Go-Kart and ATV Accidents

Go-Karts and ATVs: Fun That Can Turn Dangerous

South Carolina is a popular family vacation destination for the beaches, golf courses, and resort areas. With the high tourism rate comes entertainment centers that often have go-kart tracks for children and adults alike. The Grand Strand area has various go-kart tracks, including both indoor and outdoor tracks. If the carts and tracks are not maintained adequately, and if improperly working vehicles are offered to customers, there is a risk that a serious injury will result from an accident.

The legal team at the Maguire Law Firm understands that recovering from any accident is both financially and emotionally challenging. But when a day of fun and excitement of riding around a go-kart track or through the fields or sand dunes on an all-terrain vehicle turns dangerous, resulting in a serious injury, or even death of a loved one, the search for justice is of utmost importance for the victims and the family.

The Maguire Law Firm is devoted to providing representation with professionalism and integrity in all of our dealings with clients, adversaries and the courts of justice. For a free consultation in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area call 843-361-7549 or use our toll free number at (800) 525-9900. You can also contact us online.

Safety of ATVs Questioned

ATV riding is a popular sport in South Carolina. Throughout the state there are 15 public trails offered where riders can bring their own ATVs for an afternoon or weekend of riding fun. There is no minimum age limit for the riders, and typically children aged 13 and under are offered a reduced entry fee. But that hobby poses a substantial risk to participants. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 555 people — including more than 100 children — died in all-terrain vehicle accidents in 2006. An additional 146,600 people were treated in emergency rooms for ATV-related injuries — and more than a quarter of them were children.

Parents who have lost children in crashes and consumer groups concerned about public safety have complained for years about these popular off-road vehicles. The ATV manufacturers contend that the vehicles are safe, and that injuries are caused by reckless riders or operators with inadequate training. Most of the deaths and injuries to children are the result of children riding ATVs that are meant for adults. Consumer groups say more needs to be done to keep kids off ATVs that are too big and too powerful for them.

Three wheel ATVs are no longer legal to manufacture and sell in the United States but owners are not prohibited from riding them. Three-wheeled ATVs are lighter and able to make tighter and faster turns than four-wheeled models. With this agility comes the added hazard of less stability and safety, putting the rider and others in danger.

The Yamaha Rhino ATV is one popular off-road vehicle, with approximately 120,000 of the model 450 and model 560 having been distributed nationwide since 2003. Unfortunately, the Rhino has a history of accidents which have caused both serious injury and death. Many of the accidents involve rollovers, even at low speeds, due to the narrow, top heavy design of the vehicle. The CPSC has investigated more than 50 incidents involving 46 driver and passenger deaths in the 450 and 660 Rhino models. More than two-thirds of the cases involved rollovers.

Go-Kart and ATV Rider Checklist

Before riding, or accompanying a rider, on either an ATV or a Go-Kart take the time to assess the following:

• Skill and age of the driver and passengers;
• Maturity of the driver and passengers;
• Hazards on the track;
• Proper supervision;
• Properly maintained equipment.

If you are not comfortable with anything about the ride, do not put yourself or others at risk.

Where Your Best Interests is What Matters

With the Maguire Law Firm on your side, you receive personal service, the accessibility of a small firm and a lawyer with the experience needed to see you through even the most difficult case. While our goal is to settle serious injury cases without going to trial, we have the years of courtroom experience and we are prepared to represent you in court if necessary. We understand the medical aspects of injuries and have the ability to turn the complex information about your accident and injury into plain language that jurors can understand.

If you or a family member has been seriously injured in a go-kart or ATV accident contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help you. We are dedicated to seeing that you get the justice you deserve. To reach us in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area call, 843-361-7549 or use our toll free number at (800) 525-9900.