Many off-road enthusiasts ride ATVs on trails near Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains. However, an ATV accident can leave riders with life-changing injuries. It’s essential to remember that serious injuries can occur when proper ATV safety precautions aren’t taken.
If you have been injured in an ATV accident in Gatlinburg and someone else was responsible, you need to have a knowledgeable ATV accident lawyer review the situation and discuss the steps you can take. You can contact The Terry Law Firm for a free consultation with an ATV accident attorney in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We’ll help you identify the at-fault parties and explain the claims process for seeking compensation for your injuries.
Why The Terry Law Firm Is the Right Choice for Your ATV Case
Since 1960, The Terry Law Firm has provided injury victims in East Tennessee with comprehensive legal support for their personal injury claims. We’ve recovered millions for our clients, including several multi-million-dollar settlements and verdicts in motor vehicle accident cases.
Thanks to our team’s dedication and hard work, our former clients regularly recommend our law office to their friends and family. We encourage you to check out our client reviews and testimonials. For example, one of our previous clients wrote:
“This team is so wonderful. I cannot thank you enough for all the help you have given me during my time of need. I very highly recommend The Terry Law Firm to anyone who needs a lawyer. They are a great bunch of people. I really appreciate everything and will return if I need to.” – K.W.
How ATV Accidents in Gatlinburg Cause Severe Injuries
ATV crashes are dangerous because of the rough terrain in which ATVs are ridden and their lack of safety features TN Code Section 55-8-185. As with motorcycles, ATVs don’t have seat belts or airbags to protect riders and passengers. Since they’re off-road vehicles, ATVs are often used in areas with uneven terrain and natural hazards, such as trees, gullies, fallen limbs, steep embankments, blind crests, and sharp turns.
Speeding, operating under the influence, and inexperienced operation are among the leading causes of all-terrain vehicle accidents. An ATV rider driving too fast for the road or trail conditions may cause a serious accident that injures other riders or passengers. The at-fault driver may be held responsible for the resulting injuries.
According to crash data from the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, over 100 riders are injured or killed in ATV accidents each year. The data indicates that 87 percent of fatal ATV accidents involve riders and passengers not wearing helmets.
Types of Injuries Sustained in ATV Accidents
ATV injuries range in severity from mild injuries that heal over time without further medical attention to catastrophic injuries that leave victims with lifelong impairments.
Some of the most common injuries a rider may suffer in an ATV accident are:
- Crushing injuries caused by ATV rollover accidents
- Whiplash and other soft tissue injuries affecting the muscles, ligaments, and tendons
- Broken bones caused by falling or being thrown from an ATV
- Burn injuries caused by coming in contact with hot ATV parts, such as the exhaust pipe or engine
- Internal organ damage caused by puncture wounds or colliding with fixed objects
- Traumatic brain injuries resulting in permanent physical and cognitive disability
- Spinal cord injuries causing partial or complete paralysis
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious ATV injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you should talk to an experienced lawyer. You may have a right to seek fair compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. Our ATV accident lawyers in Gatlinburg will help you understand your legal rights.
Compensation You Could Recover in a Gatlinburg ATV Injury Claim
The compensation you may seek with the help of an ATV injury lawyer falls into two categories. Economic compensation is for your losses with a dollar value, such as medical bills and lost wages. Non-economic compensation includes losses with subjective value, such as pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer can evaluate your losses and gather the evidence necessary to connect them to the ATV accident.
Economic Compensation
Economic losses include things such as current and future medical bills related to the accident, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity due to long-term or permanent disability. To recover full compensation for your economic losses, you must document your injuries and keep all medical and other bills related to your injuries.
An ATV accident lawyer can help you track your economic losses and negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement.
Non-Economic Compensation
Non-economic losses are harder to put a value on due to their subjective nature. Examples of these losses include the pain and suffering caused by your injuries, the emotional distress caused by the accident, scarring and disfigurement, and the impact your permanent disability has on your daily life.
A compassionate and caring attorney who understands your struggles since being injured can help you determine a fair value for these losses. Our ATV accident attorneys in Gatlinburg will work to hold the at-fault parties and their insurers financially accountable by presenting evidence to support your claim, including witness and medical expert testimony.
Tennessee Laws Regarding ATV Accidents
While Tennessee doesn’t require ATV riders and passengers to wear helmets in most cases, TN Code Section 55-8-185 requires helmet use when operating on designated highways. However, anytime you are riding an ATV, you should wear a helmet to protect yourself from serious head and brain injuries. Wearing a helmet can make it harder for insurance companies involved in your case to claim that you were partly at fault for your injuries.
Tennessee doesn’t require ATV operators to have first- or third-party insurance for their vehicles. This can make it more challenging to recover the compensation you need after an accident.
However, you can still file a personal injury lawsuit against any at-fault parties, including:
- The property owner, if a hazardous property condition contributed to the accident
- The ATV manufacturer, if a defective part contributed to the accident
- A safety gear manufacturer, if a defective helmet or other safety product failed to work as advertised
- A negligent ATV rider, if you were injured as a bystander, passenger, or other rider
How The Terry Law Firm Can Help ATV Accident Victims
The Terry Law Firm can provide legal representation for your ATV accident case. Our legal team will investigate the accident, handle settlement negotiations with insurance companies, and seek the maximum compensation for you. We will handle the legal process while you recover from your injuries
You can contact The Terry Law Firm for a free consultation with one of our ATV accident lawyers in Gatlinburg, TN. We’ll review the details of the accident that injured you, identify the liable parties, and explain your legal options for holding them financially accountable. You won’t owe any legal fees unless our ATV injury lawyers recover compensation for you.