The four wheeled Yamaha Rhino has been described by many as being defectively designed. This has caused drivers and passengers to sustain serious injuries and even death. Legal experts claim that Yamaha rushed the Rhino to market and failed to properly test the vehicle to make sure that drivers and passengers were safe.

What testing was required?

According to Cole Portis, an Alabama attorney whose firm represents those who have been injured by the Yamaha Rhino, Yamaha was required to do testing – but didn’t. He explained:

These vehicles aren’t really covered by any federal statute that requires testing. However, in terms of designing a vehicle like this, yes, Yamaha is required to do testing. One thing a designer must do is design out any and all hazards that are foreseeable and financially viable. In order to know what to design out, then Yamaha must understand what its vehicle is going to do in a real-world event, such as a rollover or a tip-over.

What testing did Yamaha perform?

Portis says that Yamaha has admitted that it did not do the kind of testing it needed to keep drivers and passengers safe. He told us:

There’s been a deposition taken of a Yamaha corporate representative and he admits that Yamaha didn’t do any dynamic testing to see what would happen to passengers in the event there was a rollover. By dynamic, I mean a real-world type of crash. After all, it’s got a high center of gravity and we know that the potential is there for it to rollover. Yamaha never asked what would happen to those who are inside that vehicle when it does rollover.

Certainly, there were some testing unrelated to injuries that were done on the vehicle in terms of how long this part is going to last or how long that part is going to last. However, in terms of doing a dynamic rollover or any sort of testing like that – nothing was done.

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.