All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Yamaha Rhino Accident Cases
With an increase in the popularity and operation of ATVs, accident-related injuries and deaths are also on the rise. Roughly 30 percent of these injuries and deaths involve children. Lack of supervision and proper instruction, combined with hazardous terrain and possible defects in the manufacturer's design and construction, can lead to serious ATV accidents. Studies show that children below the driving age are at a higher risk for catastrophic injuries when operating ATVs.
Contact the Omaha ATV accident attorneys at Cullan & Cullan LLC for a free consultation: (402) 882-7080.
ATV Rollovers
When an all-terrain vehicle rolls over, its riders and occupants can suffer severe injuries. While ATVs are not nearly as heavy as other vehicles, they still range between 350 to 400 pounds, which can easily cause serious damage to occupants during a rollover. Additionally, a rollover accident crushes the occupants between the ground and the vehicle itself, with hard dirt roads and paved streets resulting in especially dangerous rollover accidents. ATV rollover accidents can result in injuries such as broken bones, brain trauma, spinal cord injury, and crushing injuries.
Inherent Dangers of ATVs
While all motor vehicles present dangers to their occupants due to their fast speeds and the catastrophic injuries that can result from an accident, ATVs have been found to be as dangerous as motorcycles, yet with additional chances for an accident. Because ATVs are meant to go off-road and through treacherous terrain, the chances of an accident occurring become even greater. Although these vehicles are meant to safely navigate rough ground, unexpected hazards can result in a rider being thrown from the ATV or possibly crushed beneath in the case of a rollover or flip. Additionally, ATVs come in various styles and are meant for different terrains. However, when they are used on improper grounds, accidents can easily occur.
Types of ATVs & Terrain
All-terrain vehicles come in a variety of makes, including racing models, three-wheelers, four-wheelers, and six-wheelers. Further, each of these models has individual classes that are meant for various types of terrain, such as desert, woodlands, and motocross. The specifications of these vehicles and the features, such as tires and top speeds, are often not meant for other terrains and can cause the vehicle to be more susceptible to an accident when encountering hazards. Ice, branches, train tracks, and sand can be easily encountered by certain models of ATVs, but may cause rollovers, ejections, and flips for others.
Free Consultations from Omaha ATV Rollover Attorneys at Cullan & Cullan LLC
Although ATV operation is largely unregulated by state and federal governments, the law demands responsible and negligent parties be held accountable, whether it's a person who negligently entrusted an ATV to someone too young and inexperienced or the manufacturer of an inherently unstable vehicle. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of an ATV accident, contact the Omaha rollover accident lawyers at Cullan & Cullan to investigate the merits of your claim.
Some of our recent ATV accident cases include a case involving negligent entrustment of an ATV to a minor, resulting in a $450,000.00 settlement following an ATV accident.
Call (402) 882-7080 today for a free consultation with our Omaha ATV accident attorneys.