All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are great for recreation and utility work, providing an off-road ride like few others. However there are many risks associated with riding one of these vehicles, and serious injuries can occur unless one is educated regarding how to drive these vehicles through the unpredictable terrain, as well as their powerful nature. ATV accidents can cause injuries that vary from cuts and bruises to fractures and traumatic brain injuries, but many riders are unaware of how their health insurance provides coverage for these types of accidents.
This article explains how health insurance works for ATV accidents, the types of coverage available, and factors that may impact your protection.
Basic Health Insurance Coverage in ATV Accidents
Usually, medical treatment for injuries from an ATV accident is covered by health insurance, just like any other accident. If you’re injured while riding an ATV, your health insurance plan will usually cover:
– Emergency medical services: Transportation by ambulance to the hospital.
Emergency department: Treatment for immediate injuries like fractured bones, concussion, or internal injuries.
Hospitalization: If your injuries are significant and you need to stay overnight or require surgery.
Rehabilitation: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other treatments after an accident.
– Prescription drugs: Pain control or interim medications prescribed by a physician.
Keep in mind, that health insurance generally covers only medical care and not damages to the ATV itself or property damage resulting from the accident.
Factors that Influence Coverage
There are a variety of factors that can affect how health insurance responds to injuries from ATV accidents. These include:
Policy Type: Health insurance policies have various provisions. A typical PPO or HMO health coverage plan might pay for emergency treatment following an ATV accident, while out-of-pocket costs, co-pays, and deductibles could each vary depending on the details of the plan. If you have a high-deductible health plan, you might have to pay more out of pocket before insurance coverage begins.
How and Where the Accident Occurred: The specifics of the accident can also impact your coverage. Injuries that occur in off-road locations or places not served by regular roads, for example, could make transportation or emergency medical services more difficult and thus more expensive. There might be more insurance considerations if the accident happens on private-owned property, or in rural areas.
Rider behavior and risk: Health insurers may wonder whether the rider’s behavior played a role in the accident. If the rider had been drinking or using drugs or was driving recklessly or not abiding by safety laws at the time, health insurers may deny or reduce coverage, especially if those acts were determined to be a major or primary cause of the accident.
Injury Severity: The type of medical treatment needed will also impact coverage. Health insurance may be more likely to pay for in-hospital treatment of a serious injury, whereas treatment for one that’s not as serious might lead to more out-of-pocket costs, depending on the plan.
Liability in ATV Accidents
Health insurance plans often cover medical expenses, but damage or injuries to others in an ATV accident may not be part of your health insurance coverage. If you are involved in an accident and someone else was injured, or property was damaged, you might be responsible for the costs. In these situations, your auto or renters’ insurance could provide liability coverage, or you may need specialized ATV insurance to cover injuries or damage to third parties.
Do You Need ATV Insurance?
Health insurance usually covers injuries resulting from an ATV accident, but damage to the vehicle or third-party liability often does require separate ATV insurance. ATV insurance can include:
Liability coverage: This covers injuries to other people or damage to someone else’s property if you cause an accident.
– Collision coverage: Covers repair costs to your ATV post-accident.
– Full coverage: Includes damage unrelated to a collision (theft, vandalism, etc.)
Medical payments coverage: Covers the cost of medical bills for you and your passengers, no matter who caused the accident.
Health insurance may include coverage to some extent, but riders who are going to be using ATVs on a more regular basis or more extreme/risky activities may want to consider separate ATV insurance.
5. What To Do After An ATV Accident
If you have been involved in an ATV accident, here is what to do:
Get immediate medical attention: It’s a good idea to see a doctor even if your injuries seem minor, as some may take time to reveal themselves (like concussions or internal bleeding).
Notify your insurance company: Report the incident to your health insurance provider, as well as the relevant insurance companies (auto or ATV insurance). And, be ready to discuss details like the accident, medical reports, and treatment costs.
– Document the incident: Gather evidence if you can, taking photos of the scene, the descriptions if there’s an accident, and witness statements. This can be important when filing insurance claims or in the event of a legal dispute.
6. Protection and Safety Stretches
Though having health insurance can help cover your medical costs if you are in an ATV accident, there are preventative strategies to help avoid serious injury and avoid insurance claims. Some safety tips include:
Use protective equipment while riding: Always use a helmet, glasses, gloves and other riding protective equipment.
Obey laws and guidelines: Make sure you follow ATV safety and ride only where allowed.
Attend safety courses: There are several programs available for ATV riders that offer safety education on how to ride safely.
Don’t engage in risky behaviors: Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving aggressively will raise the chance that you’ll be in an accident and may affect your insurance policy as well.
Conclusion
While ATV accident injuries may be covered by health insurance, it only provides coverage for medical expenses and does not have liability for damages to others or damages to the ATV itself. Riders are advised to familiarize themselves with the details of their health insurance coverage, as well as to learn about optional ATV insurance that can provide them with extra protection.