Off-Road Vehicle Being Investigated For Safety
The Yamaha Rhino, a popular off-road vehicle, is being investigated for improper safety.
The two-seat UTV (Utility Terrain Vehicle), used primarily for trail riding, on farms, and for hunting, was recently featured in a front page article in the Wall Street Journal. It is reported that Yamaha is currently facing over 200 lawsuits in state and federal courts, and as many as 30 deaths have resulted from accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino in the U.S. alone.
The roughly $11,000 UTV has resulted in numerous injuries, especially in children, and even at safe speeds the four-wheel recreational vehicle is prone to rollover, often ejecting riders and trapping them under the weight of the vehicle.
Plaintiffs' lawyers say that the vehicle is too narrow and too tall which causes the vehicle to tip, while Yamaha defends that many of the complaints are due to improper operation, modifications such as taking off the "protective roll cage", and failure to wear a helmet or seat belt. There are currently no regulatory standards on UTV’s, which have a steering wheel, yet do not adhere to automobile safety requirements, and it’s not until after an injury is reported do lawmakers and regulators intervene.
In response to the injuries and resulting lawsuits, Yamaha has developed new doors and passenger handles to improve vehicle safety, and has issued warning stickers to all registered owners. Yamaha has volunteered to install the new doors and handles for free, regardless if the UTV was purchased new or used, and lists local dealers on their website for Rhino owners to contact: www.yamaha-motor.com.
For more information on the safety issues regarding the Yamaha Rhino, please visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission online at: www.cpsc.gov.
And if you’ve been injured in an accident while riding a Yamaha Rhino, contact the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein today. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries.
