ATVs are fun to ride. However, ATV accidents can result in severe injuries and sometimes even fatalities. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission reports 13,043 ATV-related fatalities occurred between 1982 and 2013. Unfortunately, some of these fatalities occurred in Alaska.
ATV Safety Tips
- Accident Reporting: The Alaska Department of Transportation has published guidelines concerning how ATV riders should report accidents. Experts recommend ATV riders become familiar with these laws in the event an ATV accident does occur.
- Avoid Driving Distracted: Riders of ATVs should never operate vehicles while tired or distracted. Doing so can lead to catastrophic accidents.
- ATVs and Children: According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, children under sixteen are twice as likely as adults to be injured when riding adult-sized ATVs.
- No Alcohol: Drinking alcohol and riding ATVs is against the law. Doing so greatly increases the chances of a crash occurring.
- Passenger Protocol: Never ride as a passenger on an ATV intended to carry only a single ride. Doing so can result in rollovers and other serious accidents. ATVs involve shifting a rider’s weight. You cannot do this effectively with two riders on the same vehicle.
- Avoid Paved Roads: Only drive ATVs on paths marked and approved for ATVs. Avoid riding on paved roads. Designed for riders to drive them off-road, driving ATVs on smoother surfaces increases the chances of an accident occurring.
- Safety Courses: ATV riders who feel that their riding skills need improvement should attend an ATV safety course. These classes teach various ATV driving techniques which eliminate the chance of riders becoming involved in accidents. Some of the lessons taught during the safety courses? Emergency stopping, hill riding, pre-ride inspection, starting and stopping, and riding over obstacles.
- Wear Protective Gear: ATV riders should always make sure to wear a helmet certified by the United States Department of Transportation. Wearing a helmet greatly reduces the risk of receiving a head injury. Additionally, riders should also wear other protective gear including boots, gloves, and goggles to prevent other injuries that might occur.
Tips When Involved In An ATV Accident
You can’t prevent all ATV related accidents. However, if you follow these tips, you help riders greatly reduce the risks of being injured by an ATV or hurting anyone else. If you are involved in an ATV accident, it is in your best interest to seek the professional help and services of a personal injury attorney in Alaska. With over 30 years of helping injured Alaskans get the compensation they deserve, Merdes Law Office, P.C. is the leading law firm in Alaska for their dedication to every client and case until the very end. For further information or schedule an appointment please contact Merdes Law Office, P.C. 866.452.3741 or visit www.merdes.com.
Photo by Airman Christopher Morales [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
