Personal Injury Law

Missouri Teen Injured in Rollover ATV Accident

By Jeff Lowe, Esq.

A Missouri teen was seriously injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving overturned and landed on top of him.

According to the Springfield News-Leader, Michael W. Wilson, 17, was driving a 1988 Suzuki on Missouri NN in Pulaski County when the ATV went off of the right side of the road. Even though Wilson was wearing a safety device, he was thrown from the ATV and into a ditch. The ATV landed on top of him.

As all-terrain vehicles continue to soar in popularity, so, too, does the incidence of accidents and deaths involving ATVs. Because of their inherently unstable design, these vehicles, which sometimes weigh more than 700 pounds easily tip over or even roll. Add to this the frequent use of ATVs on uneven surfaces and the vehicles? high-performance engines, capable of speeds topping 60 mph, and you can see why the numbers of ATV-related fatalities and injuries continue to grow.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the annual tally of accidents involving ATVs increased by nearly 180 percent between 1995 and 2004. Children younger than 16 years accounted for nearly a quarter of all ATV-related deaths and a third of ATV-related injuries, such as brain and spinal cord trauma. The average cost of hospitalization for the victim of an ATV accident was $21,304.

As a result of dangerous designs and manufacturing defects, children and adults have suffered brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations and have even been killed in ATV accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous ATVs. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital or in the privacy of your home. Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

Full post as published by Missouri Injury Lawyer Blog on October 08, 2008 (boomark / email).