Le Knapp: ATV Accident Lawyer Midway Utah

Historically, the first Anglo-Americans to visit the area just east of Mount Timpanogos were members of a fur-trapping brigade led by Etienne Provost in 1824. For many years, the valley was referred to as Provo or upper Provo; the river running south through the valley still bears the name of that explorer but the town became known as Midway City. A wagon road completed through Provo Canyon in 1858 brought the first settlers to the area. In the spring of 1859, many more families began moving farther to the west along Snake Creek. Two small communities were established, called the Upper and Lower Settlements. One was later named Mound City because of the many nearby limestone formations. In 1866, Indian hostilities grew and territorial governor Brigham Young encouraged settlers to construct forts for protection. The two small settlements reached an agreement to build a fort halfway or midway between the two existing communities thus the beginning of our modern day town named Midway. It was in the 1860s and 1870s that a large number of Swiss families arrived with names such as Gertsch, Huber, Kohler, Probst, Zenger, Durtschi, and Abegglen, among others, some still are found in Midway today. Midway was incorporated June 1, 1891.

From the beginning, Midway’s industry was based on livestock and farming; however, as the town grew so did the need for building materials. In the early 1850s sawmills were built with three main operators: Henry T. Coleman, John Watkins, and Moroni Blood. In 1861, John H. Van Wagoner constructed the first commercial gristmill. Soon followed retail stores, one of which was the Bonner Mercantile Store. Later other retail stores were built by Henry T. Coleman and Simon Epperson. As the town grew so did the need for additional stores a confectionery and grocery store, blacksmiths, livery stables, boarding houses, and other businesses soon fulfilled the growing town’s booming economy. Nearby mines, particularly those in Park City, also began to play an important economic role in many Midway households, and did so into the late 1960s. Because of the many ninety-degree-pluses hot water springs or ‘hot pots’ in the Midway area, several resorts were developed including Schneitter’s Hot Pots (now the Homestead) and Luke’s Hot Pots (now the Mountain Spa); both were established in the 1880s. Important civic improvements were made in the 1930s and 1940s. A concrete sidewalk program began in 1938, and the Midway Recreation Center, usually referred to as the “Town Hall,” was dedicated in June 1941 which is now the center of many community events including the famous Swiss Days held each fall.

Midway Swiss Days brings thousands of people to its tiny town. it was originally called Harvest Days and was established in 1947 through the efforts of Luke’s Hot Pots Resort owners Joseph B. and Pauline S. Erwin and a number of local enthusiastic supporters. The club became known as the Midway Boosters and continues today to play a role in many city improvements and activities. Although agriculture is still a significant industry, recreation has fast become an important aspect of Heber Valley’s economy. Local recreation attractions include golf courses, Deer Creek Reservoir, Wasatch Mountain State Park nationally known Homestead Resort and the Olympic Venue Soldier Hollow. Soldier Hollow is home to world-class cross-country skiing, tubing and soon will add one of the State’s largest golf courses to its venue. As the world changes so does the community and as the world discovers Midway and its charm, we hope we have captured some of the past and preserved all of those future visitors and citizens of Midway to enjoy.

What You Need to Know and Do after an ATV Accident

In case you didn’t know, ATV stands for “All Terrain Vehicle” and there are many uses for them besides fun. People use them to plow farms, plow snow, and even to transport materials. And the accidents that come from ATVs are from these uses as well as recreational ones. In the United States, alone, ATVs are responsible for 100,000 injuries and 650 deaths every year but think about how many more people get on ATVs when they’re on vacation? Yet most of never even think to stop about the risks and injuries that happen from ATVs. The next time you find yourself with an ATV and you’re asked to sign some kind of contract before riding one, learn about what some of the most common ATV injuries are, how to legally protect yourself, and what to do if you ever find yourself in need of injury lawyers.

Before Going ATV Riding

In many states, you must register an ATV if you buy one and you must have insurance if you want to ride it out on the open road. In addition, some states also require special licenses for the driver and there are strict age restrictions on who can ride one. For instance, some states require children under a certain age (usually 16) to ride with supervision, which is probably a good idea because ATVs are responsible for about 77 children’s deaths per year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of course, if you choose to not follow the law, no one will ever know but if you ever find yourself in an accident, you won’t have any legal protection and you can be charged for not following state regulations. Always check with your local DMV before buying or riding an ATV.

ATV Insurance

While some states require you to have ATV insurance before riding one, some don’t, which leaves many ATV users to think they probably won’t need one. But we’ll tell you this: most ATV users who get into accidents never thought they would need one too. Those who had it were glad they did and those who didn’t regret it. Depending on the type of ATV insurance you buy, it can cover a range of damages and risks. Some cover bodily injuries, some cover property damages, some cover collision damages, and some cover all. In a worst case scenario, you can end up in an accident where you hurt yourself or someone else severely and you would have to pay thousands of dollars for medical expenses and property damages. Even if you just have a medical ATV insurance, it would cover your entire medical expenses, otherwise, your health insurance will be your only safety net. At the end of the day, the choice to get ATV insurance or not is up to you but as with most auto insurances, some coverage is better than no coverage.

After ATV Accident

Right after an accident, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. Even if you feel fine, there can be internal or delayed injuries that you can’t see or feel until later on. Go and get yourself checked out in the hospital just to be safe.

Among those who reported being in ATV accidents, the most common injuries were:
• Arms and hand (29%)
• Head and neck (27%)
• Legs and feet (22%)
• Torso (20%)
• Other (2%)
But keep in mind; you can have one or multiple injuries when you get into a 4-wheeler accident.

Brain Injuries: Of all the ATV injuries, brain injuries are probably the most worrisome because you cannot see them from the outside and sometimes symptoms might take up to days or even years to show up. This makes the cause of the injury difficult to trace and it poses a problem if you end in court. Traumatic brain injury, memory loss, and permanent concussions are some of the more severe injuries that can happen to ATV crash victims. Children are especially more susceptible to brain injuries because their bodies are smaller and the impact of the crash can harm them more.

Spinal Cord Injuries: Spinal cord injuries are another type of damage to look out for if you’re ever in a four-wheeler accident. Aside from being painful, spinal cord injuries can be devastating because they can cause a person to become disabled. They can lose their ability to walk, to move, and drastically change the quality of the person’s life. A less experienced but similar injury in its potential affect on your life is one that causes hip pain, which can be easily overlooked initially.

Seek Medical Attention: Regardless of severity, all ATV injuries should be examined. If you ever get into an ATV accident, never underestimate the amount of damage it can do to your body. Always go to the hospital as soon as possible to get your whole body checked out. Recovery from ATV injuries is both time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, it can put you out of work for weeks, months, or even years. If you’re looking into getting legal compensation for your injuries, make sure you keep formal documents of all your injuries and doctor’s visits.

Document Wreckage: If possible, make sure you get pictures of the accident. This means pictures of the vehicle, the environment, and any visible injuries on yourself and anyone in your party. These pictures will serve as evidence and give you leverage if you do end up going to court. You’ll also want to obtain a police report in case you end up needing a lawyer.
Get Names of Witness: If you end up crashing into another vehicle or someone else’s property, or even your own, get the names of everyone that is involved. If it’s another vehicle, make sure you take down their license plate number, contact information, and insurance information. For insurance and legal purposes, you’ll need all of this information in case any of your information is called into questioned and needs to be investigated. If the other party involved is unwillingly to cooperate, do not try to force them. Call the police and take down whatever information you can. Take pictures of their license plate if it’s there. You are also not legally bound to answer any of their questions.

Get Legal Help

One study of an ATV accident in Midway found six victims permanently damaged and needed $11.5 million dollars to pay for basic long-term skilled care until they’re 65 years old. Without legal representation, the six victims involved would not have been able to get the money they were entitled to care for themselves and their families. Even if your accident doesn’t bring about such extreme consequences (and we hope it doesn’t), you might be entitled to legal compensation for whatever damages happened to you. Vehicle accidents of any kind can cause a lot of mental, physical, and financial stress on the victims and the victims’ families. After you get the medical treatments you need, find a lawyer that specializes in vehicle accidents to get a free review of your accident. ATV injury lawyers are especially knowledgeable in this area and will be able to quickly access your case.

Even if the cause of your accident is unclear, get a lawyer’s opinion on the accident. What if the manufacturer of your ATV had a recall for your ATV years ago but the seller never informed you? What if the road your accident happened on had caused several other accidents? Our point is, you don’t know what you don’t know and a lawyer will be able to help you find out.

Notify Your Insurance

If you have ATV insurance, notify the company and send in all the necessary documentation to file a claim as soon as possible. In situations where another party was involved, make sure you get the names and contact information of the other people. If you have evidence to prove it was the other party’s fault, get their insurance information and notify their insurer. If, however, you don’t have evidence but strong reasons to believe it was the other party’s fault, you’ll need to get a lawyer.

Have Fun But Be Prepared

We do not mean to scare you about riding ATVs but we do think it’s important that you are aware of their dangers and are prepared if you ever find yourself in an ATV accident. To put things into a healthier perspective, deaths account for less than one percent of all 4-wheeler accidents. Most ATV injuries are not fatal and most victims heal from them. But the emotional, physical, and mental scars that are left can take a toll on the injured person. If you suspect you have any emotional or physical traumas from an ATV or vehicle accident, don’t be afraid to get in touch with one of our ATV injury specialists for a free case review of your accident. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are 3-wheel and 4-wheel motorized vehicles designed for off-road riding. ATVs are used for both fun and rescue, as they provide quick and easy access in off-road areas. Unfortunately, every year, many people including children are severely injured in ATV accidents. Some victims suffer fatal injuries.

According to the most recent available Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics, more than 100,000 ATV injuries occurred in a single recent year, with 25 percent of those injuries affecting children under the age of 16. CPSC reports that, on average, 568 adults and 144 children die in ATV crashes every year. ATVs have a high center of gravity and are prone to roll over. Riders can be trapped underneath these vehicles that weigh up to 600 pounds. They are not designed for use on public roads, and drivers often fail to see ATVs, which can result in collisions. As with motorcycle riders, ATV riders have no protection whatsoever from the vehicle in an accident only whatever protection their protective gear provides them.
Many different factors may contribute to ATV accidents, including:
• Vehicle defects.
• Improper positioning on the vehicle.
• Too many riders on the vehicle.
• Lack of protective gear.
• Operating an ATV at unsafe speeds.
• Riding on paved roads.
• Operating an ATV under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Negligence of other drivers.

Types of Injuries in ATV Accidents

Since ATV riders are virtually unprotected, a range of serious injuries can result from accidents. Of the more than 100,000 ATV injuries that occurred in one recent year, the CPSC reports that there were:
• 31,400 arm and hand injuries (29 percent).
• 29,300 head and neck injuries (27 percent).
• 23,100 torso injuries (22 percent).
• 22,800 injuries to the legs and feet (21 percent).
• 1,300 other injuries (1 percent).
Particularly when riders do not wear helmets, traumatic brain injury can be a devastating result of ATV accidents. Crushing injuries, torso injuries and paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries are common when ATVs roll over. Fractures, contusions and abrasions are also common. In the most tragic cases, ATV accidents result in death.

Who May be Liable for an ATV Accident?

Liability for an ATV accident depends on what caused the accident and how it occurred. If the accident and injuries were caused by the faulty design of the vehicle, the ATV manufacturer may be liable. If a driver who failed to see an ATV on the road caused the accident, that driver may be liable for the ATV riders’ injuries. An ATV passenger injured in an accident caused by the negligence of the operator may be entitled to a claim for damages against the operator.

If you have been injured in an ATV accident due to the negligence of another person or because of faulty manufacturing of the vehicle, speak with a Long Island four-wheeler injury attorney as soon as possible. You may be entitled to file a claim for compensation for the injuries you have suffered. Our knowledgeable motor vehicle accident attorneys can evaluate the circumstances of your accident and advise you as to whether you have a case, who could be liable and what damages you may be able to claim. We handle accident cases on a contingency fee basis, and you will pay us no fees up front when you work with our firm. Call Ascent Law LLC now for a free consultation. We respond to messages as soon as possible, and we can come to you if you are in the hospital or unable to travel.

Midway Utah ATV Accident Lawyer Free Consultation

When you need legal help with with an ATV Accident Injury case in Midway Utah, please call Ascent Law LLC for your free consultation (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.