San Diego and other cities in California offer great opportunities for outdoor recreation. Between the beaches, mountains, hills, and lakes, there are plenty of places to ride all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). Riding an ATV is another popular, but very dangerous activity California residents enjoy partaking in.
If you plan on or have been on an ATV, it’s important to know what to do if you or a friend is ever hurt in an ATV accident. It’s equally important to know the common causes of ATV accidents to watch out for.
Common Causes of ATV Accidents
There are many unknown factors that can play into ATV accidents. However, some of the most common causes of ATV accidents include:
- Driving an ATV on a paved surface. ATVs are meant for off-road use only and operate poorly on paved surfaces.
- Inexperienced drivers operating ATVs. Inexperienced ATV passengers are also a common cause of accidents.
- Joyriding or reckless driving. ATVs are meant to be driven on rough terrain, when drivers are extra reckless accidents often occur.
What to do if you’re in an ATV accident?
ATV accidents can range in severity, regardless of how severe the accident is, there are important steps to follow after the accident.
1. Call 911 for injuries
The first step is to check anyone involved for any physical injuries. Some injuries may not be visible, so make sure to check in on the parties and ask questions about any symptoms. If it’s required, call 911 and seek medical attention before you do anything else.
2. Keep & obtain documentation of the injuries
Keep any documentation from medical records if you received care for injuries to rental agreements and forms if the ATVs were rentals. Make sure you take pictures on the scene of any personal and property damage, too! If there are any witnesses to the accident or a police report on the accident, try to get that as well.
3. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney
Reach out to a personal injury attorney that knows what laws protect you and how to help you recover for your injuries. Please reach out to an attorney at Hariri Law Group to discuss the details of your accident. Our attorneys will work hard to make sure those who need to be held liable are and that you are compensated for the damages you have received. Being involved in an ATV accident can cause a storm of financial, emotional, and physical damage, do not deal with the consequences alone.
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