What Are the Laws Regarding ATV Usage in Kentucky?
In Kentucky, we have a statute – KRS 189.515 – that tells us the laws regarding the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATV). I will highlight a few of the laws below:
(1)The most obvious law is that ATVs, except under limited circumstances (crossing a roadway, farm construction or snow removal), are not to be driven on a public highway or roadway. Unfortunately, this law is routinely broken and many accidents happen as a result. There are many reasons for this law including that ATVs are not made to go fast enough on the roadways and to handle the nature of the roadways.
(2) ATVs are not to be driven on someone’s land without their permission. The reason for this law is to protect the owner of the land from liability from an ATV accident. ATVs are known to overturn and cause injuries on rural lands that are rough and inconsistent. Another reason for the law is that the ATV operator is not familiar with the land and that can lead to ATV accidents.
(3) ATVs cannot be used on public property unless the governmental agency responsible for the land has given approval for ATV usage.
(4)There are age restrictions regarding the use of an ATV. A parent may not allow their child to operate an ATV if they are under the age of 6. A parent may not allow a child under the age of 16 to drive an ATV without direct parental supervision. The child under 16 must wear approved protective head gear. A child under 16 may not operate an ATV with a passenger. Any age restriction required by the manufacturer, must be honored. This is another law that is routinely broken and leads to many accidents and deaths. Parents need to understand that if they disobey these laws, they can be sued for negligent entrustment of the ATV.
If You Want to Die in An ATV Accident Do These Things?
I recently was contacted about an ATV accident where the driver was under 16 and he was driving the ATV on a rural road and he had his 15 year-old girlfriend and a toddler in his ATV. He allowed the ATV to get on the edge of the road and the ATV went down a steep embankment killing the girlfriend and the toddler. In this situation most of the laws described above were broken. To add insult to injury and death, the parent who bought the ATV and permitted their son to operate it without supervision, on a roadway and to have valuable passengers, has no homeowner’s insurance to pay for the damages he caused. He had enough money to buy the ATV but has no homeowner’s insurance.
Contact Kentucky Auto Accident Attorney!
If you have been injured in an auto accident or ATV accident due to the negligence of another, you will require the services of an experienced Kentucky auto accident attorney to investigate and locate all available evidence to determine liability and to maximize all insurance benefits. Matthew Troutman, Kentucky auto accident lawyer, of the Troutman Law Office has been handling auto accident claims, almost exclusively, since 1986 and has the experience and talent to obtain the best result for the victims in the above car accident.
Contact Kentucky auto accident attorney Matthew Troutman directly at 859-696-0001 or 502-648-9507 and he will meet with you in the hospital, your home or wherever is convenient for you. He will give you direct access through his cell phone and guide you through the difficult process necessary to obtain the best result possible for you in your car accident claim. To learn more about Kentucky car accident attorney Matthew Troutman and the Troutman Law Office, click here.