ATV Accidents: Rolling Over the Problem

When people imagine an ATV accident, many picture a high speed collision with a tree or other obstacle. Some people will imagine falling off the vehicle while riding through the dunes or after hitting a bump in the forest. While these type of incidents do occur, one of the most common causes of serious injury and death in ATV accidents is unanticipated by many riders.

An accident in Butler County near Cincinnati on November 10th is just the most recent example of this danger. The rider was having fun in the woods near his home when something went terribly wrong and the ATV rolled over on top of him. He was trapped underneath and killed.

Though they seem comparatively small, ATVs usually weigh at least 300 pounds, and many models are significantly heavier. The weight of the vehicle alone is enough to cause serious injury and death in case of an accident. Combined with the speeds these vehicles can reach, the amount of force a human body can be subjected to while riding is immense.

The types of injuries are varied. According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common ATV injuries are:

• Head injuries, accounting for 36 percent of all injuries
• Spine injuries, accounting for 18 percent of all injuries
• Broken ribs and extremity fractures

The cause of the accident in Butler County is still unknown. Though it is possible the driver was at fault, there is also the possibility that some mechanical malfunction caused the ATV to flip. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an ATV accident, and you aren’t sure if the accident was caused by vehicle malfunction, please contact an attorney to help you find that answer.