Brooklyn ATV Accident Lawyer

While All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) are a fun and popular recreational vehicles, they can also be very dangerous. All too often victims of ATV accidents suffer serious injuries such as broken bones, head injuries and back injuries. Even when safety gear such as a helmet is used ATV accidents can leave victims seriously injured. If no safety gear is used, or if it is not used properly, then the degree of injury increases exponentially. Such injuries include paralysis, head injuries ,broken bones and back injuries. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, there have been over 14,000 ATV related deaths between 1982 and 2015. Of that amount, 3,100 of those killed where children under the age of 16. If you are in need of a personal injury attorney because you or a loved were injured in an ATV accident due to the negligence of another person, it is important to speak with a Brooklyn ATV accident attorney who will explain your options for pursuing a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim. You should do so quickly as there are time limits that you must follow when you file a personal injury claim.

While many consider ATVs to be fun, recreational toys similar to a dirt bike, ATVs are actually motorized vehicles. They have features that are similar to both motorcycles and cars. Those who operate them must do so with care otherwise serious accidents may occur.

Just like cars, ATVs are motorized vehicles that typically have four large tires. There are some models that have three tires. Similar to a motorcycle, ATVs feature a seat in the middle that the operator straddles while holding on to the handlebars to steer. ATVs are different from motorcycles and cars in that they are not designed to drive on paved roads. They are designed for off-road use or on dirt roads. Under New York law ATVs are generally only permitted to be operated on the private property of the ATV owner. N.Y. VAT. LAW § 2403. Thus, except under very strict circumstances ATVs cannot be operated on highways, public land, or another's private property.

ATVs are often used not as recreational vehicles, but as work vehicles. In fact, historically ATVs where used almost exclusively used on by farmers as a type of work vehicle.

In recent years ATVs have become popular recreational vehicles. Manufacturers have increasingly focused their marketing efforts on how much fun it is to ride ATVs. However, the design of ATVs makes them dangerous. For example, like SUVs, ATVs have a high center of gravity. Because ATVs have a high center of gravity and typically weigh over 800 pounds, like SUVs, ATVs are prone to roll over. In addition, because ATVs typically are driven across unpaved, rough surfaces that with rocks, grass, debris and other hazards, it is more likely that they operator of the ATV will happen upon something in the terrain that will lead the operator of the ATV to lose control and end up in an accident.

Victims injured in ATV accidents can suffer serious, life-altering injuries. For example, in a head-on collision, the victim may suffer a head, neck or brain injury. In an accident that involves the ATV rolling over, the victim may suffer a serious back or spinal cord injury. Broken bones and internal bleeding are also common ATV accident injuries. Sadly, in some cases victims of ATV accidents pass away. For example, in 2013 a 7-year –old girl who was a passenger of an ATV driven by a 32-year-old man was killed in an accident when a low-hanging tree branch punctured her neck. The driver faced criminal charges after it was determined that he was driving the ATV while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

ATV accidents can leave devastating injuries and in some cases can lead to death. Victims are often children. Victims often experience physical pain and long recovery times. Families also suffer as they worry about their injured loved one and face tough financial problems. However, the law allows victims to hold the negligent party accountable by permitting the victim to seek compensation. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates can help. We have years of experience successfully representing client who have been injured in vehicle accidents including ATV accidents as well as motorcycle accidents, truck accidents, car accidents, and bicycle accidents. Contact our staff at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW (1-800-696-9529) right away to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your personal injury or wrongful death case. We represent clients in the following locations: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Long Island, Manhattan, Rockland County, Suffolky County, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County.