The Many Dangers of Off-Highway Vehicles

According to a recent news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, off-highway vehicle (OHV) deaths soared by a whopping 33% from 2019 to 2020 (the most recent years with available data). Since reports indicate an increase in OHV use in the summer months, the agency is urging consumers to prioritize safety and to be cautious to avoid preventable tragedies.

There are a few different kinds of off-highway vehicles, like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), and recreational off-highway vehicles, or ROVs. These vehicles come with the capacity to drive off gravel or paved roads, therefore making them off-road and off-highway. While vehicles such as these are often used by teens and adults for recreational activities (though some, like utility terrain vehicles, are also routinely used for work), they also come with a slew of hazards – especially if they are unnecessarily dangerous, defective, or if occupants fail to wear protective gear and to observe the appropriate safety precautions.

The CPSC’s Report

The CPSC reports that more than 100,000 individuals sustain OHV-related injuries that require emergency hospital care each year. Most of these injuries are contusions/abrasions, fractures, and internal organ injuries that affect the head and neck, arms (shoulder to fingertip), torso, and/or legs. Certain groups face greater risks associated with off-highway vehicle use, such as males, children under the age of 12, and adults 55 years old and older. For example, males accounted for 82% of fatalities during a three-year period and 68% of injuries between 2018 and 2022. Here are some other key findings from the CPSC on off-highway vehicle injuries and deaths:

• Overturning and collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects, like a tree trunk, were the leading cause of death. Occupants were frequently ejected from their vehicles during overturning or collision incidents
• ATVs were the vehicle involved in more than two-thirds of total OHV-related death
• 76% of injuries involved the driver, and 22% of injuries were to passengers
• Victims reported wearing a helmet in 41% of injuries
• 69% of injuries occurred on flat terrain, and 79% occurred on dry terrain

As of last September, the CPSC had received reports of 2,448 deaths associated with fatal off-highway vehicle use that occurred during the three-year period from 2018 to 2020. Tasked with keeping consumers safe from unnecessarily dangerous or defective products, the CPSC has issued 24 off-highway vehicle-related recalls since just January of last year. Most of the agency’s recalls were driven by fire and crash hazards created by steering, fuel, and throttle problems. If you own an off-highway vehicle, make sure you check to see if there are any active recalls here: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls.

Safety Tips for Riders

In addition to checking for recalls to make sure that your off-highway or all-vehicle is not compromised, the CPSC recommends observing the following safety tips before your next OHV/ATV/UTV/ROV adventure:

• Training: Get hands-on training from a qualified instructor before riding
• Seats: never ride with more passengers than there are seats. Most off-highway and all-terrain vehicles are designed by manufacturers to accommodate one rider. Be sure to check the manufacturer’s instruction manual and heed all instructions and warnings
• Stay off roads: stay off paved roads! Never ride on public roads, except to cross, where permitted by law
• No drinking and/or drugs: always avoid drinking alcohol and/or using drugs before or while driving an off-road vehicle of any kind
• Enforce age limits. Riders under the age of 16 should only drive age-appropriate youth models – never adult models
• Safety gear: Always wear a helmet and other protective gear, like eye protection, boots, gloves, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt

If you or a loved one sustained an injury from a dangerous or defective off-road vehicle, someone at our firm can help you file a legal claim to recover damages. To learn more, contact a representative online now who can help.

Philadelphia Products Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia products liability attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.