Yamaha Rhino ATV Lawsuit

Serious injury or death caused by Unstable Rhino ATV Rollover

On March 31, 2009, the Consumer Product Safety Commission “CPSC” issued a public safety notice for certain Yamaha Rhino models due to injuries and deaths due to their being prone to rollovers the CPSC has urged consumers to stop riding the Yamaha Rhino until modifications are made including adding spacers on the rear wheels, half doors, and additional handholds. We applaud the move of the CPSC and Yamaha’s decision to suspend sales of its Rhino off-road vehicles, particularly models #660 and #700.

Remember, the four wheel Rhino manufactured by Yamaha became a very successful Utility Touring Vehicle (UTV) throughout Canada and the United States. Yamaha also makes a Quad Yamaha ATV. The problem is people are getting killed in Rhino rollovers, particularly in recreation areas. Our law firm has multiple cases from the Imperial Sand Dunes located in Glamis in Imperial County in Southern California. Our clients' legs and arms are being crushed and passengers are being killed. Unfortunately, many injuries are to teenagers and kids.

Yamaha recalls off-road vehicle after 46 deaths (PDF).

2009 Rhino News

There have been reports of over 30 deaths involving the Rhino. Our Rhino team of lawyers are ready to prove that the Rhino's design is unsafe and that the vehicle is inherently dangerous. There are currently in excess of 200 filed Rhino lawsuits in various state and federal courts.

Unfortunately, there was and are no federal regulatory standards for an off-road vehicle such as a Rhino- a Utility Terrain Vehicle or (UTV). As a result, these UTVs are not subject to any safety standards such as, doors, frames, steering wheel, handle bars, etc.

As a result, the Rhino being produced with no standards unfortunately is a substantial risk of injury and death to its passengers.

The first Rhino came out in 2003 as a two-seat vehicle apparently aimed to be a cross between a golf cart and an all-terrain vehicle. The purpose was to offer aging and baby-boomer ATV owners an ATV experience, but with more of the comfort of a golf-cart or a small luxury car.

Only this year, have doors become standard equipment on the new Rhino models. The Rhino's dangerousness is due to important design factors such as the narrowness and the height, which raises the likelihood of it flipping or tipping over.

We are preparing injury lawsuits filed against Yamaha. We are Yamaha lawyers. As Yamaha lawyers we have the experts to prove that the Rhino design includes many design flaws making it unstable and likely to tip and roll even during the most shallow low speed turn. The design includes a defective top heavy weight differential which causes a higher center of gravity combined with the narrowness of the vehicle. This makes the Rhino rollover easily.

As Yamaha Rhino accident lawyers and Rhino injury lawyers and Rhino lawyers we will leave no stone unturned in order to protect Rhino victims against Yamaha.

We have experts including vehicle experts who have reviewed the specifications of the design manufacturing height and stability of the Yamaha Rhino.

We believe and we intend to prove that Yamaha knew that the vehicle was dangerous as injury reports came in soon after the product was sold.
Yamaha has refused to recall any Rhino models to date or redesign the Rhino.

Most of the injuries have occurred from Rhino models 660 and 450.

We will do whatever it takes to succeed.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Yamaha Rhino please click here to contact a Nadrich & Cohen attorney or call toll free at 1-800-718-4658 to speak with a Rhino specialist. You can also complete the e-mail inquiry to the right.

Our Rhino defective product lawyers have represented countless people injured by defective products such as the Rhino rollover. Our Rhino co-counsel tried a defective product case against General Motors and obtained a $4.9 billion judgment against General Motors. If you or a loved one suffered serious injury because of the Yamaha Rhino please call us immediately. You will speak with an experienced Yamaha Rhino rollover accident injury attorney.

Yamaha Rhino ATVs may contain design defects making the vehicle dangerously unstable. There have been many reports of the ATV rolling over and passengers inside getting seriously injured.

Yamaha Rhino Rollover Danger.

Several injuries have been reported while using Yamaha Rhino ATVs. The injuries typically are broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet. Passengers have also broken their arm while trying to break the crash of their rollover. In some cases, the injuries were so severe as to require amputation. Children have been crushed to death in Rhino accidents.

In 2006, Yamaha issued safety warnings for its Rhino ATV customers regarding seat belt and helmet precautions. The company also stated that turning too fast increased the risk of tipping the ATVs over.

In 2007 Yamaha offered to its Rhino ATV customers new doors and new passenger handholds. It offered to install these new items to prevent riders from sticking out arms or legs during rollover accidents. The offer was for 2004 to 2007 Yamaha Rhino ATVs.

ATV Vehicles

The term ATV refers to All Terrain Vehicles. ATV 4 Wheelers are not toys and can be dangerous.  These 4-Wheeler or ATVs can reach speeds of over 60 miles per hour and can weigh over 1000 pounds. ATVs have become popular for work and recreation on farms and ranches. Unfortunately, hundreds of ATV accidents occur each year causing serious injuries and/or death. Most, if not all ATV rollover injuries and deaths can be blamed on at least in part, on unstable design or high center of gravity issues.

If you or a family member has been injured or killed while operating or as a passenger of an ATV please call the Rhino ATV Lawyers of the National firm of Nadrich & Cohen.  We are representing Rhino ATV claims from coast to coast.  Put strength on your side. Call us toll free at 1-800-862-1260.

Rhino ATV - Manufactured by Yamaha

The Yamaha Rhino is rolling-over and killing and/or seriously injuring individuals at an alarming rate.  In 2003 Yamaha introduced the Yamaha Rhino 660. The Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents have caused numerous serious leg crush type injuries including several that needed multiple surgeries, skin grafts, muscle flap surgeries, and even amputation.  If you or a family member have been injured or killed while operating or as a passenger of a RHINO call Nadrich & Cohen we can help.

The Rhino has a high center of gravity and can be deadly. The high center of gravity of the Rhino, due in part to a narrow wheelbase and powerful engine makes it top heavy and dangerous. When a Rhino starts to roll over, the occupant's leg will involuntarily eject from the vehicle during a rollover accident due to gravity and momentum due to the lack of a footwell or a door to help hold one’s foot inside. When a passenger’s or driver’s foot / leg gets caught outside the “ATV” it is often crushed by the weight and force of the vehicle and is trapped between the ATV and the ground.  If you or a family member have been injured or killed while operating or as a passenger of a RHINO call our Law Firm, we can help. Call us toll free at 1-800-718-4658.

Rhino 660 Side by Side "ATV"

The Rhino 660 is a “side-by-side” off road utility class "ATV."

The Rhino is similar to the Polaris Ranger, Kawasaki Mule and John Deere Gator. The Rhino 660 has independent rear suspension and 12-inch ground clearance. The power train is used from the Grizzly 660 ATV, including the high/low-range automatic transmission with push-button 2WD, 4WD and 4WD-lock options. The rear bed dumps and can carry 400 pounds. The Rhino is 54.5 inches wide, so it exceeds the 48-inch maximum enforced on many public trails and will not be classified as an ATV.

Yamaha Rhino Safety Alert

Yamaha announced a SAFETY ALERT to the owners of all Yamaha Rhino in September of 2006.  The Alert read as follows:
While the Rhino has been a reliable and versatile vehicle, some operators have engaged in aggressive driving (such as sliding, skidding, fishtailing, or doing donuts) or made abrupt maneuvers (such as turning the steering wheel too far or too fast) that have resulted in side rollovers - even on flat, open areas. Unfortunately, some occupants have been seriously injured during such rollovers when they put their arms or legs outside the vehicle, resulting in crushing or other injuries. Special Offer to Rhino Owners -Yamaha has developed new doors and additional passenger handholds for the Rhino. These new features, as shown in the pictures below, are designed to help keep occupants from sticking arms or legs out of the vehicle in response to a side rollover. They may also enhance passenger stability and comfort. Yamaha recommends that Rhino owners have these doors and handholds installed on their Rhino vehicles..."

We believe Yamaha knew that the Rhino was rolling over at an alarming rate in testing and early sales.