ATV Accident Lawyers
Tampa Bay ATV / Off-Road Lawyers
All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are drawing notoriety in the state of Florida and throughout the United States as dangerous – and often deadly – motor vehicles. According to ATVSafety.gov, 447 people in Florida have died as a result of ATV accidents since 1982. Nearly a quarter of those were children under the age of 16. Many more have suffered serious personal injuries.
ATV accidents often occur because drivers and passengers do not think of them in the same way as automobiles, trucks, or even motorcycles. This may be due, in part, to the less stringent legal requirements placed on drivers of ATVs in Florida. No driver’s license or test is required to operate an ATV, and only children under age 16 must wear a helmet. Although Florida law prohibits ATVs on paved roads, this requirement is often disregarded and unenforced. In addition, while the U.S. and Florida Supreme Courts have determined that cars and even golf carts are “dangerous instrumentalities” for purposes of holding the owners of such vehicles responsible for the negligence of those driving them, Florida courts have not yet applied such a rule to ATVs.
Despite public perception and the absence of clear Florida law on the issue, ATVs have proven just as dangerous as other motor vehicles. Some ATVs can reach speeds of 55 mph and weigh up to 500 pounds. As such, they are just as prone as autos and motorcycles to collisions, rollovers, and other accidents causing serious injuries such as brain injury and spine damage, resulting in paralysis or death.
The ATV / off-road accident lawyers at PERENICH The Law Firm have more than 60 years of combined experience in helping motorists and passengers in the Tampa Bay area who were injured recover for damages sustained in a motor vehicle accident, including one involving an ATV. Such damages may include pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning ability, mental anguish, and loss of companionship, support, or consortium.
Our ATV accident lawyers have the knowledge, reputation, and resources to conduct a thorough investigation through the assistance of qualified accident reconstruction and safety experts. This helps us show insurance adjusters as well as judges, and juries how certain road conditions may have caused or contributed to the ATV accident, which may improve the chances of a fair settlement or jury verdict at trial.
Contact our qualified ATV accident attorneys to schedule a free consultation at one of our offices conveniently located throughout the Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, Tampa, St. Petersburg, and New Port Richey.