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.