ATV riding season is in full gear and offers a lot of fun to those who are properly trained and drive responsibly. Unfortunately, due to being four-wheeled vehicles, many riders often assume that these vehicles are much safer than two wheeled motorbikes and motorcycles. Riders often forgo wearing the necessary safety equipment and have a relaxed awareness of the conditions of the road and speed of travel. That being said, no matter how precautions you are, ATV accidents result in a wide variety of injuries which can have short-term and long-term effects. The pain and suffering is real and the need for disability leave is often required.
Most Common ATV Injuries
Besides the minor abrasions, bruising, burns and lacerations, more serious injuries are commonly acquired when driving or riding an ATV.
The five most common ATV related injuries are:
1. Concussions & Brain Injuries
These type of injuries are acquired in a variety of ways. The lack of helmet use can increase the chances of suffering from a head injury which results in a concussion / trauma to the brain. One can still get a concussion or brain injury, while wearing a helmet, if they are thrown from the vehicle or hit an object that makes contact with their head. Given the high speed that one can travel at on ATVs, the impact of a hit to the head can lead to severe injury, including death.
2. Broken Bones & Fractures
Any bone can be broken or fractured when riding an ATV. Your entire body is exposed to the outside environment and again, speed can increase the opportunity for injury. Being thrown off an ATV, run over or toppled by your own ATV has been a noted scenario for these injuries as well. Getting caught in the tires and other parts of an ATV can also lead to broken bones and fractures.
3. Spinal Cord Injuries
One of the more severe types of injuries you can acquire on an ATV, these injuries are common with ATV rollovers and being flung at high speeds from the vehicle. Most often, spinal cord injuries are life changing, resulting in long term disability and major life adjustments.
4. Knee / Leg / Foot Injuries
These injuries can be sustained by getting crushed by the ATV, hitting external debris, as well as getting caught in the moving parts of the vehicle. When an ATV begins to tip over, most riders react by putting their leg out to gain stability on the ground. Unfortunately, an ATV is often heavier and stronger than one may expect and are noted to overpower riders, pinning them underneath, crushing limbs and other body parts.
5. Injury to Internal Organs
Internal Organs can be damaged from being thrown off, run over, or pinned down by an ATV. Broken bones in the torso also can puncture and rupture internal organs, as well as any external environmental debris.
## Needed Precautions & Final Outcome
Given the severity and easiness of acquiring injuries on ATVs, it is important that you are properly trained, wear the needed safety gear, as well as use awareness when choosing the type of terrain you decide to drive your vehicle on. ATVs often weigh 227 kg or more and when traveling at high speeds, with fast moving parts, the outcome of accidents can be quick, severe and lethal.
Adhering to ATV regulations and provincial driving laws is pivotal to your safety and those around you. One should never let young children drive an ATV for the results of an accident can often lead to very severe and lethal outcomes that could of been entirely avoided (besides it being illegal). It is also important to keep a communication device on you when driving off-road or in areas where traffic is limited. If you find yourself in need of help, it is better to be prepared and safe than sorry.
An injury sustained from ATV accidents can have long-term effects that can greatly alter one’s ability to work or carry out their day-to-day needs. With reference to the above list of most common injuries, one can be faced with pain and suffering that requires disability leave and the filing of insurance claims. It is important that if you have been a victim of an ATV accident, you seek medical attention immediately and keep all medical documents.
Insurance companies often dispute claims related to an ATV accident or ATV injury, and try and convince victims that their claim is invalid / the accident is a pure fault of their own. When suffering from pain and symptoms relating to your injury, you should not have to deal with a disability benefit claim dispute, nor endure further stress during this time of healing.
Conclusion
If you or a loved one is suffering from an ATV related injury and are need of disability benefits, we highly suggest you contact a disability insurance / long-term disability attorney. TSF Law will be able to help you:
- Navigate you through the entire claim process
- Speak on your behalf with your insurance company
- Dispute an denied short-term disability or long-term disability claims
- Speak with your employer about disability leave
- Fight for you in the court of law if there has been a case of negligence and liability
- Provide you with high quality customer service and client representation
We offer free legal consultations and are willing to travel to you, if need be, to talk further about your current situation. TSF Law is always there for you; we take pride in being one of the best disability insurance lawyers and personal injury claim lawyers out there.
