ATV Accident

September 20, 2023

News: 18-year-old dead after ATV crashes into tree in Brooksville

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

BROOKSVILLE, FL – An accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in Hernando County caused the death of the 18-year-old driver, WTVT reported.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the young man was driving the ATV west on Langworthy Drive near Rester Drive in Brooksville on Saturday at about 4:40 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a left curve in the roadway.

The ATV went onto a grass shoulder, collided with a wire fence and then hit a tree. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital.

August 23, 2023

News: 9-year-old boy critically injured in Pasco County ATV accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

PASCO COUNTY, FL – State troopers said an accident in Pasco County involving an all-terrain vehicle left a young boy critically injured.

According to the Suncoast News, the crash happened Saturday night on State Road 52 near Palm Street shortly before 10:30 p.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 9-year-old boy was driving a Side-By-Side ATV eastbound on the grass shoulder of State Road 52 shortly before 10:30 p.m. As the boy tried to cross State Road 52, the ATV hit the back of a passing Toyota Camry that was also going east on the roadway. The ATV overturned in the westbound lane while the Camry collided with a ditch along the north shoulder.

February 15, 2023

News: Dunnellon man killed in Marion County ATV accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – One person was killed and another injured in an ATV accident in Marion County Saturday night, according to WKMG.

The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the ATV crashed into a tree in the area of SW 72nd Circle and SW 148th Place Road shortly before 11:30 p.m.

The driver, a 32-year-old man from Dunnellon, was pronounced dead after being taken to an area hospital. His passenger, a 48-year-old Dunnellon man, sustained minor injuries.

December 14, 2022

News: 1 dead, 3 hospitalized following Lake County ATV accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

LAKE COUNTY, FL – The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident in Lake County involving an all-terrain vehicle.

A report by WKMG states that the crash took place Sunday morning off Duda Road near Orlando North Airpark at about 4:30 a.m.

The FHP said an ATV traveling a wooded area crashed, overturned and ended up in a ditch filled with water. A 23-year-old Astatula woman was thrown from the vehicle and became trapped. She was pronounced dead after being transported to an area hospital.

December 8, 2022

News: 10-year-old boy killed in Marion County ATV accident

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

MARION COUNTY, FL – A young boy died after an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in Marion County, according to the Ocala StarBanner.

The crash happened Sunday afternoon in the vicinity of Southwest 80th Avenue and 151st Place. The Florida Highway Patrol said a 10-year-old boy from Dunnellon was riding an ATV when the vehicle overturned on him.

The boy was pronounced dead after being taken to AdventHealth TimberRidge ER. The FHP is investigating the cause of the incident.

November 23, 2022

News: 4-year-old boy injured when sedan hits ATV on County Road 490

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

CITRUS COUNTY, FL – A collision involving a sedan and an ATV in Citrus County sent a young boy to the hospital, the Citrus County Chronicle reports.

The accident occurred Saturday night as both vehicles were headed south on County Road 490 near South Bolton Avenue at about 9:40 p.m. The Florida Highway Patrol said the driver of the sedan, a 49-year-old man, was not able to see the ATV because it had no lights and crashed into the back of the vehicle. The sedan driver then lost control and went off the road before hitting a tree.

A 4-year-old Homosassa boy who was in the second row of the ATV was flown to St. Joseph Children’s Hospital in the Tampa area with undisclosed injuries. The two drivers and three other passengers in the ATV, two women and a teenage girl, were not injured in the crash.

June 16, 2022

News: 1 person killed, 1 injured in ATV rollover crash in Wesley Chapel

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL – Pasco Fire Rescue reported it was at the scene of a fatal ATV rollover accident on Tuesday afternoon.

The incident took place in the area of Fog Hollow Drive and Solitude Drive in Wesley Chapel, according to WTSP.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 61-year-old Wesley Chapel man was driving an ATV when he was not able to negotiate a curve properly and the vehicle overturned, ejecting both occupants. The ATV fell on top of the driver’s 62-year-old passenger, who was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver was flown to an area hospital as a trauma alert with serious injuries. The names of the victims were not released.

August 31, 2020

2 Adults and Child Injured in ATV Crash in Columbia County | Florida ATV Accident Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

An ATV crash in Columbia County Tuesday evening left a child and two adults suffering injuries.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. Tuesday night at County Road 246 and County Road 131.

The ATV collision was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol who said that three Lake City residents were riding on an ATV heading north on County Road 131. The driver of the all-terrain vehicle stopped at a stop sign before continuing through the intersection of County Road 246 when the ATV hit an SUV heading west. The crash caused the ATV to spin out and ultimately flip.

One of the ATV passengers, a 49-year-old man, suffered critical injuries. An 11-year-old girl was another passenger who was seriously injured. The driver of the ATV, a 29-year-old man, also suffered serious injuries, according to the FHP.

The FHP report did say that none of the ATV riders were wearing helmets.

The 52-year-old SUV driver suffered minor injuries, according to the FHP.

Florida Safety Laws on ATVs

Florida laws regarding ATVs state the following:

ATVs can only be driven on unpaved roads during daylight hours where the posted speed limit is under 35 MPH.
ATV operators that are under 16 years of age must be supervised by an adult and carry proof of their completion of a Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) safety course.
Anyone driving or riding an ATV that is under the age of 16 must wear a safety helmet and eye protection that is approved by USDOT.

ATV Accident Statistics

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a report showing that between 1982 and 2017, children under the age of 16 accounted for more than 1 in five of the over 15,000 ATV accidents that resulted in death. The CPSC annual report for 2017 (the most recent data available) shows there were 15,250 total ATV accidents deaths reported from 1982-2017, and 3,315 of those deaths, or 21.7%, were minors under the age of 16. Another 1,450 of those deaths, or 9.5%, were under the age of 12. The total deaths in the state of Florida from ATV-related accidents between 1982-2017 were 616.

ATV Accident Injuries

While ATVs are certainly a fun time for those seeking a little outdoor adventure, the truth is that these vehicles can be dangerous. ATVs do not have seatbelts and can weigh between 500 and 600 pounds, which makes them hazardous to drivers and passengers. The most common injuries from ATVs are:

Head Injuries/Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

ATVs do not have a roof and are larger vehicles, which is why all riders are strongly encouraged to wear a helmet. Not wearing a helmet while riding on an ATV and being involved in a crash could lead to a concussion, regardless of how fast you were going.

Spinal Cord Trauma

Spinal cord injuries from ATV accidents account for around 7.9% of the total injuries reported. If the ATV you are operating or riding as a passenger on flips over and lands on top of you, the weight of 500-600 pounds can place a significant amount of pressure on your body.

Internal Injuries

Rollovers in ATV accidents are a huge risk, and when that much weight is placed on a person’s body, injuries to internal organs can happen. Being careful on an ATV and not taking unnecessary risks can stop rollovers from happening. It is very important to not speed on these vehicles, exercise caution when travelling downhill, ride on even ground, do not take corners too fast, and do not lean back when riding uphill.

Knee and Leg Injuries

Not all ATV accidents result in death or catastrophic injuries. Broken bones, scrapes, and burns are all common injuries in ATV accidents.

Fractures

ATVs are large and heavy vehicles, as we have mentioned, so it is not uncommon for riders to fall during the course of an accident and suffer from a broken bone or fracture.

Contact Our Florida ATV Accident Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton

April 29, 2019

Man Killed in ATV Crash in Clay County

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

A 25-year-old Jacksonville man died late Tuesday night in an ATV crash in Clay County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the man and a 21-year-old Middleburg man were riding an ATV south on Beecher Lane in Orange Park when the vehicle flipped at Crossing Boulevard.

Both men were thrown from the ATV, and the 25-year-old died at the scene from his injuries, troopers said.

The other man on the ATV was seriously injured and was taken to Orange Park Medical Center, troopers said.

It’s unclear which of the men was driving the ATV at the time or why the vehicle overturned.

Charges could be issued pending the outcome of the investigation, according to the report.

Troopers said neither man was wearing a helmet.

ATV’s can now exceed speeds of 60 mph, so they can be extremely dangerous when not operated carefully or correctly. When racing up steep hills or turning at high speeds, ATVs have a tendency to roll over. These vehicles lack the protection of walls or a roof, so drivers can easily be crushed underneath the rolling vehicle.

If you or your loved one has been involved in an ATV accident, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Usually, these collisions are the result of poor weather conditions or human error, but sometimes they can happen because of manufacturing flaws.

December 13, 2018

Miami Police Officer on Patrol Killed in ATV Crash

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Authorities say a Florida police officer is dead following an all-terrain vehicle crash.

Miami-Dade police say the officer was patrolling an area near a canal Wednesday afternoon when he hit a tree.

He was following up on nuisance and theft complaints by residents. Police say the officer had been called to an enforcement action just before the crash.

Police are still investigating the crash.

If you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in an ATV accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your pain and suffering. ATV accidents can result in serious injuries, even death, as this case shows. Our South Florida ATV Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you receive the compensation that you deserve for ATV accident injuries and death.

ATV crashes can deliver serious injuries that may affect you for the rest of your life. Without the protection offered by cars, ATV drivers and passengers are more likely to suffer from life-threatening injuries. This is especially true because ATVs are highly prone to rollovers. We commonly see the following injuries from ATV accidents: