ATV Accident Lawyer

The State of Georgia has implemented rules and regulations that place restrictions on the operation of off-road vehicles. If these restrictions are violated, you can be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $25.00. If you are going to operate an off-road vehicle, the vehicle must have operative brakes, a muffler, and no other type of silencing equipment. You must also not drive the vehicle on any private property without the express permission of the owner. Lastly, you can directly cross perennial streams, but do not drive up and down the stream as if the stream were a trail. The Ohoopee, Canoochee, and Ogeechee Rivers are all good examples of perennial streams. At times, they get low enough to drive through; however, you must not drive up and down them.

From a criminal standpoint, it is a violation to operate an off-road vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If caught by the police, you can face up to a year in jail, driver’s license suspension, and hefty fines. It is also a criminal violation for a youth under 16 to operate an ATV on public roads within the state. ATVs are not street legal, but there are certain locations within Georgia that allow their use on public roads.

It’s almost like driving four wheelers, golf carts or side by sides are a rite of passage for the youth in South Georgia. I’m sure many children can vividly remember receiving their first four wheeler at about four years of age on Christmas morning. With no experience at all, they took off on it and learned the hard way of what not to do. Many of those youths are grown now and now spend Sunday evenings driving all terrain vehicles on dirt roads in the country.

There’s a sense of freedom taking off on an all terrain vehicle, and maybe we sense a dangerousness to them as well. There is little doubt that they are dangerous. Recent studies have shown that the most common type of accident are rollovers, and the majority of ATV accident cases were a single-vehicle event. Young ATV accident victims were seven times more likely to require medical treatment compared to young motor vehicle accident victims. Sadly, there is a high fatality rate for young ATV crash victims.

There are so many things that can decrease the dangerousness of ATVs. Many of the things are obvious, but the consumer product safety commission specifically recommends the following:

• Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, such as eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.
• Never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most ATVs are designed for one rider.
• Riders younger than 16 should only drive age-appropriate youth model ATVs, and never operate adult ATVs.
• Off-road vehicles are designed to be driven only on off-road terrain, not paved surfaces.
• Never ride on public roads, except to cross, where permitted by law.
• Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor
• Avoid drinking alcohol before or while driving an ATV. Alcohol can impair judgment and response time.

Some of these recommendations may take away a lot of the fun from driving ATVs, and sometimes these recommendations might not be followed. Regardless, it is still important to keep these things in mind. The CPSC makes these recommendations because they have thoroughly studied the major common causes of ATV accidents. ATVs are dangerous. Crashes can and usually do lead to serious injuries or even death. It is important that we respect the dangerousness of ATVs before we or our loved ones decide to us them.

At Joseph Williams Law, you will have a side by side attorney in Georgia that is always by your side. Sometimes our clients are seriously injured. In those situations, it can be difficult for clients to physically come to the law firm. Other side by side accident lawyers may not visit you in the emergency room for a free case review, but Joseph Williams will.

Our first course of business is to establish a rapport with all of our clients. You should always feel comfortable with your attorney. In your initial interview with your side by side attorney, its important that you be completely honest with your lawyer about the facts of your ATV injury. After getting a basic run down of the facts, your attorney should have a decent idea of who the at fault party is and whether there is any liability or available insurance.

Your ATV injury attorney should look for any active insurance policies that cover your injuries. Once those policies are found, your attorney will notify the insurance companies of your claim. Negotiations will likely begin after the completion of your medical care.

After your treatment is complete, your side by side accident lawyer should organize all evidence of your injury. This evidence may consist of police reports, witness statements, medical records, and medical bills. Using these documents, your attorney will prepare your ATV accident lawsuit. Prior to the filing of your ATV accident lawsuit, your lawyer will send a demand asking the insurance company for a settlement amount. Patience is key here because these negotiations can take awhile.

Your medical bills may start piling up. In most cases, the costs of your medical treatment will be paid at the end of the ATV accident lawsuit. Like in any auto accident, your side by side lawyer can negotiate medical bills down for you. Negotiating these bills down, allows you to walk away with more money at the end of the day. You may also be able to recover for pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage due the accident as well. Finding a side by side lawyer who cares about you is key to recovering what you deserve.