| Misguided parents, wanting their children to have a | | | | appropriate warnings andinstructions and parents and |
| goodtime, will buy an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) for | | | | adults must provide supervision to kids sothese tragic |
| family recreation only tohave a loved one end up in | | | | accidents don't happen.The most common injuries |
| the emergency room, possibly injured for lifeor | | | | associatedwith ATV crashes are to the head, face |
| worse.The problem is that parents may view an ATV | | | | and spine, skull fractures, facialfractures, brain injuries, |
| as a type of toy, astep-up for growing children who | | | | coma, paralysis and spinal cord injuries. Somekids |
| have outgrown Big Wheels. But an ATV isnot a toy, | | | | have short-term disability, some have a lifetime of |
| it's a powerful, motorized vehicle weighing up to 600 | | | | disability, andsome kids die. The highest risk age |
| poundsand reaching speeds of more than 60 m.p.h. | | | | group by far is males younger than 16. |
| Even the best drivers oftenlose control and a collision | | | | Often these youngsters are riding without protective |
| or a rollover can happen quickly. If there isone | | | | equipment and withmore than one person on the |
| product I could remove from the face of the earth it | | | | ATV. Risk-taking and goofing around whileriding is |
| would be the All | | | | common. Young people represent nearly 40% of all |
| Terrain Vehicle. An ATV is definitely not for kids but | | | | ATV-relatedinjuries and deaths.The reasons why |
| the kids love themand can't wait to get on them. | | | | young people are injured so ofteninclude: No helmet |
| Worse yet, some ATVs are actually designedfor | | | | use; carrying one or more passengers; lack of |
| children which I find to be terrifying because it tends | | | | maturejudgment; lack of adequate strength and |
| to be childrenwho are severely injured in ATV | | | | coordination; and, the ATV is toobig for their size and |
| crashes.All Terrain Vehicles, used foroff-road riding, | | | | age. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The |
| have gained enormous popularity in Michigan and | | | | American College of Surgeons both recommend that |
| elsewherethe last decade for recreation, rescue | | | | children under 16 yearsof age not ride ATVs due to |
| efforts, and quick, easytransportation in off-road | | | | the high risk of serious injuries.I also wantto remind |
| areas. Nevertheless, ATVs have caused morethan | | | | ATV owners that if an ATV collides with a moving |
| 6,000 fatalities in the past two decades, according to | | | | vehicle theyare covered by Michigan No Fault Law. |
| the Consumer | | | | The operator may be eligible for No |
| Product Safety Commission. The CPSC estimates | | | | Fault benefits if they strike a vehicle parked on the |
| that about one-third of allpeople involved in ATV | | | | side of the road ina manner that presents an |
| accidents are children. ATVs were introduced in | | | | unreasonable risk of bodily injury. This isimportant |
| 1971 as 3-wheel vehicles. The 3-wheelers caused so | | | | because an ATV colliding with a car parked on the |
| many rollovers andinjuries that the U.S. Justice | | | | side of theroad because of a snowstorm often will |
| Department filed a lawsuit alleging that | | | | be entitled to No Faultbenefits.According to the |
| ATVs and their manufacturers violated the Consumer | | | | Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) |
| Product Safety Act. Asa result, manufacturers | | | | Michigan is fourth in the nation for ATV sales and |
| agreed in 1987 to stop producing 3-wheelers butdid | | | | registration and fourthhighest in the nation for the |
| not recall the 2.4 million that had already been sold. | | | | number of crashes and deaths involving ATVs. |
| However, thereare still many extremely dangerous | | | | In 2004 there were 160,000 registered ATV riders in |
| 3-wheeler ATVs still in use. In 2003alone more than | | | | Michigan and, in thesame year, Michigan had 13 |
| 125,000 riders or passengers of ATVs were taken to | | | | fatalities and 270 crashes. Safety Tips for all |
| theemergency room. Of those injured, 38,600 were | | | | ATV Riders are:Do not carry passengers. ATVs are |
| children younger than age | | | | designed for oneperson.Wear a helmet with eye |
| 16. With these powerfully fast vehicles, the inclination | | | | protection.Wear non-skid, closed toeshoes.Wear long |
| to takeunnecessary risks is the cause of many of | | | | pants and a long-sleeve shirt.Do not ride on public |
| these injuries.A young girl, age | | | | roadsor at night.Never use a 3-wheeler. They are |
| 10 or 11, involved in an ATV accident in mid Michigan | | | | unsafe and no longermanufactured.Attend an ATV |
| in 2006 broke herneck and died. It was a rollover | | | | driver's safety course.ATV riders injured bysomeone |
| accident and the cause was a combinationof | | | | taking unnecessary risks have a right to collect the |
| inexperience and a poorly educated driver not | | | | damages. Alawyer knowledgeable about the dangers |
| properly supervised by anadult. Ninety percent of | | | | of ATV riding can help youdetermine whether you |
| ATVs out there are for recreational use | | | | have suffered because of the negligence of another. |
| andmanufacturers have a responsibility to produce | | | | |