Given our love of working and playing outdoors here in Mississippi, it is not surprising that four-wheelers are so popular. Four-wheelers are ubiquitous because they are good at so many different things—they can plow through streams, climb steep banks, haul trailers, and drive on the open road. Driving them is a lot of fun. Four-wheelers’ strengths all stem from their high power to low weight ratio, a useful combination that comes with significant danger. Four-wheelers can haul large roads that can topple onto the driver, roll over and crush their driver, lack the protection of a car on the highway, and have acceleration that can result in them throwing their driver. Additionally, people often double up on four-wheelers, riding tandem in a way that many were not designed to be driven. In the U.S., almost 1,000 people are year killed each year, and 100,000 are injured in four-wheeler related accidents.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed as a result of a four-wheeler accident, you will need to have experienced counsel help you attain your fair share of compensation for your injury, medical bills, loss of income, and recovery. Barrett Law has the experience to help you—contact us now at (601) 790-1505.
Common Causes of Four-Wheeler Accidents
Four-wheeler accidents have a wide variety of causes. The most common include: Riding on steep or uneven terrain and suffering a crushing rollover; Driving on public roads and getting into an accident with automobile traffic; Minors driving four-wheelers recklessly; Passengers being thrown off of the back of four-wheelers not made for passengers.
Steps to Take to Reduce the Chances of a Four-Wheeler Injury
Most four-wheeler drivers have no training before they get behind the handlebars for the first time. This inexperience, especially with teen drivers, is a common cause of injuries, as young drivers often couple their lack of experience with an appetite for daredevil driving. Make sure minor drivers have supervision and training before allowing them onto a four-wheeler. Similarly, a four-wheeler should only be ridden by the number of passengers it was made for. When driving on uneven or hilly terrain, scout out the route ahead to prevent a rollover. While a four-wheeler is light compared to an automobile, there is no way that a pinned rider can free him or herself once it has rolled.
What Should You Do If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured in an Accident?
If you were injured in a four-wheeler accident, call the police immediately, especially if the accident occurred on a public roadway. Even if you believe the accident was your fault, still call the police, as you do not know whether a manufacturing error or unsafe roadway condition triggered your crash. The police report will be a valuable, unbiased documentation of what occurred and what caused your accident. Additionally, you or a loved one should take as many pictures of the accident as possible so that the images of the crash site are preserved before anyone moves the four-wheeler or any other vehicle.
Four-wheelers can be incredibly useful and fun if used properly. If misused, however, they can be deadly. If you or a loved one was injured in a four-wheeler accident, you should seek medical attention immediately and contact an experienced personal injury attorney. Let experienced counsel take care of preserving medical records, attaining expert opinions, and dealing with the defendant’s attorneys. These are essential tasks that only a personal injury attorney can handle for you.
Call Barrett Law now, an experienced Mississippi personal injury law firm, to represent you if you have suffered a four-wheeler injury. Contact us now at (601) 790-1505.
