ATVs, or all-terrain vehicles, are vehicles that are specifically designed to handle off-roading, trenches, dirt hills, forest roads, wooded areas, and more. They are geared towards people who like to spend a lot of time in hard-to-maneuver locations.
They are often not street legal and must be transported to the location on a truck or in a trailer. ATVs are often very dangerous to use because there are no tests required and almost anyone can operate them. This, of course, is one of the major reasons accidents happen. However, there are also companies that do not put the best care into their products, and as a result, the ATVs and other vehicles end up defective and dangerous. Arctic Cat is one such company, and many individuals have been seriously injured because of defects.
Others have been hurt due to negligent driving. No matter what the reason for your crash and injuries, our team of attorneys at the Kenmore Law Group will be able to assist you with your lawsuit.
Arctic Cat ATV Information
Arctic Cat is a company that manufactures ATVs and other types of vehicles. The ATVs are either 3-wheeled or 4-wheeled. The most common are 4-wheel vehicles, known colloquially as quad bikes. These bikes often do not have any support systems; they do not have roll bars or seat belts and they lack airbags and other features. This is partially due to the fact that, in the event of a crash, the rider should not be pinned to the vehicle, where he would be helpless. Some models of ATVs do have roll bars, though, and help protect riders when crashes occur.
The engine sizes on ATVs can vary, often topping out at 90cc or higher. This allows the greatest control and speed over the vehicle and does not limit the rider. Younger individuals are recommended to use the lower-cc vehicles, especially because of the normal lack of training and licensing required.
Causes of Arctic Cat ATV Accidents
ATV accidents can happen for a number of reasons. The main cause is driver error. Often, ATV riders are not surrounded by many other people, and certainly not surrounded by normal sedans and coupes. Instead, they are surrounded by hard ground, trees, and the occasional other ATV rider or motor biker. A few of the reasons that ATV riders get into crashes include:
- – Lack of experience from the driver, which may happen when it is a first time rider, a young teen, or someone similar
- – Positioned or seated improperly on the vehicle, such as hanging off the side or standing
- – Excess riders on the vehicle, as most ATVs are suited for one rider and one rider only
- – Speeding or going too fast for the area, often in areas where there is low visibility or the area is condensed with growth
- – Driving the ATV while intoxicated, drunk, inebriated, under the influence of drugs, and more
- – Driving while tired
- Defective brakes that prevent the ATV from stopping, whether slowly or altogether
- Lack of lights to illuminate the road for vision
- Tire and axle problems that may cause the tire to fall off or the axle to bend
- Steering issues that may cause the handlebar to lock up
- Suspension issues that may cause the tires to fall
- Fire hazards in the engine or exhaust that can melt the ATV, burn the rider, or cause explosions
- Sprains
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Broken bones
- Nerve damage
- Facial damage
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Concussion
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Severed digits and limbs
- Herniated discs
- CRPS
- Closed head injuries
- Scarring
- Burns
- Crushing injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Infection
- Knee injuries and hip damage
- Paralysis
- Coma
- Death
- Textron Havoc recreational off-highway vehicles, which were recalled due to a suspension failure. 1700 of the vehicles were recalled in May 2019.
- Arctic Cat Wildcat recreational off-highway vehicles, of which over 14,000 were recalled for fire hazards. The recall occurred in October 2017.
- Arctic Cat single-rider and 2UP ATVs, which were recalled in October 2014 because of front gear case component failures. 40,000 of the vehicles were recalled.
- Arctic Cat Prowler XT off-highway utility vehicle, 700 of which were recalled in September 2005 because of brake troubles.
In most cases, companies that recall products offer customers refunds, free repairs, and other forms of low compensation. They often take the product back to ensure that it is properly disposed of or fixed up before being resold at a lower price as a certified pre-owned item.
Product Liability Information
If your Arctic Cat ATV broke on you while you were using it, you could likely file a product liability claim. This will allow you to target the manufacturer and receive the compensation you need. To file a product liability case, you should make sure to do the following:
- Keep the product at all costs because the company will take it and prevent you from using it as evidence
- Photograph the ATV and the defect, if possible
- Take pictures of your injuries and the damages you suffered
- Procure any videos showing the accident or pictures showing anything at the scene of the incident
- Do not try to repair the ATV yourself or you may worsen the problem and be unable to file a lawsuit
- Do not accept any compensation from the company
- Hold on to your receipts from the purchase of the ATV
- Present any medical records, doctor’s notes, treatment info, and more after you went to the doctor for your injuries
- Write down any eyewitness statements or bystander testimonies if they saw the accident happen and the defect was apparent
ATV Accident Attorney Arctic Cat accident lawyer
Your best chance of success is with a product liability attorney who can win your case for you. You should not try to file a lawsuit if you have never done so before, especially not if you were seriously hurt. You should conserve your energy to focus on healing and returning to your daily life.
Compensation from an Arctic Cat ATV Accident Lawsuit
If you were hurt in an accident because of an Arctic Cat ATV defect, you could receive ample compensation for your damages and injuries. We will do all we can to win you the maximum settlement for your case, including coverage for the following:
- Medical expenses from the past and future
- Lost property and damage to the ATV
- Lost wages from time spent away from work
- Pain and suffering damages for psychological or emotional trauma
Your case may be worth a lot of money if you were seriously injured. The insurance agent responsible for handling your case will make you an offer based on a number of factors, including the seriousness of your injuries, the impact the injuries had on your career and life, and how much of the accident was your fault (such as by modifying the ATV and making it unstable).
Our Firm and You
The Kenmore Law Group is one of the premier law firms in the state. We have the best team available for you, and if you call today, we can connect you with an Arctic Cat accident lawyer to handle your case. We are known for being aggressive and for fighting for our clients to the very end. We also aim to always keep you updated and out of the dark with respect to your case. If we need to go to court, we are willing to do so to defend your rights and win you a worthwhile verdict.
Call our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our lawyers. You can ask us any questions you wish and we will make sure to keep your private details totally confidential. We will also give you more details about our zero fee guarantee, which promises that you won’t have to pay a dime of out of pocket expenses throughout the case. We will cover all the costs ourselves, and if we lose, we do not take any money at all. If we win, the payment for our services comes from the settlement won from Arctic Cat.
Contact the Kenmore Law Group today to get started on your Arctic Cat ATV accident lawsuit.
However, there can also be causes that are not attributed to the rider. These defects may cause incidents, or they may prevent riders from being safe in the event of a crash. These issues include:
These issues were likely present when the ATV batch was designed. If you have been hurt in such an event due to the defective nature of your ATV, call our lawyers today.
Injuries from ATV Accidents
Many of the injuries we have seen from ATV accidents have resulted from the lack of protective gear and helmets. You should also make sure to be properly attired when riding ATVS. A short list of the types of injuries you can suffer in Arctic Cat ATV accidents includes:
These injuries can affect you permanently or can take months to heal. Some may bother you for years and re-aggravate old injuries that you may have suffered in the past. If you were hurt, you should consult with an attorney to figure out the next step forward.
Arctic Cat ATV Recalls
Over the years, Arctic Cat has recalled numerous products. These products have primarily been ATVs. Some of the recalls include: