ATV Accidents & Injuries in Missouri

All-terrain vehicles are used for hauling heavy objects and for recreation by both teens and adults. Even when operated properly, ATVs can be dangerous and result in serious accidents. In 2010, over 100,000 ATV accidents required emergency room care—25% of those included children under the age of 16.

If you’re looking for legal advice, consult our Kansas City ATV accident lawyers at Peterson & Associates, P.C. We offer complimentary consultations to review the details of your claim and can help you determine if you have grounds to file a damages lawsuit.

Contacting us at 816-888-8888 is the first step.

What Causes ATV Accidents?

The most common cause of ATV accidents is vehicle rolling. In this case, the driver can be thrown from the vehicle or pinned underneath it. The rough terrain, coupled with extra passenger weight, makes for a potentially fatal situation. Many do not know that ATV’s are not designed to carry a passenger, and that the passenger’s weight, plus their late reaction time to vehicle movement can capsize the ATV.

The following is considered unsafe ATV operation:

• Driving without proper training
• Hauling a passenger or heavy load
• Allowing children to operate adult ATV’s
• Driving on public roads
• Driving under the influence

If any of these are present in your ATV operation, injuries can occur.

Common ATV injuries include:

• Broken Bones
• Concussions
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Neck Injuries
• Traumatic Brain Injuries

Especially among younger ATV drivers, the risk of an accident mounts because they typically have less physical strength, fine motor skills, and cognitive abilities that are needed to safely operate the vehicle.

Who Is Responsible for an ATV Accident?

ATV Accidents can become very complicated, especially when figuring out what party is responsible. It may be the owner of the ATV, the owner of the property on which the accident occurred, or the vehicle manufacturer.