ATV Accident Death and Injury Statistics – Nevada

As fun as ATVs are, many dangers stem from the design and the intended use of these off-road vehicles. When ATVs aren’t being used as intended (for example, when they’re driven on paved roads), the dangers become even more pronounced.

When driven at high speeds, ATVs are prone to losing their stability and flipping over. In some instances, such accidents have also been known to cause fires or even explosions.

Nevada is one of the states that don’t have the highest number of ATV crashes and fatalities. Still, multiple ATV-related deaths and serious injuries have occurred in the state over the years.

ATV Crashes and Fire Hazard

Faulty design and fuel leakages are two of the most common causes of ATVs catching fire or even exploding. While such accidents don’t occur frequently and there aren’t accounts about ATVs on flames in Nevada, companies have had to recall their products because of such issues.

One of the most prominent fire hazard recalls involves Polaris – a company that has had to withdraw thousands of its vehicles from the market.

ATV Crashes, Injuries, and Deaths in Nevada

In the period from 1982 to 2012, Nevada saw 106 ATV accidents with a fatal outcome. The number of accidents resulting in death was 10 in the period from 2013 to 2015.

Statistics suggest that the US sees anywhere between 300 and 400 ATV wrecks per year. While Nevada had only one fatality in 2014, there have been multiple accounts of serious injuries and even deaths stemming from the use of ATVs in 2016 and 2017.

One of the latest accident involved a rather experienced driver, proving that just about anyone can lose control at a high speed. The 39-year-old William Couch from Las Vegas crashed his ATV in the desert near the city on an early morning. He was on the Yamaha Banshee by himself when witnesses saw the ATV becoming airborne.

After the ATV had landed, Couch was thrown from it. He was declared dead at the site of the accident. According to Couch’s family, he was an avid outdoor runner, and he had a lot of experience with off-road vehicles. Just like many ATV drivers who sustained serious injuries or head a lethal outcome, Couch was not wearing a helmet.

A failure to use safety equipment isn’t the only cause of ATV accidents. Alcohol consumption before getting on the all-terrain vehicle is another serious problem related to loss of control. In April 2017, a woman was arrested for driving her ATV while intoxicated. Another passenger was on the vehicle when it crashed. The passenger was ejected and died. The woman was arrested for a felony DUI, and she was also charged with homicide.