Yamaha Rhino: Injuries, Deaths & Lawsuits Continue

Yamaha Rhino Injuries Deaths Lawsuits Defective Products

Riders of Yamaha’s Rhino, known as a utility terrain vehicle (or UTV) continue to be injured and die while riding in the vehicle – and many of those victims are children who become pinned underneath it when it rolls over. The Rhino’s high center of gravity and narrow wheel base are generally the cause of accidents – and lawsuits against the company continue to be filed.
Defective & unreasonably dangerous product
Those are the terms generally used to describe Yamaha’s Rhino, a four wheel utility terrain vehicle that has been on the market for over five years. While newer versions of the Rhino come with improved safety features, older models did nothing to keep the driver or passengers inside the vehicle when it rolled over. As a result, many riders have either been thrown from the vehicle or have gotten pinned underneath it – generally at very low rates of speed.
New injuries, deaths & lawsuits continue
There have been hundreds of injuries and numerous deaths linked to the Yamaha Rhino and many of those involve children – the latest being a Texas boy who was killed when the Rhino he was riding in rolled over.
Although the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is investigating the matter, lawsuits against Yamaha continue. In fact, a motion to consolidate lawsuits against Yamaha was filed in December 2008. The lawsuits generally allege that Yamaha was negligent for failing to exercise reasonable care for the safety of plaintiffs by negligently designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling the vehicle without the necessary safety features, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, fraud, concealment and misrepresentation. They generally seek damages for medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, mental anguish and punitive damages.
If you’ve been injured due to the Yamaha Rhino, contact an experienced products liability attorney who understands the issues concerning this dangerous vehicle to discuss your situation and evaluate your options. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.