Should you get an ATV for your child? My opinion: NO!
I remember when I was a kid, whenever my parents would get out of the car, I’d scoot over into the driver’s seat, put my hands on the wheel and pretend I was driving — with appropriate sound effects, of course.
Almost all children dream of what it would be like to drive a car like mommy and daddy do. It’s why they’re fascinated with cars and trucks and why manufacturers make play cars for toddlers and remote control cars. A growing trend in this market is a vehicle that the youngster can actually maneuver himself while in the driver seat. An ATV or All Terrain Vehicle is like a motorcycle but on four wheels (they used to have only 3, like a tricycle) and can be driven on all types of land. No need for roads with these vehicles. Anything from open fields, to sand dunes, to your backyard are fair game.
However, the great risks of these vehicles to our children are constantly being proven. According to a study published in the Houston Chronicle, 40,000 children under the age of 16 were seriously injured in ATV accidents resulting in 107 deaths in 2007 alone.
Helmets are not enough. Even when proper protection is worn, the vehicle itself is a menace. One of the problems is that these vehicles are oversized. Full sized ATVs can weigh up to 400 pounds. When matched against a 60 pound child, the eventual winner is obvious. Any kind of accident can be disastrous, especially when the child lands beneath the vehicle or is thrown from it. While there are smaller vehicles that are made specifically for younger children, they too can easily outweigh a child and without many safety restraints, serious precautions need to be taken. Virginia has a law that governs ATV use by children that basically prohibits children from using larger vehicles. This ATV safety site has information about ATVs that might be helpful to you.
Manufacturers know about the dangers of ATVs when used by children, but most parents do not. They look like great fun, and who wouldn’t want to let a child have great fun. But, THEY ARE NOT TOYS.
Parents whose child has been injured or killed on an ATV should speak to a lawyer who can give them information to help them decide whether the manufacturer or retailer can be held responsible. Give me a call at 703-273-9500, contact me through my firm’s website, www.WRSattorneys.com, or send me an email at srohrstaff@WRSattorneys.com. I will answer your questions for free.
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