Accident on Someone Else’s ATV
ATV riding is something that many people in Ontario and surrounding areas do on a daily basis. No matter what the weather, many people use ATV’s for fun, to get to town or for other reasons. That is why there are several ATV accidents that happen.
Many times, these accidents are something that could have been prevented with the proper knowledge in how to use these ATV’s, while other times, these accidents are just bad luck.
Whether you are injured on an ATV you are driving or simply riding with someone when an injury happens due to an ATV accident, you need to know what to do and how to ensure that you get what you deserve.
Commonly Asked Questions
There are several questions that people ask once they have been involved in an ATV accident, there are also several questions that people ask before they even decide to buy an ATV for use. For example:
– Do you have to carry insurance on an ATV? Yes! Insurance on an ATV is what most people recommend since it is safer. This is a must if you are going to be riding on roads that are not considered private property. For the most part, this ATV insurance is going to work in the same way as your car insurance.
– Is an ATV accident considered a motor vehicle accident? No. When a police officer was to arrive to an ATV accident, they are going to call this in as an ATV accident. Why is this? In many times, people become injured even more on an ATV since they are out in the open and there may not be much protecting them.
– What is an ATV accident? An ATV accident is an accident that involves an ATV that leads to the ATV becoming damaged and/or a person becoming injured.
– Can anyone ride on an ATV? You do have to have a valid license in most areas of Canada to ride one of these. Of course, teens use these on their own personal property without having a license. We do recommend that those who are going to be riding ATV’s to take a safety course on how to do this properly, as well as wear the proper equipment like helmets when riding.
Another fact to consider is that ATV accidents are increasing each year. Why is this? Many believe that this is due to the increase in how many of these are in the area. This is why it is more important than ever to ensure that you know what to do in the event that you are riding on an ATV that is involved in an accident.
What to Do When in an ATV Accident
For anyone who is involved in an ATV accident, there are several things you need to make sure of:
- Be sure that those who are on the ATV are okay. Remember that traumatic brain injuries are a common injury that people who ride ATV’s get. If someone is injured, then the emergency services need to be called so that they can get the injured person to the hospital.
- Contact your insurance agency to let them know that an accident occurred, for the driver/owner of the ATV. When a rider becomes injured, your insurance company may need to step in and help with the cost of injuries or the like.
In most cases, those who are involved in an ATV accident are going to want to do the same thing as if they were in a car accident.
For those who are riding with someone else, they need to make certain that they are documenting what happened, how it happened and the like in the event that the injury they suffer is more severe than what they realized. If you have a cell phone that can take pictures, then be sure to do so, these could be invaluable later.
Be sure that you document how these injuries are affecting your everyday life, as this could be evidence that a lawyer could use to argue your case.
You should never leave the scene of an ATV accident. If you leave the scene, you could face criminal charges, especially if someone is injured and you did nothing to help.
Benefits You May Be Eligible For
For those who are injured on an ATV, even if they are a passenger, they could be eligible to get Statutory Accident Benefits. This benefits I meant to help pay for medical costs and other costs that may be associated with the injury that you received. This could be a difficult process, so be sure to reach out for help if this is needed.
Suing the ATV Driver
For those who are injured while riding on an ATV, and they were a passenger, they do have the option to sue the person who was driving the ATV. When you do this, you are going to be issuing a tort claim and the actual monetary amount you sue for is going to the damages.
For example, this could be the wages that you have lost, the costs associated with recovery, the costs of physical therapy and the like.
There are some cases, in which the ATV owner is going to be the person that is responsible if you were to be injured and decide to sue. This is often the case if the ATV was being driven by someone under the age of 18 and this is actually owned by their parents.
Why Do ATV Accidents Happen?
What are the most common reasons for ATV accidents to happen? There are many different reasons why ATV accidents happen. For example:
– Bad weather conditions
– Many ATV accidents happen when someone is drinking and driving
– When the ATV is too large for the driver, which is often seen when children are operating ATV’s that are meant for grown men and women
– When the operator of the ATV puts too much weight on an ATV this also increases the chance of an accident.
When a person is involved in an accident, they simply need to make sure that they are following the tips above to help with dealing with the injuries that a person may suffer from.
Types of Injuries from ATV Accidents
There are several types of injuries that a person can suffer when they have an accident on an ATV. These injuries include:
– Traumatic brain injuries
– Broken bones
– Concussion
– Cuts and abrasions
– Death in serious cases
The injuries that a person sustains will depend on the nature of the accident, along with whether they were wearing safety equipment to protect them in an accident.
For those who have suffered an injury while on an ATV and they were not driving, there are options to get the medical expenses and lost wages paid for while you are recovering. At Conte Jaswal, we have worked with numerous cases in which personal injuries happen at the hand of someone else who was driving or responsible for this. Our goal is to make sure that you get the money needed to recover fully without having the weight of the world on your shoulders.
Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.
