Deputy and Girlfriend Hurt In ATV Accident

Eddie Farah — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:42:00 GMT

A Baker County, Florida deputy and his girlfriend were riding their all-terrain vehicle last Sunday night when they went off the road and hit a tree in the Osceola National Forest.

Deputy Matt Sigers was a bit roughed up but was treated at the hospital and released. His girlfriend, 21-year-old Ashley Davis was not as lucky. Both suffered head injuries and she was listed in critical condition. Neither individual was wearing a helmet. Alcohol was not a factor in this crash.

Davis has since had to endure surgery to relieve pressure on the brain from a blood clot. She had her spleen removed but was able to move her toes and fingers, always a concern in a neck and head injury. She is also on a special ventilator reportedly brought in from Orlando.

Our condolences go out to both families with wishes that they pull through this accident.

State law says that helmets on ATVs are optional in Florida and in a rural area like Baker County, many riders fail to wear any safety gear. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that statewide there were at least 30 more crashes involving ATVs in 2007 than the previous year. Figures for 2008 have not been released.

And even though we don’t know whether this Yamaha was a Rhino, if it was it has a reputation as a dangerous and defectively designed. With a high center of gravity and small wheels, the Rhino can rollover easily resulting in serious injury. These are so unstable they can even role on a flat surface. At the very least a helmet should be mandatory if you care about your life and that of your passenger.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

30 Off-Road Fatalities Subject Of Govt Probe

Eddie Farah — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:04:00 GMT

We blog all too frequently about children who are hurt or killed in off-highway vehicles and ATVs.

Now the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is looking into the design of a handful of brands associated with more than 30 fatalities. The Yamaha Motor Company’s Rhino is one of those brands.

An off-road vehicle is different from an ATV because they are larger and have two side-by-side seats and a protective roll cage, which is not required of ATVs. Besides the Rhino, there are the Polaris’s Razor, Honda Big Red, Kawasaki Heavy Industries Mule and Arctic Cat’s Prowler.

Yamaha has been having meetings with the CPSC sharing information about the Rhino. The company says the Rhino “is one of the safest, most-reliable vehicles in the category.

Polaris says it’s had no deaths involving the Razor models

Julie Vallese of the CPSC says “We need to study how they’re being used, how the injuries are happening, how behavior during use of the vehicles may be playing a role.”

A number of off-road vehicles have had recalls because of structural failures. The brands have been produced for about five years and are popular with hunters and off-road enthusiasts.

In Florida, youngsters can ride all-terrain vehicles if they have a DOT-certified safety helmet.

Kids are reminded that ATVs are not toys and should not be treated as such. They are not allowed on public roads, streets or highways, however law enforcement can use them to enforce traffic laws and in getting to and from the beach.

Children as young as six are allowed to ride in ATVs that are under 70 ccs and are supposed to be accompanied by an adult. However, a six-year-old may not have the upper body strength to maneuver the vehicle.

Either vehicle is definitely not popular with citizens who see the destruction tleft behind to pristine beach grasses and forests, ancient ruins and desert landscapes. #

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Eddie Farah

Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer - Off-Road Vehicles

Deputy and Girlfriend Hurt In ATV Accident

30 Off-Road Fatalities Subject Of Govt Probe