INJURY | PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER | PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY | INJURIES

Injuries and fatalities from recreational vehicles happen all too often. Recreational vehicles include boats, ATVs, cruise ships, dirt bikes, jet skis, and more. Here are some statistics:

• ATVs cause 130,000 injuries and several hundred deaths each year
• Pleasure boats cause more than 3,000 injuries and 700 deaths each year
• Personal watercrafts like jet skis cause almost 50 percent of water vessel injuries and deaths each year

• You wear a helmet, life vest, and other safety apparel
• You have a license or proper training
• You don’t operate the vehicle after consuming alcohol
• You follow all safety rules
• You don’t drive aggressively or in excess of speed limits

ATV recalls happen all the time, and no ATV manufacturer is immune. ATVs are often recalled because of faulty design, fault parts, or other proven problems that can cause serious injury and death. Riding ATVs is fun; getting hurt isn’t. You should take recalls very seriously. The mechanic should cover all repairs due to recalls. Don’t hesitate to take your ATV to a certified mechanic.

The latest recalls for 2007 include:

• the Polaris Outlaw 525, which is reported to have a loose fuel valve. Four have been reported faulty, while no injuries have been reported.
• the Suzuki 2007 QuadSport Z90, which has reported breakage of suspension arms. Two have been reported faulty, while no injuries have been reported.
• the Honda 2006 TRX450ER/R, both of which have problems with the front suspension arm ball joints. Seven warranty claims have been reported, while no injuries have been reported. 
• the Kawasaki 2007 KFX50, KFX90, Mules and Bayou 250 because of loss of steering control. Kawasaki received 10 reports of accidents and one minor injury.
• the Suzuki 2006 QuadRacer, which has reported breakage of a cushion lever-mounting bracket. This has resulted in one head injury.
• the Suzuki 2005 4WD 5-speed and 4WD auto has an improperly manufactured fuel tank which causes a fire hazard. No injuries have been reported.
• the Kawasaki Mule 600, which has reported 24 incidents of the steering knuckle twisting and breaking, but luckily no injuries.

And the list goes on. These are only the latest ATVs to be recalled. If you own one of these ATVs, take them to your nearest dealer and/or service center immediately to be repaired. Contact your dealer for warranty information and to find a certified mechanic. If you have been injured while riding one of these ATVs due to the problem mentioned, you should contact a personal injury lawyer immediately to seek compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering.

To stay safe while riding ATVs, always wear a helmet, get properly trained to operate the vehicle, don’t let children ride adult ATVs, don’t ride tandem, don’t ride on pavement, and don’t ride under the influence of drugs or alcohol. As well as wearing a helmet to keep you safe from brain injuries and head trauma, wear protective clothing such as over-the-ankle boots, gloves, goggles and long-sleeved shirts and pants.