The negligence of the driver in an Oklahoma ATV accident led to the critical injuries sustained by his 36-year-old passenger, Craig Bradley Northcutt. Late last week, Northcutt and 41-year-old James Shannon Dry were involved in an ATV collision that occurred while the two men were chasing coyotes on private property. According to the official report …
The negligence of the driver in an Oklahoma ATV accident led to the critical injuries sustained by his 36-year-old passenger, Craig Bradley Northcutt. Late last week, Northcutt and 41-year-old James Shannon Dry were involved in an ATV collision that occurred while the two men were chasing coyotes on private property. According to the official report compiled by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, inattention on the part of Dry was the cause of the devastating crash. If you have suffered injuries in an ATV accident in Oklahoma City, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, contact our qualified ATV accident attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options.
ATV Accident Caused by Inattention and Intoxication
The recent ATV accident occurred at about 9:45 p.m. on private property northwest of Soper in Choctaw County. Northcutt was riding passenger on the all-terrain vehicle driven by Dry, and the two were apparently chasing coyotes in an open field when the ATV hit a hole and rolled one time. In attention to driving distracted, the police report also indicated that Dry’s driving ability was impaired by alcohol. Dry did not sustain any injuries in the Oklahoma ATV accident, but Northcutt was flown by helicopter to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, where he is in critical condition with serious head injuries.
State Laws Governing Safe ATV Operation
ATVs are designed to be off-road vehicles, but off-road terrain and conditions are often unpredictable and changing. Under these circumstances, ATVs can easily roll or become difficult to handle, which can lead to devastating ATV accidents, injuries and fatalities. From 1982 to 2007, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received reports of 9,223 ATV-related fatalities in the United States. In 2007 alone, over 150,000 ATV injuries were treated in emergency rooms across the country. In light of the risk of ATV accidents and the sometimes catastrophic consequences, many U.S. states have passed some form of ATV legislation, ranging from age and usage restrictions to safety course requirements and helmet laws.
ATV Accident Attorneys for Injury Claims
In Oklahoma, ATV safety legislation became effective on November 1, 2007, and mandated that drivers and passengers under 18 years of age must wear a helmet when riding an ATV on public lands. Due to the considerable amount of damage ATV accidents can cause, the powerful nature of ATVs must be respected by drivers and passengers, and manufacturers’ recommendations regarding age and other factors should be taken into account when operating an ATV. If you have been injured in an Oklahoma ATV accident, or if you lost a loved one in such an accident, contact our knowledgeable ATV accident lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center to explore your compensation options.