A Young Man Dead, Father Critically Injured After ATV Crash in Rural Clay County

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 22, 2016

The young man who was with his 51-year-old father on the night of Tuesday, January 1st, when their ATV was struck by a pickup truck has died, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers said 17-year-old Kameron Clark and his father Thomas Clark were on a Honda four-wheeler that was stopped on the road south of Watkins Road just before 9 p.m. due to a previous minor accident they were involved in, when they were struck by a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

According to the accident report, the driver of the pickup, Jeremy Truesdell, 18, of Green Cove Springs, did not see that the ATV was stopped in the road until it was too late. When the pickup truck struck, the ATV overturned on the dirt shoulder of the road and the two victims were ejected. Both men were taken to UF Health Jacksonville and the FHP reported late Thursday that Kameron Clark had died from his injuries. Thomas Clark is still in recovery, and Truesdell was not injured.

ATV accidents can be complicated, particularly figuring out who is at fault. Even when it appears that one driver may be blatantly negligent, weather conditions, lighting conditions, speed, distractions such as texting or talking on a phone, and impaired driving are all factors that can come through in an investigation and change the game. Improper signage and poorly designed roads can also be a large factor, in which case outside parties such as government officials or developers may be to blame for an accident. Residents who live on the rural, two-lane road where this accident occur said they see a lot of accidents. "It’s just a narrow road. There’s nowhere to pull off, and there’s been a lot of wrecks out here in last year and a half," local Charlie Bell said. "(The) speed limit is 45, but people go through here at 60 to 70 mph and pass one another," said Sandra Bell.

Compensation for ATV accident victims can also be sought if you were injured while you were riding on a public trail that was damaged in some way (for example, if it had huge holes, dangerous terrain/inclines, or other defects), the person or organization that owns the trail may be responsible. In those cases, you may need to file a claim with the insurance company that provides homeowners insurance for the property owner, or against the owner personally. Finally, you may have a product liability case if the ATV itself was defective or unsafe.

At the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A., we have over 35 years of experience representing people injured in accidents – including those hurt in ATV accidents. We’ve seen how much families struggle when their loved one was supposed to be out having fun, but instead ended up in a fatal accident. Our lawyers are prepared to handle every hassle or concern involving your ATV injury case to get you the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.