Houston ATV Accidents

Attorney Michael Grossman Discusses What to Expect After a Texas ATV Accident

When you think of the term “extreme sports” adventurous people probably envision activities such as bungee jumping, skydiving or even deep sea diving with sharks. But the rising interest in All-Terrain Vehicles is hard to ignore; for one thing you can keep your feet on the ground engaging in a fun outdoor activities with friends and family.

Even though a handful of businesses use these all-terrain vehicles (known as ATVs) and golf carts as transportation between worksites that are spread out, most people use ATVs for the fun factors involved. Whether you’re making figure-8s in open spaces or roughing it in a wooded area performing dangerous stunts, ATVs are all the rave from teens to teens-at-heart. But if you have been the victim of a Houston All-Terrain Vehicle accident, call Grossman Law Offices in Houston today at 1-855-392-0000 and set your mind as ease.

All Terrain Vehicles – A Brief History

All Terrain Vehicles are the latest version of dune buggies. Dune buggies were created in the 1950’s by scaling down a normal size topless car, stripping it down its chassis then adding oversized wheels for off road driving. Honda, the car manufacturer, designed the first ATV in the late 1980s for sale in the United States. Coastal residents took their ATVs to the beach, while other residents used their all terrain vehicles to traverse wooded areas. Since Honda’s first three-wheel design thirty-one (31) years ago, other auto makers have come up with their own versions, including Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha.

While there have been ATV racing programs created for television to help raise the level of interest in the sport, safety guidelines for these kinds of vehicles lag behind. So it’s no wonder that the number of ATV-related accidents and fatalities continues to rise. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) there have been more than two million All Terrain Vehicles registered in the United States since 1986. The Consumer Product Safety Commission also reported that between 1982 and 2002 more than five thousand (5,000) people were killed in ATV accidents.

During the same time Justice Department officials accused all terrain vehicle makers alleged of violating the Consumer Product Safety Act by not providing safety features such as seat belts, headlights and other required equipment on transpiration vehicles. ATV manufacturers were given the choice of (1) upgrading the three-wheel design or (2) paying millions of dollars in punitive fines. They chose to stop producing the flawed design. Engineers said the three-wheel model of the All Terrain Vehicle was its biggest flaw and was the main reason it was involved in the large number of accidents. It’s the same design as a tricycle. The only difference is a tricycle is not motorized and is only propelled by the child riding it instead of a motor.

Even through the ATV was said to have a faulty design and stopped production of it, nobody bothered to enact a mandatory recall of the more than two million ATVs already in circulation. This safety loophole has left the three-wheelers on the streets of America to continue to rollover onto, injure and even kill unsuspecting operators.

Since 2001 there have been 6.9 million ATVs registered in the United States. And the number of those killed has risen to an all time high of 6,500. Since the designed has been upgraded sales of all terrain vehicles have risen by nearly ninety (90%) percent. Unfortunately all terrain vehicle related deaths also rose by sixty-seven (67%) percent in the same time frame. Injuries of those on ATVs have reached 110,000 since 1992. And more than thirty-three (33%) percent of those injured were children under age 16. Even though children who are not old enough to drive are getting injured on ATVs by alarming rates, only ten (10) states require ATV operators to have a driver’s license. The other forty (40) do not. And thirty (30) of those states allow children as young as 12 year olds operate an ATV.

These machines often are given to youth as an upgrade from bicycles. But they are not toys. Because nobody bothers to educate youth about the responsibilities of using an ATV or how serious accidents or even death can happen, some children learn the hard way. Others enroll in training classes. The ATV Safety Institute developed approved courses about the Do’s and Don’ts of ATV operation. And Safety Institute guidelines require helmets, goggles, gloves, and proper foot wear to operate the vehicle. Still some ATV makers have fallen short when it comes to creating a safe motor vehicle. They don’t tell you that when you customize an all terrain vehicle with fancy lights and oversized tires that are not authorized for the vehicle, you negatively affect the braking and steering systems. So if you have been the victim of a Houston All-Terrain Vehicle accident, call Grossman Law Offices in Houston today at 1-855-392-0000 and set your mind as ease.

It’s just good common sense that people should read the operator’s manual before getting on the off-road with an all terrain vehicle. But just as with anything else, few ATV operators rarely do and that increases the number of rollover injuries and deaths.

Beware and Don’t Let an ATV Accident Happen to You

No matter the make or model of All Terrain Vehicle, you must be ever mindful of this eight hundred (800) pound motor vehicle by always reviewing ATV Safety Institute updates for rollover problems and prevention techniques. Still if you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a Houston ATV accident, you should seek legal counsel from an experienced ATV accident injury attorney. Grossman Law Offices in Houston has a successful track record of litigating these kinds of personal injury cases. And they will do everything possible to get you and your family a fair settlement. Call Grossman Law Offices today at 1-855-392-0000 and set your mind as ease.

Safety Commission Wants Children on ATVs Sized to Fit

The ATV Safety Institute recommends certain sizes of the ATVs depending on the age and size of the operator. But those recommendations often are ignored. Some of the guidelines suggest that children under 15 should only operate ATVs that are 150 pounds or smaller and go no more than fifteen (15) miles per hour. That’s because children under 16 won’t always make the best decisions or think about the consequences of their actions when it comes to operating a speeding motor vehicle. On the other hand, adult sized ATV can weigh up to 800 pounds and reach speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. If an adult chooses to ignore the danger and drives recklessly, he will do so at his own risk.

The U. S. Department of Consumer Products Safety Commission Lists Recommended Safety Steps That Could Aid in ATV Safety. These Recommendations Include:

• Children should be supervised at all times
• Safety gear should be worn at all times
• Never operate an ATV on the main road with other vehicles
• Never operate an ATV under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Insurance Company Specialists

If you plan to file a lawsuit against any of the ATV manufacturing companies because their lack of attention to safety details has contributed to your Houston All Terrain Vehicle accident, you are going to need the help of an experienced attorney. That’s because these auto makers have legal experts to support and argue for them. These experts will try to get the injured victim to either admit fault for their wounds or to take less for injuries than is fair.

So don’t delay. Call the Houston ATV accident attorneys at Grossman Law Offices. They have the experience, they have the courtroom smarts, and they are successful out-of-court negotiators and their reputation them. Call Grossman Law Offices in Houston today at 1-855-392-0000 and set your mind at ease.