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Using estimated costs of basic care for residents of a large long - term care facility in Anchorage ( $ 4800 per month ) , the 6 permanently disabled victims may require additional expenditures of $ 11 , 5 million for basic long - term skilled care if each lives to age 65 . This figure does not include costs for phystcian ' s fees , medications , occupational therapy , physical therapy , recreational therapy , or speech therapy ,

The Alaska Department of Public Safety and Department of Transportation ( DPS / DOT ) received reports of 234 incidents involving 304 injured riders or property damage 8ssociated with ATY use during the same period . Reports from DPS / DOT were used to characterize riders , vehicles , and environmental conditions involved in fatal and non - fetal ATV incidents that were inves tigated by police , Persons in the 10 - 14 year old age group ( 24 % ) were most frequently involved in incidents reports to DPS / DOT . More than twice as many males as females were reported . Incidents were reported more fro quently on Saturday and Sunday than on weekdays .

Although these vehicles are marketed for off - road use , 63 % of incidents occurred on designated roadways . Vehicles were most frequently moving straight at a constant speed ( 57 % ) , rather than changing speed or diráction prior to the event . The most frequent contributing factors cited by police were alcohol ( 20 . 3 % ) , speeding ( 16 , 2 % ) , driver inexperience ( 12 . 8 % ) , and driver inattention ( 11 . 3 % ) . Only 9 . 1 % of riders wore hemets at the time of the incident . Although all ATV models are designed for use by a stngle rider , 29 . 1 % of incidents reported by police involved multiple riders .

Injuries are the leading cause of premature mortality as years of potential lite lost ( YPLL ) in the United States . Mortality associated with uninten ttonal injuries is the leading cause of YPLL in Alaska and is influenced by the age structure of the State ( median age = 26 . 3 years ) . During 1983 - 84 , fatal injuries due to transportation and recreational venicle crashes accounted for 353 ( 9 , 1 % ) of 3881 deaths in Alaska ; 285 ( 7 . 3 % ) automobile and truck col3iston fatalities , 38 ( 1 . 0 % ) aircraft crash fatalities , 19 ( 0 . 5 % ) ATV - associated fataltttes and 11 ( 0 . 3 % ) fatalities resulting from snowmachine use .

Injury studies are often limited by an absence of denominator data , partic ularly how many persons are at risk of injury . Information concerning the number of vehicles to use and rider usage patterns is often difficult if not impossible to obtain .

In addition to the premature mortality associated with ATV use , related non - tatal injuries result in substantial costs for both individuals and society . Of major importance is the finding that 12 of the 20 fatalities might have been prevented by wearing a helmet .

Potential risk factors for injuries associated with ATYs include alcohol use , failure to use helmets , rider inexperience and inattention , and excessive speed . These factors as well as vehicle use patterns and vehicle characteristics must be evaluated as part of a rational approach to plan intervention strategies , Injury investigations such as this one can lead to development and implementation of comprehenstvo injury surveillance systems to learn about causes and risk factors in order to prevent in juries ,