Why Off-Road Vehicle Crashes So Often Prove Fatal

Four-wheelers and similar off-highway vehicles carry risks that riders often underestimate, especially those who have handled them safely for years. These vehicles have a high center of gravity, a short wheelbase, and lack enclosed cabs, seat belts, airbags, or crumple zones. When a rider’s vehicle overturns or strikes a fixed object, the rider’s body absorbs the force directly. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission identifies rollovers and collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects such as trees as the most common fatality scenarios.

The problem’s scale remains substantial. CPSC data show that off-highway vehicles cause more than 800 deaths annually on average and roughly 100,000 emergency department–treated injuries nationwide each year. Between 2016 and 2020 alone, CPSC staff estimated approximately 526,900 emergency department–treated injuries linked to these vehicles.

Federal safety guidance clearly instructs riders to stay off paved roads and avoid riding on public roads except to cross where the law allows. Manufacturers design off-road vehicles for loose, uneven terrain; their tires and suspensions make handling unpredictable on asphalt during turns and hard braking. Other drivers also find it difficult to see off-road vehicles, especially after dark — as this crash occurred well after sunset.

Georgia’s Own Data Reveal A Persistent Problem

In this state, the risk remains real. In a July 2025 safety advisory, the Georgia Department of Public Safety reported that its Georgia State Patrol officers investigated 42 crashes involving ATVs and multipurpose off-highway vehicles on Georgia roadways between January 1 and June 20 of that year. These crashes caused 13 deaths and 64 serious injuries on roadways, with 14 off-road vehicle fatalities statewide recently — six involving traditional ATVs and eight involving side-by-side MPOHVs.

Georgia Department of Public Safety Commissioner Colonel William W. Hitchens III emphasized that these vehicles “come with serious risks — especially when not operated safely.”

Rural and semi-rural counties like Lamar experience a disproportionate share of these incidents, partly because residents rely on four-wheelers for farm work, hunting, and property maintenance and partly because the roads connecting properties remain narrow, unlit, and often lack shoulders.

What This Case Means for The Family

When officers arrest someone in connection with a fatal crash, two legal processes begin. The State of Georgia prosecutes the criminal case through the district attorney. Separately, the victim’s family may file a wrongful death claim. A civil claim operates independently of whether someone files a criminal case or what its outcome is.

Under Georgia’s wrongful death statutes (O.C.G.A. §§ 51-4-1 through 51-4-4), a surviving spouse holds the primary claim and shares any recovery with the decedent’s children — with the spouse entitled to no less than one-third. Georgia calculates wrongful death damages by the “full value of the life of the decedent,” which includes economic factors like lost income and household services as well as intangible losses reflecting the life itself. The estate may also claim funeral and burial expenses, medical bills, and the decedent’s conscious pain and suffering before death.

Georgia generally sets a two-year statute of limitations on wrongful death claims (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33), although certain circumstances — including pending criminal prosecutions — can toll (pause) this deadline.

Off-road vehicle crashes also raise insurance issues different from typical car wrecks. Standard auto policies frequently exclude ATVs. Instead, coverage comes from homeowner’s policies, recreational vehicle policies, landowner liability coverage, or the other driver’s auto policy. Determining which policies apply usually requires a completed collision report and a careful review of coverage.

The investigation remains open for now. The Georgia State Patrol has not released its findings.

Understanding the Dangers of Four-Wheeler Accidents — Protecting Your Family And Rights

Haley Manahan’s tragic death in the Lamar County four-wheeler crash serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that off-road vehicles pose, especially on or near public roads. Attorney Jordan Jewkes and The Jewkes Firm deeply sympathize with families who face emotional trauma and complex legal challenges following such accidents. Our experienced personal injury attorneys dedicate themselves to helping victims’ families seek justice and rightful compensation.

Four-wheeler accidents often cause devastating consequences, leaving families with questions about liability, insurance coverage, and legal options. If you or a loved one suffers from a similar crash, consulting an attorney familiar with off-road vehicle laws and wrongful death claims remains crucial to protecting your interests.