Yamaha Rhino ATV Lawsuits

Yamaha “Rhino” All-Terrain-Vehicle (ATV) litigation has drawn the interest of our lawyers. The Yamaha Rhino ATV appears to have design defects that make the Yamaha Rhino ATV unreasonably unsafe for its occupants. The big problem with the Yamaha Rhino ATV roll is that it will rollover during turns on flat surfaces, even at low speeds, because it has a center of gravity that it too high, too top heavy, and the tires are too small for the expected uses of the vehicle.

Recognizing the problem, Yamaha agreed last summer to install doors and additional passenger handholds on all Yamaha Rhino ATVs manufactured in the last 4 years to protect passengers from a rollover, but they stopped short of issuing a recalling, or even ceasing production of the Rhino ATV.

Yamaha has also issued a new product warning label for the Yamaha Rhino ATV that acknowledges the risk of rollover accidents and alerts users that the Rhino can rollover even while being operated over flat, open areas.

I have to assume that Yamaha’s calculus is that the injuries sustained in these cases are such that the sale of the Yamaha Rhino ATVs creates revenues sufficient to sustain the legal costs, settlements and verdicts that Yamaha will undoubtedly endure. Regrettably, as we learned years ago in the Ford Pinto cases, companies with high selling and profitable products make these cost/benefit decisions all of the time, just like this one.

The reports of injuries in these cases are largely similar: slow speed turns where the Yamaha Rhino ATV rolls over and, because there are no doors to protect the passengers, people fall out of the Rhino and are crushed.

If you or someone you love has suffered a serious rollover injury or death in a Yamaha Rhino ATV, we want to help you. Our lawyers are handling Yamaha Rhino ATV rollover cases in serious injury and death cases across the country. Call us for a free consultation at 800-553-8082 or click here for a free Internet consultation.