For over twenty years now, Auger & Auger has been representing victims of all-terrain vehicles incidents in Greenville County — and we fully understand how devastating the results can be for you and your loved ones. Our Greenville ATV accident attorney is prepared to advocate for your rights and fight for the maximum compensation to which you are entitled to, having suffered financial and physical burdens.
Because ATVs are not motor vehicles they are not regulated by the Department of Transportation; which means it is up to the states to authorize their use on public roads, or not. In South Carolina, ATVs are not legal to drive on public paved roads, however, our Greenville ATV accident attorney knows that not everyone pays attention to stiff regulations when it comes to operating recreational vehicles.
All-terrain vehicles have a narrow wheelbase and a high center of gravity; making them prone to flipping over, and preventing smooth control when driving on paved roads. ATV tires are not designed to grip smooth pavement, nor do these recreational slow-moving vehicles have standard safety lights or turn signals.
All manufacturers of ATVs actually label them with warning stickers, instructing owners to “never operate them on public roads or paved surfaces, due to handling problems or potential collision with other on-the-road vehicles.”
The cold hard facts remain, that we’ve had 14,653 United States ATV-related fatalities between 1982 to 2016 and that 22% of these were under the age of 16. We must not fail to give this situation the attention it deserves. Of the 14,653, only 198 occurred in South Carolina — but the even greater tragedy is that 43 of them were children who will never experience adulthood.
Kids riding around your Greenville neighborhood may have helmets on their heads but typically are under 12 years old and are driving without any adult supervision. And, they are breaking the law. There’s a state law by the name of Chandler’s Law which was enacted in 2011 (aka All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Act) which defines ATV regulations for children. Youngsters 5 years of age or younger are prohibited from any operation of ATVs.
Children from 6 – 15 years of age:
Must wear helmets
Must wear eye protection
Cannot carry passengers
Cannot operate an ATV after dark
Must have adult supervision
Must have a safety training certificate in possession*
*The safety training certificate must show successful completion of a “hands-on” ATV safety course approved by the All-Terrain Vehicle Safety Institute.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an all-terrain vehicle collision, please don’t hesitate to make the call to our Greenville ATV accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash. We will send our team from Auger & Auger right to the accident scene and begin documenting the investigation — which will be invaluable toward proving your claim — including speaking with witnesses, inspecting and photographing the ATV and other vehicles involved, as well as the scene itself.
Insurance companies may also arrive on the scene to take notes for their own investigation, but keep in mind that they will be focused on minimizing their company’s liability. Auger & Auger is your advocate, and it’s our job to help you obtain medical treatment, recover wages that were lost or reduced, and achieving the maximum compensation to which you are entitled.
Call (864) 991-3532 today for your free consultation, with no fees due until recovery!