San Antonio ATV Accident Lawyer

The legal team at Hilliard Law fights hard to help your claim succeed. With highly knowledgeable and experienced attorneys in our firm, we can provide our clients with valuable legal counsel and effective representation.

With its wide-open terrain and months of sunshine each year, Texas is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. As part of the outdoor recreation experience, many people rely on ATVs. Unfortunately, however, in the hands of negligent parties, ATVs can be dangerous and result in serious injury. Dealing with the aftermath of an ATV accident, along with focusing on your recovery may be overwhelming. Consulting with a competent attorney can both lessen your burden and increase your chances of obtaining fair compensation.

Am I Eligible to File an ATV Lawsuit in San Antonio?

Accident injury cases can be complicated, especially if many different parties are involved. In the event of an ATV accident, the best course of action is to get in touch with a personal injury law firm for a consultation so that they can evaluate your case. To assess if you have grounds to pursue this matter in court, you can, however, consider a few key factors:

• Were you injured in the accident?
• Was the accident caused by or influenced by someone else’s negligence?
• How have your injuries impacted you financially and emotionally?

ATV owners and operators have a responsibility under the law to ensure that their vehicles are driven safely and without endangering others, including drivers, passengers, and pedestrians. If they fail to uphold that duty, you could be eligible to file an ATV lawsuit against those who caused the accident.

Who Could Be Held Responsible for My San Antonio ATV Accident?

The plaintiff must successfully prove the defendant’s liability to succeed in a personal injury lawsuit. Under personal injury law, ATV owners and operators have a duty of care to those who could be injured in an accident with the vehicle due to negligence.

Depending on the details surrounding your accident, the following parties could be held responsible for your ATV accident:

• The person operating the ATV
• Whoever owns the ATV
• The company that manufactured or sold the ATV
• The supplier of the ATVs parts
• Another motorist

Legal liability for the collision may be imposed on any party who may have caused or contributed to your accident through negligence.

What Losses Can I Recover Following a San Antonio ATV Accident?

The exact damages you may recover in an ATV accident claim are not predetermined. Each situation is different, and each victim is impacted differently. The financial and emotional toll the accident has taken on you will be considered when calculating how much compensation you should receive to cover your losses.

Three types of damages may be granted in a personal injury case: economic, non-economic, and punitive. Your damages award could compensate you for the following losses and more:

• Lost income
• Medical expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Property damage

Many accident victims have trouble understanding what their case is worth. An experienced lawyer may be able to examine the details in your case to accurately determine what your losses are worth and help you secure fair compensation.

Which Laws Regulate the Use of ATVs in San Antonio?

ATVs are categorized as off-highway vehicles and are regulated by Transportation Code Title 7 Chapter 363 and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles’ Unique Vehicles regulations. ATVs can be titled by the TxDMV but cannot be registered. Off-Highway Vehicle license plates are available from the tax assessor-collector’s office in your county.

When ATVs are operated on public property, US DOT-approved helmets and eye protection must be worn by both drivers and passengers, according to the Transportation Code. Before being operated on public off-highway vehicle land, an off-highway vehicle must be equipped with the following per TxDMV rules:

• A brake system
• A muffler system
• A spark arrester with U.S. Forest Service certification
• Headlights and taillights
• A Texas Parks and Wildlife decal

An ATV must also carry a slow-moving vehicle emblem when driving at 25 mph or less on public roadways. The emblem must be at least six feet above the ground on the rear of the ATV, and the vehicle’s headlights and taillights must both be turned on. Anyone trying to demonstrate liability while seeking compensation for losses caused by an ATV accident may find it beneficial to understand these and other laws that apply to ATV operations.

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