Managing ATV Accidents with James H. Brown and Associates

With plenty of summer left, many Albertans are excited to hit the trails on their ATVs, side-by-sides, and other recreational vehicles. Whether it’s Castle Park, Dutch Creek, or the thousands of kilometres of trails west of Sundre, safety is key to getting the most out of your next outdoor adventure.

A big part of safety is knowing what to do if you’re involved in an accident. To help you get prepared for your next ATV adventure, you’ll James H. Brown and Associates’ top tips for dealing with ATV and recreational vehicle accidents, as well as how we can help if you’re injured on the trails.

Don’t Tough It Out; If You’re Hurt, Get Help

It can be tempting to try to power through an injury on an ATV trip, especially if your injury looks and feels relatively “minor.” However, this is one of the most dangerous things any rider can do after an accident on the trail.

To start, safely riding an ATV requires total physical control. If an injury prevents you from riding safely, it’s time to stop, no questions asked. Second, not all injuries cause immediate physical symptoms. For example, many whiplash-related injuries can take days, weeks, or even months to cause pain or other symptoms. If you try to ride in the meantime, you could make your injury worse, leading to permanent damage, chronic pain, or other debilitating conditions.

No matter how minor your injuries appear, it’s never a bad idea to get checked out as soon as you can after an ATV accident. A medical professional will be able to fully diagnose your injuries and provide complete documentation if you need to make a claim. If you do need to seek a settlement, many insurance companies will challenge the severity of your injuries if you don’t get them looked at; it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Keep Track of Damages

If your accident stops you from working, leads to extra medical expenses, or otherwise changes your day-to-day life, document everything! Keeping a journal of “damages” and lifestyle changes caused by their accident is the best way to ensure you have all the information you need to get a complete, fair settlement.

Get Legal Advice

Especially if your accident was caused by another party, getting sound legal advice is the first step towards justice. Do NOT speak with an insurance company about your accident before seeking counsel from an experienced lawyer. Insurance companies will be carefully reviewing any information you provide them, trying to find any excuse they can to pay you less for your injuries.

Recreational Vehicle Injury Law with James H. Brown

Recreational vehicle law in Alberta is complicated; getting a professional opinion and an experienced team on your side can help ensure you receive the compensation you’re entitled to.

With over 200 years of combined injury law experience, James H. Brown and Associates has a proven reputation of stand up for Albertans’ rights and securing the compensation they deserve. Today, we proudly provide a complete range of services and support for our clients, including:

• An experienced team of injury lawyers with an unrivalled record of success.
• Investigation and evidence preservation services, including accident reconstruction and long-term impact analysis.
• Strong relationships with organizations ready to assist with rehabilitation and recovery.
• And much more!

Have You or a Loved One Been Injured in an ATV Accident?

Contact us today to book a free, no-obligation consultation with James H. Brown and Associates’ injury lawyers.