ATV Accidents

All-Terrain Vehicles, also known as ATVs are often used as a form of recreation and sometimes as a mode of transportation. Like other motor vehicle drivers, ATV drivers face the risk of getting involved in an accident. These drivers are therefore not excluded from obtaining compensation if they suffer injury as a result of an ATV accident. Over the past few years there has been an upsurge in the number of off road vehicles in use. Unfortunately this translates into increased threats to the lives of riders.

The victims of these accidents are susceptible to several injuries. These injuries include:

1. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
2. Fractures and Broken bones
3. Spinal Cord Injuries
4. Permanent Concussions
5. Whip Lash and Neck Injuries
6. Chest and Abdominal Injuries
7. Severe Scarring
8. Defacement

These types of serious injuries can lead to a drastic change in an individual's life, both from a health perspective and financially. Individuals who have been involved in severe accidents often have to endure ongoing medical attention and rehabilitation and, as a result, they may not be able to continue living as they did before the accident occurred.

Treatment and rehabilitation for the injuries mentioned above and all other severe injuries associated with ATV accidents may be costly and time consuming. If you are unable to work you may end up getting into debt just to pay for your normal living expenses, not to mention the extra costs associated with physiotherapy, prescription drugs and other treatment."  If you have been the victim of an ATV accident or you know someone else who has, it is important to try to gather all information about the accident and the vehicles involved and the claim process.

The most challenging part of claiming for compensation is determining who is at fault and who is responsible for the accident. Most ATV accidents occur when the ATV flips over, but apart from this an accident may also arise due to rider negligence. Drunken driving, lack of focus and reckless driving places the fault on the rider and this may make it increasingly difficult to claim for compensation. Faulty equipment or machines that have not been repaired or serviced may place the liability on the owner or manufacturer. Often, responsibility for an accident is shared between the ATV driver and other drivers involved. Most individuals are unable to deal with the burden of rehabilitation and therapy, as well as trying to gain compensation. Some families may even have to deal with death of a loved one and the hardships this entails.

A  personal injury lawyer is skilled at dealing with these matters and can help release you from the challenges associated with establishing liability and seeking compensation. They will help you get the full compensation you deserve. Just like a motor vehicle driver, ATV riders should purchase insurance coverage which provides them with no-fault benefits in the event of an accident. With motor vehicle insurance coverage, ATV owners are entitled to:

• Present and Future Medical Rehabilitation Benefits : this covers the cost of present and future medical expenses
• Income Replacement Benefits: If an individual is no longer able to work due to injuries caused by the accident, the responsible party or insurance company is liable for 50 to 80% of the individual's income.
• Caregiver Benefits
• Other Expenses: funerals and other costs apart from those listed
• Pain and Suffering Benefits

It is important to note that there are time limitations on making a claim if you are dealing with insurance companies; therefore you should not delay making a claim since, by doing so, you run the risk of being denied compensation. If you or someone you know has been involved in an ATV accident, you may be entitled to receive more than you expect. It is important to contact a personal injury lawyer to provide you with all the legal information and help that you need.  Contact our lawyers at Gluckstein today to get the money and justice you deserve.