PERSONAL INJURY

New Jersey ATV and Off-Road Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Off-road vehicles (ORVs), including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), are commonly used for recreation or work in industries like agriculture and forestry in New Jersey. Like any vehicle, ATVs and other types of ORVs require training, experience, and skill to operate safely. They also need routine inspections and maintenance to ensure that they are in proper working order.

Off-road and all-terrain vehicle accidents due to negligence are common. When they happen, the operator or other people could suffer severe or fatal injuries.

You could be entitled to significant compensation if you have been injured in a New Jersey ATV or ORV accident. Contact a New Jersey ATV and ORV accident lawyer at the law firm of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman for a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal options.

Why You Need Our Lawyers After an ATV or ORV Accident in New Jersey

Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman has served injured people in New Jersey for nearly 100 years. Since 1929, our firm has sought to make things right when innocent people have been injured due to the negligence of others.

If you have been injured in a New Jersey ATV or ORV accident, our injury lawyers can handle the legal legwork of seeking compensation while you focus on healing. When you hire us, you can rest easier knowing you have a dedicated attorney pursuing the justice you deserve.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer?

At Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman, we do not charge you any fees upfront to start work on your personal injury case. We will review your case for free, with no obligation to you. If we believe you have a claim for compensation, we will do all the legal legwork with no out-of-pocket cost to you. When we recover compensation for you, our fee then comes as a percentage of that. If we don’t win, you don’t pay us. It’s that simple.

Common Types of Off-Road Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Involved in Accidents

The popularity of off-road vehicles has surged in recent years, and, unfortunately, so has the number of ORV accidents. There are a variety of ORVs built for recreational and occupational purposes. These vehicles typically have maximum speeds of at least 30 mph, and some can even travel at highway speeds.

As their name suggests, ORVs are designed for off-road use. Some are exclusively suited to unpaved terrain, while others can drive on and off paved surfaces. Most ORVs have high ground clearance and low-pressure tires with large treads, enabling riders to traverse rough terrain but increasing the risk of rollover.

Examples of ORVs that are commonly involved in rollovers and other types of accidents include:

All-terrain vehicles

All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are commonly designed to carry only a single rider. These motorized vehicles are 48 inches across or less and are typically designed to be used exclusively off-road. They often have four low-pressure tires, handlebars for steering, and a straddle seat for the rider.

Utility terrain vehicles

Utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) are also designed solely for off-road use, but these vehicles are larger and sturdier than ATVs. Most UTVs have steering wheels, bucket or bench seating, restraints for multiple passengers, and rollover protective structures.

Four-wheel-drive vehicles

Many of today’s traditional manufacturers make four-wheel-drive sports utility vehicles (SUVs) considered “off-road ready.” Jeeps, Land Rovers, and other large SUVs that can handle challenging off-road terrain can be considered ORVs.

Other specialty ORVs include dune buggies, hovercrafts, military transport vehicles, amphibious vehicles, and snowmobiles.

From our clients

I would recommend Richard Isolde to my family and friends, and he was accommodating in handling our case. He was always available by text, phone calls, and email. Most significantly, he helped us get what we deserved. Richard Isolde is always there for his clients and does whatever he can to get the job done.

Richard Isolde worked very hard on my case, making the impossible possible.
He was able to get the full amount up to the policy limit and then get punitive damages in addition. I understand that is a rare accomplishment. I am grateful for that and I congratulate him. Your firm was recommended to me by a friend and I will pay it forward by recommending him as well as PRA.

I used Mr. (SQ) Lee for a personal injury matter and could not have been any more pleased with his services. He understood my injury and helped me every step of the way. He was courteous and kind and I always felt better after speaking with him. His assistant, Sherrill, was also wonderful and together they made a great team! I would absolutely recommend them, and the firm, to anyone.

Types of Injuries in ATV and Off-Road Vehicle Crashes

In one recent study, researchers evaluated a group of patients who sustained ORV-related injuries. Among other things, researchers found:

49 percent of patients were children under 16.
63 percent of patients were male.
51 of the injured patients were ORV passengers.
70 percent of injured ORV passengers were children.
Nearly a third (30 percent) of crash victims under 16 were drivers.
29 percent of all crashes occurred on paved roads.
All the children injured in ORV accidents crashed during the day.
An overwhelming two-thirds (67 percent) of the ORV accidents were rollovers.
All but one of the injured patients involved in the study were unhelmeted.
Nearly a quarter (24 percent) of patients sustained head injuries or blacked out.
Other documented injuries affected the extremities (58 percent), skin (51 percent), face (20 percent), chest (22 percent), or abdomen (11 percent).
More than 90 percent of patients admitted to being unrestrained.
Nearly three-quarters (74 percent) of patients were hospitalized for their injuries.
26 percent of patients required intensive care, 53 percent of whom were children.
Almost 40 percent of injured adults crashed during nighttime hours.

Our Victories

$500K

$500,000 Settlement – Injury and Infection After Fall on Residential Property

Negligent Maintenance; Full Compensation Secured for Injured Client.

$750K

$750,000 Settlement – Wrongful Death in Nursing Home

Negligent Medication Deprivation Resulting in Death; Settlement Achieved Before Trial.

$975K

$975,000 Settlement – Spinal Surgery Medical Malpractice

Failure to Diagnose Underlying Condition Leading to Permanent Injury; Secured Settlement for Client and Family.

$50,310

$50,310 Settlement – Worker Injured Shoulder Lifting Box

Secured Settlement After Rotator Cuff Surgery and Successful Return to Work.

$310K

$310,000 Settlement – Construction Site Fall

Secured Compensation for Broken Ribs and Collapsed Lung.

$405K

$405,000 Settlement – Fall on Broken Stairs

Settlement Secured After Shoulder and Knee Surgeries.

$510K

$510,000 Settlement – Fatal Auto Accident

Compensation Secured for Family Following Gallbladder Complications.

$225K

$225,000 Settlement – Fall on Cracked Sidewalk

Secured Compensation After Knee Surgery.

$260K

$260,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall on Ice

Successfully Settled After Neurotomy Procedure to Spine.

$505K

$505,000 Settlement – Slip and Fall on Ice

Secured Settlement After Knee and Back Surgeries.

$200+ Million

Recovered for Clients

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Off-Road Vehicle Accident Claims Against Careless Operators

If a careless ORV operator causes an accident, injured victims may have grounds to claim compensation from the at-fault operator. That includes pedestrians, drivers and passengers in other ORVs involved in the wreck, and passengers of the at-fault ORV driver.

If you were injured in an ORV accident caused by a negligent operator, you could recover compensation for the following types of losses in a personal injury claim:

The costs of any medical care you need to treat your injuries
The value of lost wages and benefits from missed time at work
The projected value of losses in your lifetime earning capacity
The estimated value of medical care you’ll likely need in the future
The intangible cost of your pain, suffering, and lost quality of life

Product Liability Claims for Dangerous Off-Road Vehicles

Some ORV accidents are the result of defective vehicle components. Dangerous conditions can develop due to lack of maintenance, but some flaws are present from the start due to poor design or manufacturing processes. When the failure of a critical component leads to an ORV accident and the designer, manufacturer, or seller is responsible, victims may be entitled to compensation through product liability claims.

A product liability claim seeks to hold manufacturers accountable for allowing dangerously defective products to reach consumers. Examples of ORV defects that could give rise to product liability claims include:

Vehicles prone to rolling over
Vehicle tires prone to blowouts
Vehicles unstable at higher speeds
Vehicles with poorly made components
Vehicles with unreasonably hazardous designs

Premises Liability Claims for ATV Accident Injuries

In some cases, an ATV accident may occur due to defective or dangerous conditions on someone else’s property. Even though ORVs are designed to handle rugged, unpaved surfaces, many accidents happen on hazardous terrain.

New Jersey property owners are expected to keep their premises safe and secure for visitors. If paying customers or authorized guests visit the premises to ride ORVs, we would make a premises liability claim that the property owner was required to take steps to keep ATV and ORV trails safe. A premises liability claim seeks to hold negligent property owners accountable for the safety of visitors.

Examples of hazards that could give rise to a premises liability claim include:

Dangerously uneven or unstable terrain on designated ORV trails
Broken glass, sharp metal, or other dangerous debris on ORV trails
Inadequate lighting, warning signs, or security for the property
Property owners knowingly allowing minors to ride ORVs unsupervised

Off-Road Vehicle Crashes Involving Unlicensed Children

Although ORV riding is generally recommended only for children at least 16 years old, minors represent a large proportion of injury victims in ORV accidents. In some cases, minors below the statewide age limit for ATV riding – 14 years old – are operating ORVs involved in accidents.

Young children lack the upper body strength and experience that adults rely on to operate ORVs safely. When minors get behind the wheel or handlebars of an ATV, they can cause devastating accidents that result in severe injuries.

If a child is responsible for causing injuries or property damage in an ORV accident, their parents may be financially accountable for the child’s actions. If a child is injured due to someone else’s negligence or a defective product, they may be entitled to compensation from the responsible party, though they cannot file claims on their own. Instead, a parent or guardian can bring the claim for the injured child.

New Jersey Laws on ATVs and Other Off-Road Vehicles

According to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC), riders are not required to obtain a permit or license to operate an ATV or ORV in New Jersey. However, you do need to observe the following rules and regulations:

You must be at least 14 to operate an ATV or ORV.
You must complete an ATV safety course if you are at least 14 but under 18.
If you are at least 14 but under 16, you may not operate an ATV with an engine capacity exceeding 90 ccs while training, riding on public lands, or crossing public roadways.
You must register your ORV with the state and carry proof of registration and liability insurance.
You are prohibited from riding ORVs in any New Jersey State Park or Forest.

Get Help from Our New Jersey ATV and Off-Road Vehicle Accident Lawyers Now

If you were injured in an ATV or ORV accident in New Jersey, don’t hesitate to contact the ATV and ORV accident attorneys of Pellettieri Rabstein & Altman. We can answer your questions and evaluate your case promptly when you contact us for a free initial strategy session.