All-terrain vehicles are exciting and a great way to have fun. They can also cause severe harm and damage if you do not operate an ATV properly.
Most states regulate ATV safety through related ATV laws. It is essential to understand them so you do not run afoul of your state’s laws and avoid accidents and injury. This web page will discuss Illinois ATV laws and the law across the United States.
If you or a family member experienced a severe injury in a motor vehicle accident involving an ATV, contact our law firm today at (888) 424-5757. Schedule a free case evaluation with our ATV accident attorneys to discuss your compensation case.
Our ATV accident lawyers are dedicated to getting you the maximum compensation for your losses and injuries.
Our all-terrain vehicle accident lawyers represent operators and passengers who suffered ATV accident injuries due to the following circumstances:
- Dangerous conditions
- Inadequate supervision
- Poor maintenance
- Defectively designed or manufactured ATVs
- Lack of safety equipment like helmets
- People hit by ATVs
Review the following sections on ATV safety. Then, contact us if you have more questions about operating an ATV (all-terrain vehicle), off-road vehicle, or other motor vehicle safely with a valid driver’s license on private land, controlled access highway, or any other place.
ATV Laws and Regulations by State
Here is a state-by-state list of ATV laws and rules.
| State | Liability Insurance Coverage Requirement Type | Coverage Amounts |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Alaska | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 50/100/25 |
| Arizona | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/10 |
| Arkansas | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| California | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/5 |
| Colorado | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/15 |
| Connecticut | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured | 20/40/10 |
| Delaware | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 15/30/10 |
| D.C. | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured | 25/50/10 |
| Florida | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 10/20/10 |
| Georgia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| Hawaii | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 20/40/10 |
| Idaho | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| Illinois | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/20 |
| Indiana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/10 |
| Iowa | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/40/15 |
| Kansas | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| Kentucky | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 25/50/10 |
| Louisiana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/25 |
| Maine | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured | 25/100/25 |
| Maryland | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 30/60/10 |
| Massachusetts | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 20/40/5 |
| Michigan | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; | 20/40/10 |
| Minnesota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured; Underinsured | 30/60/10 |
| Mississippi | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Missouri | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/10 |
| Montana | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| Nebraska | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Nevada | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 15/30/10 |
| New | Hampshire Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| New | Jersey Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 15/30/5 |
| New Mexico | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| New York | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 25/50/10 |
| North Carolina | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 30/60/25 |
| North Dakota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| Ohio | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/35 |
| Oklahoma | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/25 |
| Oregon | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| Pennsylvania | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 15/30/5 |
| Rhode Island | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| South Carolina | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| South Dakota | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| Tennessee | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability 25/50/15 | |
| Texas | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 30/60/25 |
| Utah | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Personal Injury Protection | 25/65/15 |
| Vermont | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured; Underinsured | 25/50/10 |
| Virginia | Mandatory Minimum | 25/50/20 |
| Washington | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| West Virginia | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability; Uninsured | 25/50/25 |
| Wisconsin | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/10 |
| Wyoming | Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability | 25/50/20 |
Are you wondering how you or other ATV riders can legally operate an ATV, off-road vehicle, or other motor vehicle?
Our team can talk to ATV owners, ATV operators (and similar farm vehicles, off-road vehicles, off-highway motor vehicles, other all-terrain vehicles, etc.), and similar motor vehicle riders about how to operate an ATV legally and safely on topics that include the following:
- Age requirements
- State highway registration certificates
- Safety certificates
- ATV-operated safety permits
- ATV operation
- Farm permits
- Minimum age
Compliance with the ATV law will allow you to operate an all-terrain vehicle within the posted speed limit on a country road, state highway, and other locations.
How Do ATV Accidents Happen on Private Land, an ATV Safety Course, or Other Places?
Here are some of the common causes of ATV crashes leading to serious harm, including traumatic brain injuries (TBI), neck and spinal injuries, scarring, broken bones, and other problems:
- Driving a four-wheeler on an unpaved surface
- Riding double on the four-wheeler not designed to carry a single passenger
- Allowing children to ride without adult supervision
- Letting inexperienced riders take passengers along
- Performing dangerous maneuvers and stunts
- Operating the four-wheeler on unfamiliar terrain
- Not observing state ATV laws and local ordinances
- Defective design or manufacture
If you want to know more about ATV laws on safety (including getting a valid driver’s license), call us.
We can discuss ATV safety and all-terrain vehicle topics like off-road vehicles, liability insurance, ATV owner obligations, conventional motor vehicles regulations (i.e., liability insurance coverage, local ATV laws, limited access highways handling, front and rear lights for off-highway motor vehicles, interstate highway avoidance), etc.
According to ATV laws, registered all-terrain vehicles may not operate unsafely or negligently on any road, including a country road, county road, paved street, forest development roads, etc.
They must abide by all safety training customs like a safety flag, safety permit registration certificate, approved safety helmet, vehicular traffic training, operator’s license, limited duration conducted training and safety certificate, ATV registration, etc.
Learn the ATV laws of your state so you can stay safe on the roads.
ATV Laws on Safety and Accidents Data
These facts and figures highlight the need to take ATV safety seriously, including ATV safety training (like an ATV safety training course, off-highway motor vehicle safety training course, etc.) and any other motor vehicle designed for private land, interstate highway, rural roadways, etc.:
- Over 100 children die each year in ATV accidents in the United States.
- In 2019, 37,850 children were injured and severely needed to go to the ER due to an ATV rollover or crash, per US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- More than 10 million 4-wheel ATVs are in use, and the number of such vehicles in use continues to grow at more than 10% annually off-road and on specifically designated.
- There are nearly a half million ATV accidents annually.
- The NHTSA reports that the most common reasons for ATV incidents are not wearing a helmet, driving at night, and rough terrain.
ATV operation can get complicated whether you are on private property owned by someone who didn’t give you verbal or written permission, designated trails like a specifically designated ATV trail, the paved street on public land or public lands, etc.
Learn about ATV laws when you may operate an all-terrain vehicle and carry passengers versus where you may not operate (per law enforcement) in any direction or the same direction.
The ATV laws pertain to all-terrain vehicles, off-highway motor vehicles, off-road vehicles, and similar vehicles. It applies to rules for liability insurance for your or your legal guardian, a valid motorcycle license and Class O operator’s license, registration sticker, safety helmet, and other related regulations.
How to Keep Kids Save on ATVs
Parents allowing a kid to ride an ATV under their supervision are legally responsible for implementing common-sense precautions to ensure the safety of riders, passengers, and spectators.
Implementing these precautions and following ATV laws can go a long way toward reducing the number of accidents and their severity.
- Provide a safe area for children to operate their vehicle
- Provide instruction on usage
- Provide ATV safety equipment (helmets and pads)
- Maintain equipment
- Only use in areas where all ATV riders are familiar with the terrain
- Use machines appropriate for the child’s age and size
- Follow all pertinent ATV laws
When adults fail to uphold their responsibilities and a child sustains an ATV injury in an accident caused by negligence, there may be a potential case against the grown-up.
A personal injury lawyer working on your behalf can determine if liability insurance is available to cover the loss, primarily if the injury occurs at a person’s home, business, or camp.
Understanding the Danger and Risk of All Terrain Vehicles
Many adults and older children loved the thrill and excitement of driving an all-terrain vehicle on country roads, up hills, and across open plains.
However, these vehicles can be difficult to control in unstable conditions, especially when the ATV rider moves at an unsafe speed.
ATV accidents resemble other outdoor activities, including jet skis, snowmobiles, water skis, and motorcycling injuries.
Many all-terrain vehicle crash cases involve collisions and rollovers that result in severe injuries and fatalities.
Most moderate to severe injuries require a visit to the emergency room for an accurate diagnosis, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, internal bleeding, broken bones, or organ damage.
Can I File a Personal Injury Case After an ATV Accident?
Yes, you can file a case if the person that caused the crash intentionally tried to do that or was negligent in allowing that to happen. How do you show negligence?
To prove the at-fault party was negligent, you need to illustrate that they acted unreasonably for the circumstances and the following:
- They owed you a duty not to harm you.
- They breached that duty.
- That breach caused your injuries.
- Those injuries led to damages like medical bills, pain, disability, etc.
Common kinds of behavior defined as negligent in these contexts include distracted driving, intoxicated driving, and reckless driving.
However, you do not have forever to bring your personal injury and loss claims after an all-terrain vehicle accident. There are specific time constraints to file an ATV lawsuit.
ATV laws provide an applicable statute of limitations governing the time for filing an ATV lawsuit involving an injury case.
Consult an experienced personal injury attorney early after an incident to protect your legal rights and receive legal advice. Otherwise, time could run out, and you could not collect what is rightfully yours.
What Financial Compensation Can I Get in an ATV Crash Case?
Were you harmed on an ATV, off-highway, off-road, all-terrain, or another motor vehicle? If so, you may be able to bring a case or claim against the person who caused the accident or even their employer.
How you pursue your cause of action and where will depend upon precisely what happened and how it affected you.
However, the following list reviews the main areas of relief and recovery for persons injured in ATV collisions, both on private land and public land:
- Economic Damages: You are entitled to compensation for your out-of-pocket losses from ATV incidents on private or public lands. These usually include medical bills, lost income, and property damage.
- Non-Economic Damages: ATV victims can obtain a recovery for intangible harms like disability, disfigurement, pain and suffering, and like impact.
- Wrongful Death Damages: Families of ATV victims that passed away in the crash can sue the at-fault party for funeral expenses, lost support, lost companionship, and other compensation for this unspeakable tragedy.
- Punitive Damages: The court may order A particularly reckless defendant to give you punitive damages if their actions warrant it. This is generally trigged for such outrageous conduct as drinking and driving or texting while driving.
If you would like to know your state’s ATV laws on how to operate an ATV (motor vehicle, all-terrain vehicle, etc.) on private land, public land, public lands, controlled access highway, ATV trail, or other specifically designated trains, then contact us so we can help you steer clear of law enforcement and nasty accidents.
We can also discuss other issues related to your motor vehicle, like liability insurance, a valid driver’s license, a valid motorcycle license, local laws, ATV registration, a safety certificate or safety permit from safety training, and more.
How an Attorney Can Help After an ATV Crash
An accident can happen if you operate an ATV on private or public lands. If it does then you can expect injuries, bills, and more.
Also, you could potentially need to file a case in court or claim with an insurance company. This would be needed if the at-fault party injures or damages you but refuses to pay you for the cost of the ordeal.
In that case and more, having a lawyer at your side could be helpful.
A skilled legal team can take care of some essential action items so that you can get better and protect your financial compensation as well as any legal claims for relief, like these:
- Investigate the circumstances of the ATV collision or crash.
- Talk to any witnesses that saw the incident.
- Catalog the nature of your damages and identify ATV laws that afford you the most relief.
- File a case in county court or with the relevant insurance companies.
- Present your side at trial to a jury or within private settlement negotiations.
Contact our offices if you were injured in motor vehicles or an ATV, especially an off-highway motor vehicle like an all-terrain vehicle, on designated trails on private land, or public land like a controlled access highway.
We can review all issues law enforcement will care about, like a valid driver’s license, liability insurance, local laws on ATV registration, and safety training.
All-Terrain Vehicle Injury Law Firm: Protecting Victims of ATV Accident Rollovers and Off-road Injuries
The ATV accident injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have fought for children and adults injured in many all-terrain vehicle crash cases and controversies.
Our lawyers are steadfast in pursuing justice to get compensation for your medical expenses, pain, suffering, lost wages, and any ongoing disability or damage.
Our legal team can prosecute your case with the insurance company (or insurance companies involved) for the ATV owner under their business or homeowners policy.
However, an experienced Illinois ATV accident lawyer may file a lawsuit in the proper courthouse if we cannot negotiate the case.
Don’t take on insurance companies without experienced legal representation. You owe it to yourself — and your loved one and family — to protect your recovery from injuries sustained in an all-terrain vehicle crash.
Our personal injury law firm can help proactively obtain relief. You can improve while our accident lawyers review your health records to draft a compensation case.
Contact our accident injury lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 (toll-free phone call) or through the contact form to schedule a free initial consultation. All discussions with our personal injury attorneys remain confidential through an attorney-client relationship.
