Missouri Injury Lawyer Blog

As I wrote last week, summer unfortunately brings what seems like a constantly increasing number of ATV accidents. One accident mentioned in the Springfield News-Leader caught my eye because the person hurt was riding a Polaris ATV. As a Missouri all-terrain vehicle crash lawyer, I've kept track of Polaris ATVs because they have been involved in countless recalls over the years, thanks to their potentially deadly defects.

In this case, the person hurt by a Polaris ATV wasn't even out having a good time on it. On the morning of July 4, Shad D. West, 36, of Greenfield, Missouri, was loading his 2004 Polaris ATV onto another vehicle or a trailer when it flipped over backward and landed on him. The Missouri State Highway Patrol report doesn't give much detail, but presumably West was trying to drive the ATV up a ramp into the other vehicle, in the usual manner for transporting an ATV. Sadly, West was seriously injured by the ATV rollover and had to be airlifted to Cox South Hospital in Springfield. I hope that West recovers quickly and fully, and I am sorry that this happened to him.

As a St. Louis ATV defect lawyer, I've worked with many clients who have been injured by defective ATVs. As I've discussed in this blog before, many ATVs' designs are inherently unstable, making them prone to flipping over on top of their riders and crushing them. But the unstable design isn't the only problem plaguing ATVs and their riders. Thousands of Polaris ATVs have been recalled over the years because of fire hazards and defective parts that could lead to drivers losing control of their vehicles. Most recently, at the end of 2009, about 8500 were recalled because the steering mechanism could come apart and cause the rider to lose control, posing a risk of injury or death to riders. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission had issued similar recall notices for out-of-control Polaris ATVs in 2007, 2004, 2001 and 2000. Thousands more were recalled due to dangerous fire hazards from various causes in 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, and 2003.

This history of defects in Polaris ATVs is worrisome. It is particularly concerning that recalls keep happening year after year, meaning that defective ATVs keep getting manufactured despite repeated reports of problems with previous models. This puts consumers at risk of serious injury or even death. Who pays the price for these defects? The adults and children who suffer brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations. Not only do they experience severe pain, they also incur thousands of dollars in medical bills, lose out on wages they or their caretakers could have earned at work, and potentially even lose their lives. This doesn't seem like a fair price to pay for what the victims had originally thought was going to be a fun outing in the outdoors.

Continue reading "Recall-Prone Polaris ATV Implicated in Another Injury-Causing Accident" »

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As a Missouri all-terrain vehicle crash attorney, a recent report by Ozarks Public Radio station KMSU about ATV accidents got my attention. According to Jami Blackwell, a trauma nurse clinician in Springfield, CoxHealth Hospital in that city has seen injuries from ATV accidents increase each year for the past several years. I've written about several such accidents in Missouri and Illinois, including two within the last year that have killed children. I'm glad that KMSU is providing important safety information about ATVs, but I also worry that these vehicles can be dangerous even when riders do observe safety precautions.

Blackwell told KMSU that Springfield's CoxHealth Hospital treated 12 ATV accident victims from March through May 2009. This year, 13 ATV accident victims were admitted to the hospital from March through May 2010. In addition, one patient died of an ATV-related injury, and 16 others were treated and released without hospitalization. Blackwell said she believed people are buying more ATVs because riding them is thrilling for children, but they should also be conscious of the safety risks involved. For example, state law requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advises that children under 16 not ride ATVs at all. If kids do ride them, which is legal, they should use smaller ATVs for smaller kids, have everyone under 18 wear a legally required helmet and consider taking a safety course. Further, ATVs are designed to be ridden only on off-road terrain, so riding them on paved roads can be more dangerous, and Missouri law restricts ATV use on public roads. But even when ATV riders obey these laws, which should improve ATV safety, injuries still occur. Blackwell said speed, multiple riders, tricks and rollover accidents can also increase the risk of a serious ATV injury.

As a St. Louis ATV crash lawyer, I think it's important for anyone considering riding an ATV to think about the risks of riding even after taking all these important safety precautions. Because ATVs are designed with high centers of gravity and intended to go on uneven off-road terrain, they are prone to rolling over easily. This could be considered a design flaw, but at the least, it’s a reason to be more careful when using one. ATVs are also motor vehicles that lack the lifesaving safety features that most cars and trucks have. Some are driven at speeds up to 80 miles per hour, yet it’s perfectly legal for children to use them, even if the children are nowhere near the legal age for driving. Despite all of these risks, ATVs are not regulated like other vehicles that can be driven at that speed. ATVs are regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and treated as if they were toys, not vehicles. Possibly as a result of that lack of regulation, the CPSC reports that ATV accidents nearly tripled in the nine years between 1995 and 2004, with children under 16 accounting for a third of the injuries and a quarter of the deaths.

Continue reading "Trauma Nurse Cautions Missourians About Rise in Serious ATV Accident Injuries" »

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Last week, I wrote about the sad story of a ten-year-old girl who was killed by a potentially defective all terrain vehicle (ATV). As a Missouri ATV accident attorney, I was disheartened to see that this week in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that another person has been killed by an ATV, and his passenger was seriously injured. Day Alexander, 39, of Festus, Mo., was driving the 2002 Yamaha Raptor ATV at the intersection of Berry and Lake Timberline Roads in St. Francois County. The ATV slid across Berry Road and ran off the right side of the road, causing its undercarriage to strike the ground. Alexander lost control of the ATV and hit a log. The ATV flipped over, throwing Alexander and his passenger, Sarah Barrett, 30, of De Soto, Mo., to the ground. Alexander died at the scene of the crash. Barrett was gravely hurt and taken to a hospital by helicopter. The accident report did not specify whether the riders wore helmets.

The 2002 Yamaha Raptor is a four-wheeled ATV that weighs nearly 400 lbs. Sports magazines touted it as "aggressive" and lauded its "high performance" when it came on the market. ATVs like this can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour. Crashes at this speed in passenger automobiles often have quite serious consequences, and that's with the benefit of seat belts, air bags, and other safety features. ATVs have none of these safety features, and people often ride them without safety gear like helmets, which is completely legal for adults in Missouri.

Unlike the case I wrote about last week, the people involved in this case were adults, so they were physically large enough and old enough to ride the ATV in the way for which it was designed. But even then, they apparently found it hard to control the ATV. The US government advises against riding ATVs with a passenger or on pavement because both of these things can make it hard to control the ATV. Having a passenger makes it hard for the driver to shift his or her weight in any direction needed in response to the ATV's movement, and ATVs are more difficult to control on paved roads. This may be what Day Alexander and Sarah Barrett discovered when they lost control of their ATV. As a St. Louis ATV crash lawyer, I continue to be saddened that ATV manufacturers build vehicles that cannot keep their riders and passengers safe even when they are used according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

At least 282 Missourians have lost their lives on ATVs, and countless more have suffered serious injuries that were never reported. That's a lot of families hurt because of these vehicles. When a crash was caused or worsened by a design or manufacturing flaw in the ATV, manufacturers can be held responsible for injuries that come from it. A southern Illinois ATV accident attorney at the Lowe Law Firm can review the details of particular ATV crashes and tell you whether an ATV manufacturer could be held liable for failing to ensure that the ATV was safe for consumers.

Continue reading "‘Aggressive’ ATV Claims One Occupant’s Life, Seriously Injures Another" »

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The Alton Telegraph reported March 20 that a ten-year-old girl was killed in an ATV accident in New Douglas, IL. As a southern Illinois ATV accident lawyer, I was saddened to read that another child has lost her life on one of these vehicles. Montana Niccole Garner of Livingston, Ill., was a passenger on the four-wheel adult-size ATV, driven by her friend, a twelve-year-old girl. As the girls drove the ATV around on private farmland owned by Montana's friend's family, close to Montana's own home, they tried to make a turn. The ATV flipped and landed on Montana. Montana was aided by emergency personnel, who took her to Community Memorial Hospital in Staunton and then flew her to a St. Louis area hospital. Sadly, she was pronounced dead at the second hospital. Montana's friend suffered minor injuries as well.

This was not the first fatal ATV accident to occur in this area. There have been several in the last few years, according to local police. Captain Brad Wells of the Madison County Sheriff's department said, "This appears to be strictly an accident." Nevertheless, he suggested that accidents could be reduced if people followed the warning stickers on ATVs that give the recommended ages for drivers. Wells also said that ATV riders should wear safety gear. But even with safety gear, tragic accidents can happen on ATVs. As I wrote last August, a seven-year-old boy died in an ATV accident even though he was wearing a full-face helmet. In that case, investigators suspected that the ATV's throttle was stuck, causing the ATV to speed out of control, ultimately hitting a curb and throwing the boy from the vehicle as his father ran after him to try to save him.

In Montana's case, the ATV's throttle was not suspected of malfunction, but as a St. Louis ATV accident lawyer, I wonder whether the ATV that Montana and her friend were riding was one with a defective design that makes rollovers very likely. ATVs have many of the features known to make vehicles likely to roll over, including a high center of gravity, high-speed capability and intended use on uneven ground. A rollover-prone vehicle that weighs up to 700 pounds strikes me as a prime candidate for carefully-thought-out safety features put in place by the manufacturer, and tight government safety regulation. Unfortunately, the federal government regulates ATVs as toys, not vehicles, so they don’t get the benefit of more stringent vehicle safety requirements. And few manufacturers include these types of safety features voluntarily. Dangerous ATV designs and manufacturing defects have resulted in brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and death for children and adults. And children under 16 account for nearly 25% of ATV-related deaths and 33% of injuries.

ATV accidents shot up by almost 180% between 1995 and 2004. Certainly, this is due in part to the increasing popularity of ATVs. But how much of this increase is also due to ATV manufacturers' failure to ensure that their products are safe for riders and passengers? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and state laws regulate ATVs and handle recalls of defective ATVs, but they are evidently unable to slow the rate of ATV accidents. In fact, since Montana and her friend were riding their ATV on her friend's family's land, it may have been perfectly legal for a twelve-year-old and a ten-year-old to operate the ATV, even if the ATV's manufacturer did not recommend it. Knowing that state laws allow for situations like this, ATV manufacturers have an extremely important responsibility to make sure that their products are safe for all conditions under which they can legally be operated. Missouri and Illinois law require that manufacturers ensure that their products are safe when they offer them for sale, in order to avoid hurting innocent people who use them, like Montana and her friend. When manufacturers fail to meet that obligation and consumers are hurt through no fault of their own by the defective product, state law allows victims to demand accountability.

Continue reading "Ten-Year-Old Southern Illinois Girl Dies in ATV Rollover Accident" »

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As a St. Louis ATV accident lawyer, I was sorry to see that a seven-year-old boy died this past weekend in a serious ATV accident. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Aug. 24 that Austin Henry of Troy, Ill. was riding his ATV with neighborhood kids and under his father’s supervision Aug. 22. According to the newspaper, he apparently lost control, hit a curb and was thrown from the vehicle. Despite the fact that he was wearing a full-face helmet, the little boy sustained serious head and chest trauma and died about 40 minutes later at a southern Illinois hospital.

Austin’s father, Paul Henry, told the Post-Dispatch that Austin was a good kid who didn’t break rules often. That was why the elder Henry was concerned when he saw Austin zoom past the driveway -- the border of the area where he was allowed to use the ATV -- and head into the street. Paul Henry chased the ATV but couldn’t catch up in time to stop Austin from turning a corner and hitting the curb. Investigators believe the throttle of the ATV may have been stuck, the paper said, which would explain why he lost control of the vehicle.

Unfortunately, I know from my experience as a southern Illinois ATV accident attorney that ATV safety problems are far from uncommon. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the only federal agency regulating ATVs, levied a $950,000 fine against an ATV manufacturer in 2005 for selling ATVs with defective throttles and failing to report the problem. Other ATVs have come under fire for defective designs that make rollover accidents very likely, especially on the uneven ground where they tend to be used. As a result, the CPSC reported that ATV accidents increased by a staggering 180% between 1995 and 2004. A quarter of all those killed in ATV accidents, and a third of those suffering serious injuries, were minors under 16.

Continue reading "Seven-Year-Old Boy Dies in ATV Accident Possibly Caused by Defective Throttle" »

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As a Missouri ATV crash attorney, I was disappointed to see that a young man died in an ATV crash near Kansas City April 11. Television station KMBC reported April 13 that Jeffrey Gervy was riding ATVs with a friend around 8 p.m. near a warehouse, when his friend swerved to avoid a puddle. Gervy hit the puddle, slipped and was thrown from his ATV, hitting his unhelmeted head on the pavement. He was taken to the hospital, where he died of unspecified injuries.

If you don’t know anyone who uses an ATV or any Missouri ATV injury lawyers, you may not realize how dangerous these vehicles can be. An ATV -- all-terrain vehicle -- is a three- or four-wheeled vehicle specifically intended for off-road use. Though some are used for work, most ATVs are used by hobbyists who enjoy off-road driving. But despite their off-road use, many ATVs are actually highly likely to roll over when they encounter the sorts of obstacles and rough patches that off-roading presents. Like sport-utility vehicles, ATVs have a high center of gravity that makes them easy to tip over, even during apparently routine riding. Unlike SUVs, ATVs don’t have a steel-reinforced cage, air bags or seat belts to keep their occupants safe.

In an accident, that means that ATV riders have virtually no protection, aside from perhaps a helmet. Missouri state law requires helmets for riders 17 and under, but adults are free to go without. By contrast, helmets are required for all motorcyclists in Missouri, regardless of age. In fact, a 2003 study of trauma patient hospital admissions for ATV and motorcycle accidents found that both vehicles caused roughly the same amount of fatal accidents -- and ATVs actually had a much higher incidence of head injuries. Complicating things further is the fact that children legally can and do ride ATVs, even those that are too big and powerful for the youngest riders. These safety problems contributed to an alarming 180% increase in fatal ATV accidents between 1995 and 2004, according to the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Despite these dangers, ATV manufacturers have not added more safety features to their vehicles or strengthened warnings significantly -- and regulators have not followed up. If this failure to correct defects or warn riders results in a serious ATV accident, victims have the right to hold manufacturers legally responsible for their injuries, including catastrophic injuries like brain damage, amputation and paralysis. Our St. Louis ATV crash attorneys represent people throughout Missouri and southern Illinois who have lost a loved one or been catastrophically injured in crashes involving unsafe or defective ATVs. If you are in this situation and you’re ready to take action, The Lowe Law Firm can help. To set up a free consultation on your rights and your case, please contact us online or call toll-free at 1-877-678-3400.

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At least 30 deaths have been linked to the Yamaha Rhino. Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is investigating whether the off-road vehicles are safe.

Accord to an article in the Wall Street Journal, federal safety regulators are trying to determine whether the all-terrain vehicles (also known as utility terrain vehicles) pose a substantial risk of injury or death.

Introduced in 2003, the Yamaha Rhino has been responsible for countless injuries and even deaths. A driver and passenger sit side by side in this top-heavy ATV that rests on narrow tires, making it rollover-prone even at low speeds.

Compounding the danger is the absence of doors on the original model. Drivers and passengers have sustained broken legs, required leg amputations and even lost their lives because they tried to catch themselves as the ATV tipped over.

After the model was introduced to the market, Yamaha sent letters to owners, notifying them that sharp turns could cause the ATV to tip. The company also warned owners not to stick their legs out to stop a rollover. In 2007, Yamaha offered to retrofit all new and used Rhinos with doors and additional handholds. The 2008 models will come equipped with doors and grab handles.

However, the modifications do not fix the design flaws that make the ATV top-heavy and prone to tipping over.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous ATVs. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital or in the privacy of your home. Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

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A Missouri teen was seriously injured when the all-terrain vehicle he was driving overturned and landed on top of him.

According to the Springfield News-Leader, Michael W. Wilson, 17, was driving a 1988 Suzuki on Missouri NN in Pulaski County when the ATV went off of the right side of the road. Even though Wilson was wearing a safety device, he was thrown from the ATV and into a ditch. The ATV landed on top of him.

As all-terrain vehicles continue to soar in popularity, so, too, does the incidence of accidents and deaths involving ATVs. Because of their inherently unstable design, these vehicles, which sometimes weigh more than 700 pounds easily tip over or even roll. Add to this the frequent use of ATVs on uneven surfaces and the vehicles’ high-performance engines, capable of speeds topping 60 mph, and you can see why the numbers of ATV-related fatalities and injuries continue to grow.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the annual tally of accidents involving ATVs increased by nearly 180 percent between 1995 and 2004. Children younger than 16 years accounted for nearly a quarter of all ATV-related deaths and a third of ATV-related injuries, such as brain and spinal cord trauma. The average cost of hospitalization for the victim of an ATV accident was $21,304.

As a result of dangerous designs and manufacturing defects, children and adults have suffered brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations and have even been killed in ATV accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous ATVs. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital or in the privacy of your home. Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

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A recall has been issued on the four-wheeled Razor Dirt Quad because a defective throttle causes the vehicle to surge forward unexpectedly.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of the mini all-terrain vehicle on Sept. 25. Approximately 30,000 of the electric ride-on vehicles designed for children were sold nationwide from August 2006 through September 2007.

A defect in the throttle’s control module can cause it to surge forward unexpectedly. Razor, the maker of the vehicle, has received 60 reports of unexpected forward surges and two reports of injuries.

The vehicles were made in China and sold in the United States for $400.The product ID numbers included in the recall begin with 103110-01 or 103110-02.

According to the CPSC, the annual tally of accidents involving ATVs increased by nearly 180 percent between 1995 and 2004. Children younger than 16 years accounted for nearly a quarter of all ATV-related deaths and a third of ATV-related injuries, such as brain and spinal cord trauma. The average cost of hospitalization for the victim of an ATV accident was $21,304.

There is little regulation or oversight of the ATV industry. Instead, safety is left to a patchwork of state laws and the ability of the already overworked CPSC to issue recalls. In spite of this weak regulatory environment, several ATV-related recalls have been made for such dangers as failures of the brakes, steering system, and suspension; inability to control speed; fire hazards; and other design flaws.

As a result of dangerous designs and manufacturing defects, children and adults have suffered brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations and have even been killed in ATV accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous ATVs. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital or in the privacy of your home. Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

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Last week, lawmakers passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 which is expected to be signed by the president.

The new law would subject all-terrain vehicles made in China to U.S.-industry rules. The measure would also give the Consumer Product Safety Commission more authority to regulate ATVs.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports in “Chinese-made ATVs add threat to the unregulated industry,” 850 people are killed every year in ATV-related accidents. That means, on average, two people every day die as a result of an all-terrain vehicle.

The article written by reporter Bill Lambrecht points out that Chinese-made ATVs now account for about half of all ATV sales in the United States . The models made in China are often constructed with lower-quality metal and parts. Models made for children may be more powerful than those made in the U.S.

U.S. makers of ATVs supported the legislation, calling the Chinese models unsafe. But some consumer rights groups, citing the number of fatalities and injuries linked to ATVs, say that the measure doesn’t go far enough. It simply protects the economic interests of U.S. manufacturers without imposing greater regulation.

Rachel Weintraub, who is with the Consumer Federation of America, said:

“The legislation creates an equal playing field but not necessarily a safe playing field.”

As Weintraub notes, the playing field isn’t necessarily safe. Because of their inherently unstable design, ATVs, which sometimes weigh more than 700 pounds easily tip over or even roll. Add to this the frequent use of ATVs on uneven surfaces and the vehicles’ high-performance engines, capable of speeds topping 60 mph, and you can see why the numbers of ATV-related fatalities and injuries continue to grow.

As a result of dangerous designs and manufacturing defects, children and adults have suffered brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and amputations and have even been killed in ATV accidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous all-terrain vehicles. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital, or in the privacy of your home.

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Missouri, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, ranked ninth in the nation for all-terrain vehicle-related deaths in 2006.

The CPSC also reports that from 2003 to 2006, there were 146,600 ATV-related injuries across the U.S., 27 percent of which were kids under 16.

In “ATV accidents, complaints on the rise,” Jefferson County Suburban Journal reporter Sarah AuBuchon writes that once the weather warms up and school is out, emergency rooms see an increase in ATV riders with broken bones and head injuries.

Dr. Robert Beckman, an ER doctor at St. Anthony’s Medical Center, told the Suburban Journal that flip-overs are one of the most common causes of serious injuries.

“You have two opportunities for injury, the fall and then the ATV itself falling on you. People think ATVs are safe because they have four wheels, but they have a high center of gravity and flip over easily. If you’re going up a hill and they flip, you can fall 10 to 15 feet down a hill and then the thing lands on you. It’s like having a horse fall on top of you.”

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous all-terrain vehicles. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital, or in the privacy of your home.

Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

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As the weather heats up, all-terrain vehicle enthusiasts are taking to the trails. Unfortunately, some are getting hurt.

On Sunday evening, a 40-year-old man suffered a head injury when the four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle he was riding crashed, rolled and landed on a bed of rocks at the bottom of a hill. The accident occurred on a trail in Kansas City, Kan. KCTV-5 reports that the man was airlifted to the University of Kansas Medical Center where he remains in critical condition.

The news story doesn’t identify the make and model of the ATV involved in the accident. However, one four-wheel ATV model that has been responsible for countless injuries and deaths is the Yamaha Rhino.

Introduced in 2003, a driver and passenger sit side by side in this top-heavy ATV that rests on narrow tires, making it rollover-prone even at low speeds.

Compounding the danger is the absence of doors on the original model. Drivers and passengers have sustained broken legs, required leg amputations and even lost their lives because they tried to catch themselves as the ATV tipped over.

After the model was introduced to the market, Yamaha sent letters to owners, notifying them that sharp turns could cause the ATV to tip. The company also warned owners not to stick their legs out to stop a rollover. In 2007, Yamaha offered to retrofit all new and used Rhinos with doors and additional handholds. The 2008 models will come equipped with doors and grab handles. However, the modifications do not fix the design flaws that make the ATV top-heavy and prone to tipping over.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident, we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys are experienced in helping people injured by dangerous all-terrain vehicles. We will seek compensation for medical expenses, future and other affected wages, disability and other related damages, pain and suffering.

The Lowe Law Firm will provide you with a free initial consultation. We can meet with you in our office, at the hospital, or in the privacy of your home.

Contact The Lowe Law Firm online or call 877-678-3400.

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Two Missouri teens were killed last week and one was seriously injured while riding all-terrain vehicles, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Yesterday, Zachary T. Barker, a 15-year-old from Potosi, died. He was a passenger on an ATV being driven by a 14-year-old. The ATV they were riding drove out of a ditch, onto the highway and into the patch of an oncoming car. The ATV was hit by the car and the boys were thrown 60 feet.

On Tuesday, the body of Daniel R. Dorsey, a 15-year-old from St. Charles, was found in a swollen creek. Dorsey had been riding an ATV and it is believed he crashed it in the creek.

Monday, 14-year-old Madeline Moreton of Wildwood was seriously injured when the ATV she was driving hit a tree.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the annual tally of accidents involving ATVs increased by nearly 180 percent between 1995 and 2004. Children younger than 16 years accounted for nearly a quarter of all ATV-related deaths and a third of ATV-related injuries, such as brain and spinal cord trauma.

Because of their inherently unstable design, these vehicles, which sometimes weigh more than 700 pounds easily tip over or even roll. Add to this the frequent use of ATVs on uneven surfaces and the vehicles’ high-performance engines, capable of speeds topping 60 mph, and you can see why the numbers of ATV-related fatalities and injuries continue to grow.

Now that schools are closing for the summer, it is likely that more teens will be riding ATVs. Survive the Ride, a coalition of hospital and helicopter workers who often treat ATV injuries, urges riders to wear helmets. Riders are also urged not to allow passengers on ATVs. In addition, only people over the age of 16 should be allowed to use adult-sized ATVs.

If you or a loved one has been injured or a family member has been killed in an ATV accident we urge you to contact The Lowe Law Firm. Our attorneys will find out whether the the manufacturer or someone else is responsible for the accident. If so, we will then seek for future and other related medical expenses, future and other affected wages, pain and suffering, disability and/or other related damages.

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