Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Blog
A 20-year-old Inverness, FL woman was killed in an all-terrain-vehicle accident Friday afternoon in Crystal River after the driver allegedly lost control of the vehicle, causing it to flip.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the woman’s 22-year-old boyfriend was driving the 2010 Polaris ATV around 4 p.m. in a field when the vehicle rotated, overturned onto its right side and then came to a halt against a fence.
The man and the woman were both ejected from the vehicle. The man suffered minor injuries.
An investigation into the crash is still underway.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2009 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries, between the years of 1982 and 2009 there have been a total of 10,281 ATV-related deaths in the United States. The number of fatality reports increased 648 since the last annual report prepared by the CPSC in 2008. In the state of Florida, there were 361 ATV-related deaths from 1982-2006 and 86 reported deaths from 2007-2009; totaling 447 reported fatalities or 29 percent of all U.S. ATV-related deaths from 1982-2006.
ATVs are powerful vehicles with the potential for disaster and should never be treated as toys. These vehicles can travel at excess speeds of 60 miles per hour and can weigh more than 700 pounds. ATVs can easily tip or roll over and because the vehicle is usually operated in off-road conditions proper training is essential.
Any person found responsible for an ATV accident can be held liable for injuries and damages suffered by the victim of the collision. In the event of a wrongful death, the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, loss of companionship, mental distress, lost wages and loss of earning potential. To receive fair compensation a rigid investigation needs to take place immediately so all evidence can be preserved, medical information can be obtained and any involved insurance parties can be notified to begin their examination.
If you have lost a loved one in an ATV crash due to someone else’s negligence in Citrus County or throughout the state of Florida, contact the Florida Personal Injury Attorneys at the Law Offices of Whittel & Melton, LLC online or call our Inverness office at 352-726-0078 or reach us toll-free at 1-866-608-5LAW (5529).