Friday, January 31, 2014

ATV Accidents By The Numbers: Part 2

To continue Attorney Doug Stoehr's recent blog posts relating to all-terrain vehicle (ATV) use, injury, and death, more information is reported from a February 2013 report compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).  This report provided a picture of the frequency and severity of accidents surrounding American ATV users in the past twenty or so years.  

The CPSC reported a number of interesting statistics and facts relating to ATV use, which includes the following:

  • In 2010, there was an estimated 10.4 million ATVs in use across the country.  
  • At that time, there was a fatality risk of 0.7 per 10,000 ATVs in use. This means that out of 100,000 ATVs in use, about 7 people will be killed while riding one. 
  • In 2011, 52% of children under the age of 12 were responsible for the total number of ATV-related injuries in children.
  • The CPSC estimated a 98.8 person injury frequency per 10,000 ATV vehicles in use in 2011. This means that out of 100,000 ATVs in use, about 988 people will be injured while riding one. 

As noted above and in previous posts, ATV use can be extremely dangerous in certain situations.  Children appear to be the most susceptible, and account for a large portion of ATV injuries and deaths.  Children under the age of 12 may be especially at risk for harm. Please exercise caution when riding your ATV, wear a helmet, and remain at a safe speed.  Also, do not ride your ATV when the weather or trail conditions suggest a heightened risk for injury.

ATVs, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles are a leading cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians, especially among our state’s youth.   Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his central Pennsylvania practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.

Interested in learning more? Check out the complete CPSC report, which can be found here: http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Injury-Statistics/atv2011.pdf.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

ATV Accidents By The Numbers: Part 1

In a February 2013 report compiled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), information was given regarding incidents relating to ATV (all-terrain vehicle) accidents and injuries.

This report was enlightening, and provided a more complete and detailed picture of the frequency and severity of accidents surrounding American ATV users in the past twenty or so years.  Some of the most interesting facts include:

  • From 1982-2011, CPSC staff received reports of over 28,000 ATV-related deaths of  children younger than 16 years of age. Out of these fatalities, over 40% were children less than 12 years old. 
  • These numbers do not account for accidents that were not reported to the CPSC, which may mean that the prevalence of ATV-related fatalities might actually be greater than expected.
  • In 2011, there were over 100,000 ATV-caused emergency room treated injuries.  Over 25% of these injuries were in children under 16 years old. 
  • The vast majority of these injuries were either contusions or fractures. Most injuries were found in either the arm/shoulder region or the head/neck region. 
  • From January 1982 to December 2011, Pennsylvania had a reported 459 ATV-related fatalities.  They are behind only by California (504) and Texas (478) for the highest number of ATV-related fatalities in the country during that time period.


As noted above, ATVs, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles (such as snowmobiles) are a leading cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians, especially among our state’s youth.   Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.



For more information on the CPSC's report, please visit the original report, which can be found here: http://www.cpsc.gov//Global/Research-and-Statistics/Injury-Statistics/atv2011.pdf

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Large Award for Family of Tractor-Trailer Accident Victim

Many people who have traveled on Pennsylvania’s state highways, especially on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, have most likely noticed the large amount of tractor-trailers.  Although many of these drivers are conscientious and considerate, many others are aggressive, speed, and frequently switch lanes without signaling.  As a result, Pennsylvania has a high number of tractor-trailer accidents, which can lead to serious accidents and fatalities for neighboring cars and trucks.
            One such case of a Pennsylvania tractor-trailer accident has been recently publicized in the local media.  In this particular case, a tractor-trailer driver in Lebanon County, PA failed to signal before pulling back out onto the highway at under 20 miles per hour, causing a neighboring car to crash into the truck.  The crash claimed the life of the car’s driver, who was a father of four.  His widow sued the trailer driver and his employer for a variety of charges, including wrongful death, negligence, and punitive damages.  The judge ruled in favor of the victim’s family, awarding over 2 million dollars in damages.
            If you or a loved one has been in an accident due to the fault of a tractor-trailer, it might be time to consult with an attorney.  Attorney Doug Stoehr represents clients in Blair and the surrounding counties in central and western Pennsylvania.  For more information on his law firm, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his office at 814-946-4100.


To read more about the Lebanon County tractor-trailer lawsuit and verdict, please visit this website: http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/01/13/64479.htm.

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

PA Among Top States For ATV Accidents

As many area residents probably know, Pennsylvania has a large amount of all-terrain vehicle (ATV) users.  Exploring the natural beauty of central Pennsylvania by ATV, motorbike, or snowmobile is a common activity among our area’s families.  However, the converse side to this activity is the potential for serious injury or death.  According to a recent report, Pennsylvania ranks among the top five states for the highest numbers of ATV-related deaths.


During a five year period of 2007-2011, Pennsylvania had 97 fatalities resulted from all-terrain vehicles.  Many factors are cited as contributing to these deaths. ATVs can reach high speeds, but their tires are not as stable or supportive.  They are also not designed for paved roads.  When ATVs reach a high level of speed on a paved road, this can lead to roll-overs.   Many ATV riders also do not wear helmets, which contributes to a heightened level/severity of injury. Notably, most reported ATV accidents occurred on paved roads and involved only a single ATV.  Most ATV users are also males of teenage years or older. In many accidents, alcohol use by the driver is also a factor.  Due to a marked increase in the number of recent ATV sales, the general public may see the number of ATV accidents climb in the coming years. 

As noted above, ATVs, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles (such as snowmobiles) are a leading cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians, especially among our state’s youth.   Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.




For more information about ATV accidents, safety, and national statistics, please visit the original article here: http://www.newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/581785/W-Va--ranked-highest-in-ATV-deaths.html?nav=5061.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

ATVS and Dirt Bikes: Pittsburgh Fights Back

Do you or anyone you know enjoy riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) or dirt bikes? Did you know, that in Pennsylvania, you can not ride ATVs or dirt bikes on city streets?

Pittsburgh is having difficulty with these issues, as many teenagers have been found riding these vehicles on city streets.  Local residents have grown tired of these incidents, and have petitioned for mandatory insurance and registration for dirt bikes, ATVS, and other off-road vehicles.  They are also requesting that the drivers of these vehicles have a valid drivers license.  At this time, the petitioners feel that there is not enough protection against potential injury and property damage that may result from this kind of vehicular accident. 

It should be noted that, within the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code, all-terrain vehicles need to be registered with the Department of Transportation.  A license is not required for drivers of these vehicles. There are no clear laws pertaining to the registration of dirt bikes. 

ATVs, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles (such as snowmobiles) are also a leading cause of serious injury among Pennsylvanians, especially among our state’s youth.   Attorney Doug Stoehr of Altoona, PA handles cases involving injury as a result of accidents involving off-road vehicles.  For more information about Attorney Doug Stoehr and his Blair county area practice, please visit his website at http://www.stoehrlaw.com or call his law firm at 814-946-4100.

For more information about Pittsburgh residents’ battle against all-terrain vehicles on its city streets, please visit the original article here: http://wesa.fm/post/city-council-hold-meeting-illegal-dirt-bike-and-atv-riding.