ATV Accidents in California: The Basics

California has so many wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation from our fantastic beaches to our mountains and lakes. We are blessed to have an abundance of opportunities for individuals who want to go off the beaten path and discover nature. One way you can do this is by riding all-terrain vehicles or ATVs.

Unfortunately for many, when they choose to go off-roading they forget that safety should be their number one concern. Even though ATVs may not have the same laws as automobiles or other vehicles, ATV drivers are still under a duty to act responsibly when riding ATVs.

All-terrain vehicles are a popular form of recreation for adults and children. We see problems occur when people treat ATVs as toys rather than powerful vehicles capable of causing great physical damage. ATVs are responsible for a significant number of catastrophic injuries and deaths throughout California each year. Individuals who are involved in an ATV accident need to contact an experienced ATV accident attorney to review their legal options to receive compensation for their injuries.

We see ATVs involved in accidents for a variety of reasons. One reason is ATVs rollover due to defects in the design or manufacture of the vehicle. In addition, some manufacturers due not provide adequate warnings and instruction on avoiding rollovers. You could have an ATV accident due to excessive speed, driving while distracted, operating while intoxicated or inexperienced drivers. We also see ATV accidents caused by reckless drivers or drivers who are negligent in the operation of the ATV.

When you are riding an ATV, it is important that you put your safety first to avoid accidents. To help reduce the risk of injuries while enjoying your ATV:

• Read the owner’s manual
• Enroll in a training course
• Also wear a helmet and other protective clothing or gear
• Never ride in traffic or on payment
• Never drive or ride an ATV while intoxicated
• Supervise children at all times

Even if you are extremely careful when operating an ATV, you are still at risk for an ATV Accident. If you are a victim of an ATV Accident, you may be eligible to collect compensation for your injuries if the accident was caused by another party’s negligent, reckless or careless actions.

A personal injury attorney who has experience handling ATV accidents will investigate several factors that can contribute to an accident to determine the liable parties. Those parties may include:

• An ATV manufacturer could be liable for a design flaw that made the ATV unsafe or defective in a way that caused the accident.
• The driver or owner of the ATV may be liable for your injuries for a variety of reasons such as speeding, reckless driving and intoxication.
• The party that owns the land or trail where you are riding if there are dangerous conditions or obstacles.