Serious Injuries From ATV Accidents

Driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or riding on one as a passenger can be very fun and exhilarating. It can also be very risky. An accident puts you in significant danger, similar to what would be faced by a motorcyclist, since you do not have any protection from the vehicle itself. If you’re on a four-wheeler or a similar vehicle, you likely do not even have a seat belt.

Some common injuries that you may suffer include:

• Injuries to internal organs: These could include internal bleeding. These injuries are often hard to diagnose and need prompt medical care.
• Concussions: Even with a helmet on, the jarring impact of a crash can cause a concussion as your brain moves within your skull. Serious concussions can even cause you to lose consciousness.
• Spinal cord injuries: A hard impact with the ground, or a rollover accident where the ATV winds up on top of you, could lead to a serious spinal cord injury. This could leave you paralyzed below the injury site. Some spinal cord injuries never heal.
• Leg and knee injuries: As you crash, odds are you will put your legs down instinctively to catch yourself. The problem is that you may be traveling at a high rate of speed and you have a heavy ATV rolling or skidding into the crash. All that weight can snap bones and bend joints in the wrong direction, leading to very painful injuries.

These are just four examples, but they do show why you must take ATV accidents seriously. If you get hurt due to someone else’s negligence, make sure you know what legal options you have to seek compensation.