Did you know all-terrain vehicles are more popular in the U.S. than ever before? All-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, were first introduced in the 1970s. Since that time, they have become increasingly powerful, making them fun recreation toys for kids, teenagers, and adults. With that increased popularity, however, comes increased risks of injury. If you were involved in an ATV accident, would you have enough money to pay your passenger’s medical bills plus the repair costs for your vehicle? Continue reading to learn more about the risks that come along with ATV ownership and how all-terrain vehicle insurance can help minimize your exposure.
Minimizing the Risks of ATV Ownership
There are ways of reducing the risk of an ATV-related accident or injury. We suggest that riders avoid riding on paved surfaces, even if the high-powered ATV is capable of reaching highway speeds. As the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports, the low pressured tires cannot hold up to these speeds on a paved surface, making them a rollover risk. In fact, the majority of ATV-related fatalities occur on roads instead of off-road surfaces.
We also suggest that riders:
- Wear a helmet while riding
- Avoid letting children under age 16 ride or drive an adult ATV
- Take an ATV safety course
- Wear protective gear while riding
Keep in mind that ATVs are valuable, high-powered machines, and unfortunately, accidents do happen. Like car or truck, insurance is necessary to protect drivers and their passengers against the risks associated with owning and operating one of these vehicles. In fact, many ATV owners are required to carry insurance coverage, whether by state law or because a lender requires coverage until the title is paid in full.
Types of ATV Insurance
There are two types of ATV insurance – coverage for you and coverage for others. Coverage for you includes collision damage, comprehensive coverage, uninsured motorist protection, and medical payments coverage. Collision damage pays for repair or replacement of your ATV or UTV if it is involved in an accident, whereas comprehensive protection covers those costs when they are associated with non-accident related events, such as theft, fire or vandalism. Similarly, uninsured motorist protection will pay for losses caused by another uninsured or underinsured driver, and medical payments coverage foots the bill for your personal medical expenses after an accident.
The other type of ATV insurance is liability insurance, which is arguably the most important type of coverage. When you drive an ATV, you are legally responsible if one of your passengers is injured in an accident or if you cause damage to another person’s property. Liability protection helps pays for expenses associated with these losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages from time off work, and pain and suffering. It can also help cover any court costs associated with a personal injury lawsuit.
Get ATV Insurance to Fit Your Needs
All ATV insurance policies are not the same. For example, you may need increased comprehensive and collision coverage if you drive one of the modern luxury ATVs, which carry price tags exceeding $20,000. ATVs carry a high rate of theft, and $20,000 is not pocket change for most owners. You may also need to expand your liability limits if you allow other people to drive or ride in your ATV.
For more information about ATV insurance and to review your individual risks, contact our office to speak with one of our agents. We can help you assess your insurance needs and find the coverage that is right for you.
