Dante Dowdell Serious ATV Acident

[BleedinHuskerRed]

Like most motorized vehicles, they are wonderful tools. People just have to ignore the temptation to get too stupid with tools.

Is part of the issue replacing “tools” with “toys”?

 

[KleinTxHusker]

I knew of a wife/mother who died on one of these during a weekend camping trip in Colorado. Not as dangerous as two wheels, but they kill and mame nonetheless.

Sorry @WestTexasHusker, have to strongly disagree and go along with the below. Funny story, I was at a luncheon that one wouldn't expect to find a plaintiff lawyer (a conservative crowd). Sat by a Lawyer who made a career out of suing ATV manufacturers. I barely got "Dirt Bike" out of my mouth and he basically said that ATV's are far more dangerous than dirt bikes (and he grew up riding them) and he quickly convinced me. Obviously, he had no problem convincing juries, either. And I have to say, over the years I have had a number acquaintances who have been injured on ATV's.

Quads provide a false sense of security versus 2 wheel off-road vehicles. Investigated many serious accidents that riders had on them. Riders tend to over extend with speed and the results can be horrific with almost no protection. I wouldn’t recommend parents let anyone under 16 drive one unsupervised. Looking at the accident photo Dowdell is lucky to be alive imo.

Proportions and weight all wrong. Height is too tall making center of gravity too high, wheel base too short making turn radius too tight.
And almost always not on pavement, so poor inconsistent traction as well.

The other issue with ATVs is they are likely to roll over onto the rider. They tip, the rider falls to the ground and the ATV lands on top of them. Funny, the first time I drove an ATV back in the 1970's they were three wheelers. Those were really bad, but four wheels didn't solve the problem. Probably gave a false sense of security.

I also finally had an experience driving a snowmobile. I would not take one off highly packed snow like on a road into any sort of deep snow. I did that once, won't happen again.

 

[Smoker]

Sorry @WestTexasHusker, have to strongly disagree and go along with the below. Funny story, I was at a luncheon that one wouldn't expect to find a plaintiff lawyer (a conservative crowd). Sat by a Lawyer who made a career out of suing ATV manufacturers. I barely got "Dirt Bike" out of my mouth and he basically said that ATV's are far more dangerous than dirt bikes (and he grew up riding them) and he quickly convinced me. Obviously, he had no problem convincing juries, either. And I have to say, over the years I have had a number acquaintances who have been injured on ATV's.


The other issue with ATVs is they are likely to roll over onto the rider. They tip, the rider falls to the ground and the ATV lands on top of them. Funny, the first time I drove an ATV back in the 1970's they were three wheelers. Those were really bad, but four wheels didn't solve the problem. Probably gave a false sense of security.

I also finally had an experience driving a snowmobile. I would not take one off highly packed snow like on a road into any sort of deep snow. I did that once, won't happen again.

Absolutely.
I dont have the stats.
But typically, one getting killed on a motorcycle is usually the fault of another driver of a vehicle.
ATV operater getting injured or killed is typically his/her own fault.

Im not a fan of people trying to sue manufacturers.

 

[Red Reign]

 

[BleedinHuskerRed]

Absolutely.
I dont have the stats.
But typically, one getting killed on a motorcycle is usually the fault of another driver of a vehicle.
ATV operater getting injured or killed is typically his/her own fault.

Im not a fan of people trying to sue manufacturers.

Not sure I agree with this, though I don’t have the stats either. I see so many dirt bike and motorcycle riders without helmets, weaving through traffic, running red lights. I guess technically the danger is still that they get hit by another car, but if it’s because they tried to create another lane of traffic or blasted through a red light, I think that falls on the rider, not the driver.

Anyway. None of that disputes the danger of ATVs. Without any more information as to Dante’s injuries besides “out indefinitely,” it seems likely his football career is over.

 

[Hooked on Huskers]

The other issue with ATVs is they are likely to roll over onto the rider. They tip, the rider falls to the ground and the ATV lands on top of them. Funny, the first time I drove an ATV back in the 1970's they were three wheelers. Those were really bad, but four wheels didn't solve the problem. Probably gave a false sense of security.

Actually motocross bikes are safer and less exposed to danger than ATV. Mostly ATV jump crash.

I used to be a motorcross racer a LONG time ago .... +50 years ! My semi-sponsor bikes, Penton 250. Early '70s. Built in USA except KTM engine (Austria). Pretty good handling and power. And Maico 250. Built in Germany (bankrupt in 1985). Pretty good but clutch/trans ..... terrible

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

Actually motocross bikes are safer and less exposed to danger than ATV. Mostly ATV jump crash.

I used to be a motorcross racer a LONG time ago .... +50 years ! My semi-sponsor bikes, Penton 250. Early '70s. Built in USA except KTM engine (Austria). Pretty good handling and power. And Maico 250. Built in Germany (bankrupt in 1985). Pretty good but clutch/trans ..... terrible

IOW, if the Penton wasnt running, better call Maico

 

[Hooked on Huskers]

IOW, if the Penton wasnt running, better call Maico

LOL.

KTM buyout. John Penton in Ohio factory was taken over by KTM Austria in 1978. Today, KTM bikes are the best overall (motocross events).

Penton link

Maico .... very similar to Penton both engines and handling ..... despite terrible clutch.

(wiki source) Maico motocross (MC) and enduro (GS) racing models proved very successful in both European and American competition throughout the 1970s. While lacking the financial capital and big money race-team backing like that of the Japanese factories of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, Maico riders such as Adolf Weil, Åke Jonsson and Willy Bauer proved to be serious challenges to the Japanese factories and produced numerous top-three finishes in the Motocross World Championships.​

​

Old memories .....

 

[KleinTxHusker]

Actually motocross bikes are safer and less exposed to danger than ATV. Mostly ATV jump crash.

I used to be a motorcross racer a LONG time ago .... +50 years ! My semi-sponsor bikes, Penton 250. Early '70s. Built in USA except KTM engine (Austria). Pretty good handling and power. And Maico 250. Built in Germany (bankrupt in 1985). Pretty good but clutch/trans ..... terrible

That was exactly my lawyer friend's point (he sued ATV manufacturers and had raced dirt bikes as a kid). And I didn't have to think too long about it to understand. Obviously, he was very successful getting Juries to understand that, too.

So you are preaching to the choir. But still, I do appreciate your testimony! You have more firsthand experience than I do!

 

[Elwood von Kiowa]

That was exactly my lawyer friend's point (he sued ATV manufacturers and had raced dirt bikes as a kid). And I didn't have to think too long about it to understand. Obviously, he was very successful getting Juries to understand that, too.

So you are preaching to the choir. But still, I do appreciate your testimony! You have more firsthand experience than I do!

I'm watching this with interest (lawyers suing ATV manufacturers because safety). When I got my ATC90 (3 wheeler) as a kid, I read the manual front to back. Seems to me Honda did a good job illustrating the safety rules and hazards.

Of course, that didn't stop me from having an accident or two. But I knew they were my fault entirely.

 

[NorthwoodHusker]

LOL.

KTM buyout. John Penton in Ohio factory was taken over by KTM Austria in 1978. Today, KTM bikes are the best overall (motocross events).

Penton link

Maico .... very similar to Penton both engines and handling ..... despite terrible crutch.

(wiki source) Maico motocross (MC) and enduro (GS) racing models proved very successful in both European and American competition throughout the 1970s. While lacking the financial capital and big money race-team backing like that of the Japanese factories of Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, and Kawasaki, Maico riders such as Adolf Weil, Åke Jonsson and Willy Bauer proved to be serious challenges to the Japanese factories and produced numerous top-three finishes in the Motocross World Championships.​

​

Old memories .....

As they say. on any sunday