The Yamaha Rhino doesn’t come equipped with doors and passenger handholds in its 2004 – 2007 models. The lack of these important safety features has caused drivers and passengers, some of which are children, to be severely injured – which is the reason that many believe the Yamaha Rhino is simply too dangerous.

Sometimes an offer is just not good enough

Yamaha offered to provide doors and handholds to owners of 2004 – 2007 Rhinos. However, according to Cole Portis, an Alabama attorney whose firm represents those who have been injured by the Yamaha Rhino, sometimes an offer is just not good enough. He explained:

There are basically three engines on the Yamaha Rhino – a 450, a 660 and a 700. In the last year or two, Yamaha developed some doors and some passenger handholds for the Rhino which they offered to owners of 2004-2007 models free of charge. However, it didn’t admit that its design was defective.

Yamaha offered these parts in order to help people in the Rhino keep their limbs inside of it during a rollover. But what Yamaha didn’t do is admit that the core design of the Rhino is defective and it didn’t address the rollover issue. Yamaha must do more than just offer these safety options after the Rhino’s are sold. These vehicles need to be properly designed because many people aren’t going to be aware or take advantage of Yamaha’s offers and injuries will continue.

Children have higher risks of injury

Portis says that children are more likely to be thrown from the vehicle than adults. He told us, “I have read about cases that are filed where the vehicle has tipped over on top of these children and killed them. So, you’re not just talking about lower extremity and upper extremity injuries on adults. You’re talking about children dying. You’re talking about amputations and someone’s life just being impacted forever.”

Why wasn’t there a recall?

That’s a question to which many Rhino owners would like an answer. Portis says clients have no idea that the Rhino is dangerous – until something happens. He explained:

It’s interesting because a client will come in and say, ‘You’re not going to believe what happened. My Rhino tipped over and I’ve got multiple fractures and I’ve been out of work for six months.’ When I explain the safety history on the Rhino, my clients tell me that they wish they had known. The reality is that Yamaha does, in fact, know and it must be more aggressive with considering the safety of its customers than it is.

The truth of the matter is that Yamaha never instituted an official recall. Portis says, “Supposedly, Yamaha sent Rhino owners a letter saying that it will supply these doors and handholds free of charge. Unfortunately, a lot of folks aren’t going to be proactive because they don’t see the danger that’s there. Obviously, there’s no danger until the vehicle rolls over.”

If you’ve been injured due to the Yamaha Rhino, contact an attorney whose practice focuses in this area of the law. Consultations with a qualified attorney are strictly confidential, free and without obligation. To contact an attorney about your situation, please click here. We may be able to help.