While car collisions are the most common type of accident on U.S. roadways, they are certainly not the only kinds of accidents that exist. Motorcycle, bicycle, and even ATV accidents, account for thousands of deaths every year. In summer months and warm locales like Florida where ATVs can be used nearly every month of the year, ATV accidents are even more common.
Recently, Christian musician and Ocala native Dallas Taylor was injured in an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) accident. Taylor was riding a 1999 Honda Foreman on the West Marion Baptist Church property in Morriston. Taylor’s mother, Dottie, stated that the family was not even aware that he had taken the ATV out. He lost control of the vehicle after driving up an embankment and struck a sign, causing the ATV to flip and land on top of Taylor. He was taken to UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, where doctors determined that he had bleeding in his brain and a blood clot in his carotid artery, in addition to multiple fractures and internal bleeding. His brain injuries were likely so severe because Taylor was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Taylor remains in critical condition, but his band has updated their Facebook page as information has become available, stating that he was making basic touch responses such as hand squeezing and slight movement. He was still not conscious as of the last update, but the family was optimistic that neurological tests showed improvement in his overall condition. The 36-year-old currently headlines southern heavy metal band Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, and was a founding member of Christian heavy metal band Underoath.
ATV Accident Rates
ATV accidents are estimated to have killed 650 people in 2013, but detailed reports are still ongoing and such estimates may change. As of 2015, the most recent reports considered “complete” by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are from 2011, when 690 people were killed. On average, 568 adults and 144 children under 16 die on ATVs every year. Florida is among the top ten states where people die from ATV accidents according to a study conducted by the CPSC over a 27-year period. Between the years of 1982 and 2011, 493 people were fatally injured in ATV accidents in Florida, accounting for 29 percent of ATV deaths across the United States. For the incomplete reporting periods of 2012-2014, 62 deaths were reported in Florida alone. Most of those injured in ATV accidents are killed in the month of August, followed closely by the other summer months of May, June, and July.
Safety Tips
- The CPSC’s number one tip for reducing the risk of injury from ATVs is to wear a helmet at all times. A helmet will protect sensitive brain tissue in the event of an accident and can save your life.
- To increase protection from other types of injuries like broken bones and road rash, the CPSC recommends wearing eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants, and long-sleeves.
- Never allow passengers to hang onto the ATV or allow more passengers than the ATV is designed to carry.
- Get training from an instructor, especially if you are new to ATV riding.
- Do not ride on paved roads, and use extreme caution if crossing a paved road.
- Never allow a child younger than 16 ride an adult ATV.
Need More Information?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an ATV or other motor vehicle accident in Ocala or surrounding areas, experienced personal injury lawyer John Piccin at the Piccin & Glynn is available to help. We can answer your questions, negotiate with insurance companies, and even make home or hospital visits to ensure that you get the help you need. Call John at 352-558-8480 for your free initial case consultation today.