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Rick is a Carolina injury attorney who handles car accidents, medical malpractice, FELA, wrongful death, etc.

12/30/2009
Rick Shapiro
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ATV Crash Kills North Carolina Man on Christmas Morning

In many ways the headline above could be written every week in almost every state of America. Not to detract attention to the tragedy that surrounds the Christmas morning death of this young man, but unfortunately, this type of ATV accident is an all too common occurrence. Authorities say that the man died after his all-terrain vehicle overturned on him along a road in Mars Hill, NC near  Asheville.

N.C. Troopers reported to the Asheville Citizen-Times newspaper that the crash happened around 2 a.m. Friday. Although the victim may have not been wearing a helmet, in many instances an overturned ATV accident can kill or seriously injure the rider by way of a crushed chest, a collapsed windpipe, or most likely a broken neck from the impact of the recreational vehicle's weight.

Tragically, hundreds of young people, especially children 16 years or younger, are catastrophically injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. As reported from recent research provided by the Children's Hospital of Ohio, as many as 136,000 victims of ATV accidents end up in the emergency rooms each year. What is particularly disturbing is that close to one-third of these wrecks involve children who are 16 years old or younger. Many hundreds of young people suffer from injuries that are severe enough to include traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injuries. Accidents that can leave them disabled for duration of their lives.

My prayers go out to the family and friends of this young man. Having to deal with major or catastrophic injuries where it involves younger victims is extremely devastating for their families as well. This young man has had his life snuffed out prematurely all on the account of relying on the safety standards that are claimed by the ATV companies stating it is "safe" recreational fun.

This fatal accident should serve as a reminder to us all that ATVs are unsafe and should not be ridden without realizing you are taking your life in your hands. It requires a great amount of skill to drive an all-terrain vehicle, which can reach speeds of 100 mph and typically weighs many thousand pounds. Please do not believe that what the ATV industry wants you to think: that an ATV is good, clean, safe family fun that anyone can have even if you have no driver's license.

Please follow this list of safety tips whenever you or a family member operates any ATV:Get trained

• Wear a helmet
• No children on adult ATVs
• Don't ride tandem
• Don't ride on pavement
• Don't ride under the influence

bm

Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: Asheville ATV brain injury crash death fatality injury lawyer Mars Hill North Carolina Shapiro spinal cord injury

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and we have experience handling wrongful death cases. We serve every area of North Carolina, including the Outer Banks, Nags Head and the western mountains, as well as all the cities and counties in between. In South Carolina, we cover the state from Myrtle Beach and Charleston to Orangeburg, Columbia, Florence, Rock Hill, Darlington, Aiken, Anderson, Greenville and Spartanburg. 

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008 and listed in the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. Our North Carolina injury law firm has also been named one of the Best Injury Law Firms in North Carolina for personal injury plaintiffs since 2010 by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, our firm has the highest rating of AV from national lawyer ranking organization Martindale-Hubbell. That means we have a reputation for demonstrating preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultations. So call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call promptly.

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