Do you ever think that these scientific studies we read about so much in the news just spend enormous sums of money documenting the obvious? OK, well so do we. But some of these seemingly obvious conclusions prove highly useful.
Our Galveston product defect lawyers bring to your attention a research study conducted jointly by multiple universities and medical institutions published its results in the November issue of Neurosurgery Focus. The ATV study found that young children simply don’t have the strength and size to adequately control adult-sized ATVs (All Terrain Vehicles). Concerned parents have known this for many years.
But as product defect lawyers, we recognize the utility of a fully documented study on subjects relating to traumatic injuries. The ATV study followed strict scientific principles and found that people of light weights and small “wingspans” (distances from left hand to right hand fingertips with arms outstretched from the sides) suffered very high risk of personal injury when operating adult-sized ATV models. These smaller people, like children under 16 years of age, haven’t the strength or size to create lateral, longitudinal, or vertical operational stability while riding the vehicles.
In fact, children aged 16 and under form only 17% of ATV riders, but they suffer 31% of ATV-related injuries and 26% of ATV fatalities, a disproportionate share. 87% of the injured children suffered their accidents while riding adult-sized ATVs. 93% of their fatalities occurred from riding adult-sized ATVs.
40% of their accidents resulted in dangerous rollovers, and in 15% of the accidents, the children experienced ejection from the vehicles. The study concluded that children experience a likelihood of injury from ATV operation that is between 4 and 12 times as great as that of adults.
Our Galveston product defect lawyers also mention a corresponding study by the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). The CPSC study followed ATV use statistics during a five-year period.
Galveston product defect lawyers note that as yet, very few laws govern ATV operation or safety standards. The CPSC is encouraging manufacturers to adopt and abide by voluntary standards. In July 2010, Massachusetts, always the first state to jump in to regulate individuals’ lives, passed a law limiting use of ATVs by children.
Lack of safety standards and poor oversight of ATV use among children, as well as ATV designs that stress power and maneuverability but don’t account for a child’s smaller size or strength, have proven to be fatal defects to many riders. The study published in Neurosurgery Focus in November serves the good purpose of documenting the danger so that those whose children have been harmed by ATVs have solid, scientific documentation of possible causes of their accident losses.
If your child was injured while riding an ATV, or if you suffered the tragic loss of a vital family member to an ATV accident, feel free to contact us for a free legal consultation. Our Galveston product defect lawyers have been helping injured victims successfully recover compensation for their ATV injuries for more than a decade. We understand the issues and how to present them to maximize your chances of recovery. We’d be glad to dedicate our purpose to helping you too.