries
- Significant scarring and disfigurement
- Major bleeding
- Internal organ trauma
Who Can be Held Liable?
It can be challenging to determine liability for an ATV accident that happens in Cook County or throughout Illinois. The reality is that there are various circumstances where individuals use ATVs. In some cases, individuals are injured while riding their own ATVs. When this occurs, fault could fall to the ATV owner or to another party who causes an accident, such as another ATV operator or another vehicle driver.
Additionally, it is not uncommon for individuals to rent ATVs for recreational or commercial purposes. In these cases, the company that leases the ATV is responsible for ensuring that the ATV is functioning properly and ensuring that the individual involved is of age to operate these vehicles and understands the risks.
Finally, retailers and manufacturers of the ATV could hold liability if the ATV is defective in some way. This could include various parts on the ATV that can become defective and cause an accident or injury.
Reach Out to an Attorney Today
If you or somebody you love has been injured in an ATV accident caused by the careless or negligent actions of another individual, company, or entity in Illinois, you need to reach out to an attorney immediately. These claims can be challenging, particularly when it comes to determining liability and recovering compensation. A Chicago ATV accident lawyer will use their resources to fully investigate every aspect of your claim and work to recover maximum compensation on your behalf.