Although riding a dirt-bike, quad, or other all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is not a uniquely Albertan pastime, residents of this province do seem to engage in this recreational activity at a disproportionately high rate. Despite making up just 12% of the country’s population, Albertans own nearly a quarter of the country’s off-highway vehicles.
This fun, high-octane, recreational activity has never been more popular. Sales of off-highway vehicles have skyrocketed in recent years. Both experienced and novice ATV riders are enjoying nature trails, scenic getaways, and rural terrains in the Lethbridge area from atop their off-highway vehicles.
Despite the fact that riding an ATV can be an exciting pastime, operating these dangerous vehicles is not all fun and games. Without caution, alertness, and consideration of others’ safety, ATV riding can be dangerous. Accidents involving ATVs can even lead to the tragic loss of life.
Each year, approximately 6000 off-highway vehicle operators are hospitalized in Alberta because of injuries they sustained as the result of ATV accidents. Many ATV accidents that lead to injuries or fatalities are single-vehicle events. People can be seriously injured or killed when their ATV accidentally rolls over, collides with a stationary object, or forcibly ejects its rider.
But many ATV accidents in and around Lethbridge are also caused when negligent operators of off-highway vehicles collide with another rider or trail-user. People involved in ATV accidents caused by a negligent rider could lose their lives, or face years of physical, emotional, and financial distress as a result of the injuries they have sustained.
In this province, anyone who operates an off-highway vehicle is required to carry liability insurance. That means that, if their wrongful actions lead to an accident in which another party is injured, the victim’s injury-related costs should be covered by the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.
That said, insurance companies do not always make it easy for injured ATV accident survivors to get the compensation they are fairly owed. They might contest an accident vicitm’s claim, offer unfairly low settlement amounts, and even try blaming the injured accident survivor for the collision.
Our Lethbridge ATV accident lawyers believe that no one should be forced to pay for someone else’s negligence. Off-highway vehicle operators owe a duty of care to other ATV riders and trail-users. Failing to uphold this duty of care by engaging in reckless, careless, or otherwise unsafe actions could be considered negligence. If it can be proven that the at-fault ATV rider’s negligence was responsible for the injury-causing collision, they may be responsible for compensating the person or persons who were injured as a result of their wrongful conduct.
Common forms of negligence that are frequently responsible for injury-causing ATV accidents near Lethbridge include:
By taking advantage of a cost-free, no-obligation first meeting with our ATV accident lawyers serving Lethbridge, you will have the opportunity to review the circumstances of your collision and learn about options for financial recovery that might be available to you. To learn more about working with our Lethbridge ATV accident lawyers, contact us today and book your cost-free, no-obligation initial consultation.
Our ATV accident lawyers serving Lethbridge are passionate about providing crucial legal services to members of the local community whose lives have been unfairly affected by the negligent actions of others. If you were injured by a negligent off-highway vehicle rider and would like to learn more about options you might be entitled to pursue, contact our Lethbridge ATV accident lawyers today and receive a free initial consultation on your case.
Since 1959, Preszler Injury Lawyers has been helping Canadians pursue meaningful compensation from insurance providers.
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