ATV Crash Hospitalizations Highlight Dangers of Speeding

On July 4, 2014 police in Crawford County, Indiana were called to the scene of a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) carrying two people. The accident occurred around 7 p.m. on Vanlanningham Road near Milltown.

According to police, 47-year-old Lisa March, who was driving the ATV,  reportedly lost control  of the vehicle and crashed into a barbed-wire fence. She and the other passenger, 54-year-old Kerry Koch, were thrown from the ATV. They both suffered broken bones and lacerations from the barbed wire.

A joint investigation conducted by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department and the Milltown Police is in progress. However, police believe speed was a contributing factor in the crash and say possible charges are pending.

If they are not operated properly, ATVs can be incredibly dangerous. A  report  issued in April by the Consumer Product Safety Commission showed that there were an estimated 107,900 ATV-related injuries treated in emergency rooms in 2012. An estimated 25 percent of those injured were children under the age of 16. ATV-related injuries are often severe and may involve head, neck and torso trauma. The warmer months of the year — typically July, August and September — are the peak months for ATV-related accidents.

It is important to exercise the utmost care and caution when operating an ATV and to avoid driving these vehicles on paved roads. Operators must always look both ways before crossing streets. If you have recently been injured in an ATV collision caused by another person’s negligence, speak with an experienced Indiana personal injury attorney.