Yamaha's Rhino ATV (all terrain vehicle) has been responsible for hundreds of injuries and several deaths - many of the latter being children. Although Yamaha has yet to recall the vehicle, it is estimated that over 300 lawsuits are now pending in both federal and state courts.

Too many accidents

Consumer advocates say that Yamaha's Rhino has caused too many accidents since its introduction in 2003. Most of the lawsuits allege that Yamaha rushed the vehicle to market, that the Rhino has design defects, that Yamaha failed to warn consumers about the inherent dangers of the vehicle, that the company was negligent and that it breached implied warranties of merchantability. Many of these lawsuits seek both compensatory and punitive damages. But how do these allegations translate into everyday life?

Rollovers

The primary complaint about the earlier versions of the Rhino is that they rollover and cause severe injury or death. This is due to the vehicles high center of gravity, narrow design, small tires and lack of safety features. In many of the accidents reported, drivers and/or passengers were crushed after the vehicle rolled over - even when they were driving slowly and carefully. The lack of safety features such as doors and padding on safety bars doesn't help matters either - especially when children are involved.

Approximately a dozen children have already died as a result of a Yamaha Rhino rollover in which they were crushed to death. Although the manufacturer now places a sticker on the vehicle which states that anyone under 16 years of age should not ride in the vehicle, that "warning" is little too late for those children who have already died.

Yamaha is settling lawsuits

The company is reportedly settling lawsuits related to injuries and deaths. However, the amount of those settlements has been kept confidential. Many plaintiffs' attorneys have speculated that the company knows that it should have done more and that it likely rushed the product to market without thoroughly testing the vehicle. Since the later versions of the Rhino do include safety features, they say that the company is likely to settle those lawsuits brought against it for injuries and accidents relating to earlier versions that did not include the safety features.

If you've been injured due to the Yamaha Rhino, contact a products liability lawyer to discuss your situation. Consultations are free, without obligation and are strictly confidential.