Sep 25, 2014 in News Car Accident

Car Accident: Avoid an ATV accident by driving safely

[caption id="attachment_6413" align="alignleft" width="300"] (Photo credit: BasicGov/Flickr)[/caption] With cooler temperatures already arriving and leaves starting to fall, you might think it's a great time to enjoy the outdoors on your All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). Whenever you take your ATV out for a spin, make sure you drive safely. In 2013, the OPP reported 20 ATV deaths, which rose from 12 fatalities the year before. In 2009, there were 3,386 Canadians hospitalized due to ATV collisions and about 450 of those were children 14 years old and under, according to a study by the Canadian Institute of Health Information. ATV accidents can result in common injuries such as a broken arm or leg, but if a person is thrown off, crushed or pinned under an ATV, it could result in more serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, bruised or collapsed lungs and fractured livers and spleens. While helmets can reduce the risk of brain injury, they're not 100 per cent full-proof. Pop singer Justin Bieber was lucky he walked away from an ATV accident after the ATV he was on crashed with a minivan to the east of Stratford, Ont. The accident took place in early September on a county highway and police were called, but there were no injuries reported from the collision. The pop singer was charged with dangerous driving and any details about the vehicle's damage were not disclosed by police, according to the Globe and Mail. A 26-year-old woman died and four passengers needed to be medevaced after an ATV accident in Cape Dorset, Nunavut, in mid-September. The ATVs occupants were thrown from the vehicle during a night ride and alcohol is believed to be a factor. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and everyone involved was an adult, except for one male youth. ATV riders need to abide by certain rules laid out by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Whether vehicles are ridden on-road or off-road, either way they must be registered and insured by a motor vehicle liability policy. Rear licence plates must always be visible with only a few exceptions. The driver and passenger must both wear an approved motorcycle helmet while riding. If you're driving an ATV on road, you'll need to be 16 and hold either a G2 or M2 licence. You'll also be required to have both headlights and tail lights on and travel at the ATV speeds set out by the province. (These differ from the normal posted road speeds.) Also, if you operate an ATV while intoxicated, you will face a similar consequences as when driving a car while intoxicated. Before heading out, always make sure you notify someone of where you're headed and when you expect to return so they're aware of your whereabouts. Whether you're riding on a motorcycle, bicycle, boat or car, it's always important to never drive while intoxicated. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, the personal injury lawyers at Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers are here to help fight your case. Our trusted legal team is experienced in handling tort claims and helping victims receive the accident and disability benefits that they are ennamed to. Set up a consultation by calling our Toronto office at 416- 920-4242.