Texas ATV Accident Lawyer Serving Four-Wheeler Victims in Southeast Texas
Have You or a Loved One Been Hurt in an ATV Crash?
In Texas, we like to go off-road. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) offer a fun, fast ride and are designed to take you where other vehicles can’t go, such as hilly, rocky, and wet terrain. While ATVs can be very entertaining, they can also be very dangerous. By design, they leave riders more exposed to the elements around them, and when a fall, turnover, or other accident happens, riders do not have the protective shell of a typical passenger car.
Four-wheelers are meant to have safety features to protect riders who are going off-road. When those features fail to work on your behalf, a catastrophic injury can result. The ATV accident lawyers at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices help injured victims recover from all responsible parties, including vehicle manufacturers, and other reckless riders. We will help you and your family get the compensation you deserve after your ATV accident.
Texas is the Deadliest State for ATV Riders
According to data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Texas is the most dangerous state in the country for ATV accidents. Over 830 people have been killed in ATV accidents across the state over the last 30 years, in addition to the thousands that have been seriously injured.
Nationwide, over 80,000 people are involved in ATV accidents every year. The CPSC reported that 81,800 emergency-room visits in 2018 were related to ATV injuries. The majority of fatal injuries happen to vehicle drivers, rather than passengers or other parties involved. Most accidents and injuries happen to men between the ages of 16 and 34, who are the people most likely to ride ATVs. However, approximately 26 percent of people injured on ATVs are under the age of 16. Surprisingly, most serious ATV injuries happen on roads or highways, not on canyons and mountainsides. These vehicles are designed to go off-road, not to ride alongside cars going 80 mph. When ATV riders take to the highways, serious accidents are much more likely to occur.
Common ATV Design Defects
ATV accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. Riders may be intoxicated or reckless, or they may ride their ATVs in improper locations (such as on highways or other public roads). Riders and passengers may also be injured by inexperienced or untrained tour guides who provide inadequate safety instructions and precautions. Additionally, injuries can occur when the manufacturer fails to incorporate a safer alternative design causing an ATV to tip, roll, or fail to steer or brake as expected and seriously injure the driver and any passengers.
Some ATVs have a narrower wheelbase, and all designs should be made to eliminate or reduce the risk of their tipping and rolling. Riders should be secured by a strong seat belt restraint system and roll bar. Unfortunately, many ATVs have been recalled due to defective designs or defects in the manufacturing process that leave riders without the protection they should reasonably expect. Some of the defects that have injured ATV riders in recent years include:
- ATVs that lack stability making them prone to rolling over
- Seat belts prone to failure, causing riders to be flung from their seats in the event of a sudden stop or accident
- Failing roll bars
- Lack of proper warning and offsetting safety features to account for open ATVs, leading to crushed arms and legs
- Brake failures
These design, marketing and manufacturing defects can easily lead to broken bones, organ damage, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage, concussions, and any number of other impact injuries. If you or a loved one were injured due to a defective ATV, the ATV accident lawyers at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices can help you recover from the manufacturers and sellers that failed to provide you with the safety and security you were rightfully owed.
Advice and Representation for Texas ATV Accident Claims
If you or a loved one has been seriously hurt in an accident involving an ATV or other recreational off-roading vehicle in Texas or statewide, contact the dedicated and effective ATV injury attorneys at the Gilbert Adams Law Offices for a free consultation. Call 409-835-3000, or contact us online for immediate assistance.
