Yamaha Motor Corporation USA has issued a recall for more than 100,000 Rhino ATV's. All Rhino models 450, 660, and 700 were recalled due to safety concerns. The law firm of John K. Zaid & Associates, PLLC has recovered millions of dollars in damages for injured clients. If you have been injured while driving or riding in a Yamaha Rhino please protect your rights by contacting the personal injury law office of John K. Zaid & Associates, PLLC today for a free legal case review.
The Yamaha Rhino is a new type of off-road vehicle that has become popular in the last few years. The design of the Rhino provides side-by-side seating for two passengers, along with a utility box designed like a tiny pickup truck bed mounted behind the riders. The seating area is surrounded by a roll cage.
These new UTVs (Utility Terrain Vehicles) are built on a chassis that is longer than those found on a traditional ATV four-wheeler. The chassis remains narrow however, allowing for passage through tight spots. The center of gravity is higher than an ATV, and the wheels are relatively small. In the case of the Yamaha Rhino, these design characteristics have led to some serious problems with the vehicle’s performance. Specifically, the design causes the Rhino to tip over or rollover easily and provides minimal protection to its riders.
The Yamaha Rhino ATV is extremely unsafe because it rolls over even when operating at low speeds. Many of the Rhino rollover lawsuits involve turns at relatively low speeds and on level terrain. The alleged Rhino rollover hazard has been investigated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the federal agency that oversees product recalls. CPSC has advised consumers not to use certain Yamaha Rhino ATVs until they are repaired under a Yamaha Rhino recall program.
Many injuries and deaths have occurred due to the defective design of the Rhino. There are widespread reports of broken legs, particularly the tibia bone, which occur as a result of the vehicle rolling over due to its unsafe design. The Yamaha Rhino all terrain vehicle has been linked with many rollovers due to the following properties:
- The Yamaha Rhino is top heavy
- The Yamaha Rhino is narrow, and wider vehicles can be more stable
- The Yamaha Rhino has a high center of gravity
- The Yamaha Rhino has small tires, and small tires give the vehicle less of a platform for stability
- The Yamaha Rhino has a steel cage without safety padding
- The Yamaha Rhino has unsteady steering
COMMON INJURIES
- Broken Arm, Wrist or Hand.
- Broken Leg, Ankle or Feet.
- Crushed Arm, Wrist or Hand.
- Crushed Leg, Ankle or Feet.
- Amputation.
Federal statistics now indicate that the unregulated Rhino is responsible for more than 30 deaths and hundreds of serious injuries.
If you or a loved one were injured in a Yamaha Rhino ATV accident, please contact the law offices of John K. Zaid & Associates, PLLC now at 281- 333-8959 for a free consultation. You may call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reach us through our Web site by completing the brief contact a lawyer form.
