ATV Accident Injuries – Injury Patterns

With the increase in use, as well as the increase in power of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), there has been a significant rise in both the severity and number of injuries due to crashes, fires, and explosions.

Injury Patterns Related to ATV Accidents

Particularly, physicians and surgeons are urged to be aware of the associated injuries with all-terrain vehicle accidents, fires or explosions. Patterns that have been noted include:

  • Spinal fractures
  • Closed head injury
  • Thoracic trauma
  • Burns and carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Abdominal trauma
  • Neurologic injury
  • Appendicular skeletal fracture

Of particular interest is the frequency of non-contagious spinal fractures since secondary spinal injuries may sometimes be missed if it is in a separate region of the spine compared to the primary injury. According to a study in a 2012 issue of The Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics:

  • ATV-related spinal injuries in minors and adolescents are considered high-energy injuries with a high rate of both non-spine and spine-associated injuries.
  • These spinal injuries tend to differ from other ATV-related injuries in children; they are more common in females and older adults.
  • Orthopedic surgeons ought to have a high index suspicion of related injuries, including further and non-contagious spinal injuries.
  • Musculoskeletal injuries are also very common amongst children involved in ATV accidents.

Vehicle fires and explosions can also lead to significant injuries including carbon monoxide poisoning caused by inhalation of toxic gases released during a fire, as well as severe to fatal burn injuries. In an explosion, flying debris poses an additional risk of injury.

Age-Related Injury Patterns

In another study, a retrospective chart review was done on children who incurred ATV-related injuries. The aim of the study was to investigate the kinds and severity of the injuries, and the role body mass index and age have on the fractures the children under the age of 16 sustained.

Over a 30-month period, 64 patients were studied. 54 of the children were under the age of 12, and 42 of them were 13 years or older. Sixty-one children who were injured required hospitalization, with fifty-four requiring surgery. One fatality was recorded.

The most common injuries noted were orthopedic injuries, followed by head injuries, and intra-abdominal injuries. 58 of the children experienced fractures. It was also noted that older children had an increased body mass index compared to the younger children. Further, the younger age group were more likely to sustain isolated fractures, especially lower extremity fractures, whereas the older age group were more likely to suffer a pelvic fracture.

This was the first study conducted to evaluate age-related patterns of injuries in all-terrain vehicle accidents.

Conclusion

ATV fires and explosions due to faulty systems on the vehicles can result in severe injuries including permanent disability and death. One of the reasons these vehicles are also particularly dangerous is because they are designed to be operated by responsible and experienced adults in off-road environments. However, children under the age of 12 often operate them without supervision or the correct safety clothing. Notably, there have been a number of brands recalled over the year due to fire hazards.

If you are injured in a crash and have suffered injuries, a personal injury attorney can help you seek compensation for your injuries.