On April 27, 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced a recall of popular children’s all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). One of the top power sports manufacturers, EGL Motor, recalled their ACE-branded Youth All-Terrain Vehicles due to apparent manufacturing violations of Federal ATV minimum safety standards and regulations resulting in defects capable of causing serious crash injury and even death.
The ATVs at issue have been sold nationwide and are specifically marketed for children ages 10 and older. One group of the recalled ATVs (models K125 and C125) have defects that allow occupants to exceed the maximum speed limitations for vehicles intended for children, posing an increased risk of high-speed crashes. The defects in the other group (models T125 and C125) involve parking brakes failing to fully engage and/or prevent movement, posing a collision hazard if the vehicles are parked on an incline.
The dangers of riding ATVs are significant, including overturning, collisions, and occupant ejection. Rollovers and collisions can happen often and can be fatal. The CPSC’s latest data show an annual average of more than 700 deaths and an estimated 100,000 emergency department-treated injuries involving off-road vehicles, such as ATVs. Children using ATVs are at an increased risk of crash and severe injury as ATVs can be unstable and hard to control for children, particularly at high speeds.
Consumers are asked to immediately stop allowing their children to use the recalled ATVs and to contact the manufacturer to coordinate a free repair from an authorized repair shop to remedy the manufacturing defects.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by an ATV, please contact an attorney at Abraham Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling 713-222-7211 or toll free at 1‑800-870-9584.