No doubt about it, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a lot of fun. These 3- or 4-wheeled motorized vehicles are small, relatively inexpensive and can take you well off the beaten path and into many places that other vehicles just can't reach. But they're also incredibly dangerous, and at the Scanlan Law Group, we represent individuals that have been injured in ATV accidents.

The statistics are not pretty. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that 467 people died in ATV related accidents in 2001, up from 446 in 2000, and 113,900 people sustained serious ATV related injuries in 2002, up from 110,100 in 2001. And these numbers are rising as new drivers flock to these vehicles. Children are particularly at risk for death or serious injury when using ATVs-almost 40 percent of the total annual ATV related deaths and injuries involve victims under the age of 16.

There are a number of factors that can cause an ATV accident, including many of the same factors that lead to accidents for drivers of other vehicles: speeding; reckless driving; driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; driving without a helmet or other protective equipment; operating damaged or defective vehicles; and operating in unsafe weather conditions.

There are a number of other factors unique to ATV operation that contribute to the risk of injury and death. Given the recreational feel associated with ATV driving, many drivers exhibit a casual attitude toward safety, thus increasing the risk of a serious collision. Additionally, many operators drive their ATVs on paved roads, even though ATVs are not intended for this type of use. Paved road operation of ATVs dramatically increases the risk of ATV accidents with automobiles, vans, motorcycles, trucks and the other hazards of the open road. Additionally, most states have few regulations covering ATV operation, and, unlike automobiles or motorcycles, they do not require driver education. Accordingly, there are a number of untrained individuals (particularly children) operating ATVs who have never learned the concept of defensive driving.

Also, some ATV designs are inherently unsafe and lead to accidents (such as rollovers) despite the use of safety precautions. For example, 3-wheeled ATVs were determined to be so dangerous that the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission took legal action against ATV manufacturers in 1988, which resulted in the entry of a binding consent decree that banned the manufacture 3-wheeled ATVs, and required ATV manufacturers to develop nationwide training and safety education programs and to make ATVs safer for children.

The injuries that can result from ATV related accidents are depressingly familiar: brain and spinal cord injuries; sprains; fractures; abrasions; internal and soft tissue injuries; burn injuries; and just about every other injury associated with the operation of other motorized vehicles.

Because ATV cases can be very complex, you need experienced and aggressive attorneys to successfully handle them. The Scanlan Law Group has the necessary experience. We have sued the manufacturers of ATVs, and we are not afraid to take them to trial if one of our clients has been injured. Accordingly, if you or someone you know have sustained an ATV related injury, contact the Scanlan Law Group for a free initial consultation.