All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are a fun summertime activity for kids and adults alike, but they aren't the safest vehicles on the market and can lead to devastating injuries if enthusiasts are not careful. According to an article published by Health Day, ATV injuries normally affect younger children who don't have the strength to control these large machines. A new study has reported that ATV injuries are declining, but this doesn't minimize the reality that these accidents still happen every single year and send thousands to the hospital.
The study estimates that over the past decade, more than 360,000 children have been treated in hospital emergency rooms throughout the United States for injuries that were directly related to riding an ATV. ATV injuries reached their highest level back in 2004, when 67 out of every 100,000 children receive medical attention after riding one of these vehicles. Now, the injury rates have dropped by one-third. Unfortunately, this is not necessary because ATVs are becoming safer. Instead a poor exonomy has discouraged families from spending money on ATV purchases or rentals, and ATV owners are avoiding their recreational activity because of the high costs of gasoline.
Back in March, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission also commented on the decline of ATV injuries among riders of all ages. The CPSC said that between 2010 and 2011, the amount of injuries dropped noticeably. Still, the report said that 57 children under the age of 16 were killed in ATV crashes that year. A pediatrician involved in the study from the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital says that while the injuries are decreasing, parents should not assume this means ATVs are safe for young children.
Researchers say that they will be able to confirm if the injury rates are partially due to the economy when they watch the economy improve and then look at the ATV accident statistics. If they rise once again, then the suspicions will be confirmed, and safety advocates will campaign for more precautions with these recreational vehicles.
One study published in the medical journal Pediatrics evaluated medical records from 66 different hospitals. The researchers counted the amount of injuries to children 15 or younger who were hurt while riding ATVs. This does not include children that were not on the ATV when they were injured, such as those watching or those being pulled on a sled behind the ATV.
The research proved that boys are about twice as likely to be injured on an ATV as a girl is, and teens and preteens between the ages 11 and 15 have the highest injury rate. This is because parents often think that these children are old enough to ride the ATVs on their own, but they are sorely mistaken.
About two-thirds of all children that are injured on ATVs are between 11 and 15. Most of the children who suffer from ATV injuries are released from the hospital the same day that they were injured. Statistics show that this is the case for about 86% of all children. About half of all injuries are scrapes, bruises, and cuts. Younger children under the age of five have a higher likelihood to suffer serious injury, and in this age group about 30% of all injuries are to the head, face, or neck.
13% of children suffer serious injuries and need to be hospitalized for extensive amounts of time. If you want more information about ATV accidents or if your loved one was injured in an ATV accident and you want to seek compensation from a responsible party, then find a local personal injury attorney to assist you right away!