ATV Accident Claims Life of Passenger at Off-Road Park

A Wolfe County woman died over the weekend when the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) that she was riding flipped over and landed on her.

The fatal accident occurred at Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park, according to Kentucky State Police. The victim, 22, was a passenger on the ATV and was thrown as it went down a hill.

ATVs are designed for off-road riding and are an increasingly popular form of recreation. However, they have historically been shown to be very dangerous. In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice once filed suit against ATV makers alleging they violated the Consumer Product Safety Act. Nearly 10,000 fatalities involving ATVs have been reported to the Consumer Product Safety Administration over the past 30 years.

In Kentucky alone, 500 deaths related to ATV use were recorded between 1982-2010. Federal estimates also show that more than 100,000 people have been injured in ATV crashes nationwide over the same period.

Rollovers are the leading cause of ATV wrecks and the source of driver and passenger injuries or deaths. In some ways, ATV accidents are similar to motorcycle crashes because riders are not shielded from harm by seat belts or other safety devices available to occupants of cars and trucks. That means that accidents often result in extremely serious injuries such as brain damage, neck and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, lacerations and burns.

Kentucky has a mandatory helmet law for all riders over the age of 16 on public property, unless the ATV is being used for business reasons. Children are required by law to be helmeted at all times.

Age limits are also imposed on operators of ATVs. No one under 12 may drive an ATV over 70 cc in engine size. Those over 16 are prohibited from operating an ATV over 90 cc, and parental supervision is required. In addition, ATVs are not allowed on public roads in Kentucky.

Many ATV crashes are caused by driver error, but vehicle malfunctions stemming from manufacturer defects have also been the cause in many accidents. To reduce the risk of injuries, our Kentucky personal injury lawyers suggest that drivers enroll in safety courses. To learn more, visit the CSPSC’s ATV safety website.