ATV Attorney Alliance Blog » 2008

ATV Attorney Alliance uses Internet to make it easy for ATV accident victims to find lawyers

May 31st, 2008 Mike Evans

The ATV Attorney Alliance was created to provide outstanding legal representation to people who have been injured or lost family members in Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents, or in accidents involving other negligently designed or manufactured ATVs. The ATV Attorney Alliance includes lawyers licensed to practice law in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

ATVs are often used in rural areas, far from the litigation firms that normally handle serious injury and death cases. Now, thanks to the Internet, there is no reason anyone should be unable to find highly-qualified, experienced lawyers with the resources to handle a hard-fought lawsuit against large corporations. If an ATV accident has you looking for litigation attorneys, we offer you a legal team with lawyers that have litigated cases nationwide, plus a local attorney to serve as your local counsel and advise our litigation attorneys on issues that may be unique to your state.

You can submit your possible Yamaha Rhino lawsuit or other ATV lawsuit for a free, no-obligation case review by using our Free ATV Lawsuit Review Form. Keep up-to-date on Yamaha Rhino and other ATV news at our ATV Attorney Alliance blog. Or click on our Yamaha Rhino ATV page to read more about the rollover-prone Rhino.

The ATV Attorney Alliance was formed by the same law firms that organized the Mesothelioma Attorney Alliance. If you’re interested in keeping up with asbestos litigation, or developments related to asbestos-caused diseases, you can check out mesothelioma news at the Mesothelioma Attorney Alliance blog.

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2 Missouri teens die in ATV accidents, hospital starts ATV safety program

May 30th, 2008 Mike Evans

Two teenage boys died in separate, tragic ATV accidents this week. According to an article on KSDK TV’s website, searchers in Gasconade County on Tuesday found the body of 15-year-old Daniel Dorsey, who had been thrown from an ATV. The next day, 15-year-old Zachary Barker was killed in an ATV accident when his ATV collided with a car. KSDK states:

” At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, ATV accidents rank as one of the top ten reasons kids are admitted. There were 45 children admitted in 2006. That number grew the following year, with 55 children being admitted for ATV accidents. In 2008, there have been 18 ATV injuries to date.

“The extent of injuries we’ve had have been extensive: lots of head injuries, lots of bad orthopedic injuries and unfortunately kids are dying,” said Diana Kraus, manager of trauma services at Children’s Hospital.

And so they’ve created a new program called “Survive the Ride,” designed to get the word out about ATV safety. The program will involve community outreach, targeting kids between the ages of 10 and 16.”

If a child is going to ride an adult-size ATV, it’s a good idea to give them safety training and proper safety equipment. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC”), at ATVSafety.gov however, says “It is also very important for everyone to know that children under 16, should never ride an adult-size ATV. The CPSC also says at ATVSafety.gov that: “From preliminary news reports, CPSC staff is aware of at least 15 deaths from 05/12/2008 to 05/22/2008, 7 of which involved youths under 16.”

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Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents kill 2 on same day at same California park

May 30th, 2008 Mike Evans

In an excellent article published today, the story is told of 2 riders who died within hours of each other after being involved in 2 separate Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents at the same California park. According to the article:

“[A] seat belt did not help one of two people killed in February, in two separate accidents within minutes of each other at the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area in California. Stephanie Ann Katin, 26, was killed after she was partially ejected from a rented Yamaha Rhino piloted by her husband. Both riders were wearing seat belts, but the restraint did nothing to help Katin. Her husband was not injured.

A mere 90 minutes later, in a second crash, a 14-year-old boy was killed at the same recreation area after he was ejected from the Yamaha Rhino ATV in which he was a passenger, and the roll cage of the vehicle landed on top of him. The accident happened after the driver’s boot became lodged under the brake pedal, putting pressure on the accelerator. The Rhino picked up speed as the driver struggled in vain to free his foot, sending the vehicle over a sand dune, where it landed on its front bumper and ejected the 14-year-old passenger. Richard Erl Masse died from head injuries in hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt.

However, Stephanie Katin was. And there have been numerous instances where operators and their passengers have done all the right things. They have worn the harnesses, and worn the helmets, and have still suffered horrible injuries when an alleged top-heavy design, with narrow tires and a high center of gravity, has contributed to rollovers at relatively low speeds, and on flat surfaces. Legs and arms have been crushed in vehicles that were sold without doors, or with doors that are allegedly of insufficient size to prove effective in keeping limbs inside the cabin.”

Here’s a link to the full article.

The Yamaha Rhino is a dangerous vehicle which can quickly turn a day of recreation into a lifetime of regret. For more information about Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents, visit our Yamaha Rhino Rollover Accident page. If you’ve suffered serious injuries or lost a family member in a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident, you can obtain a free review of your potential Yamaha Rhino lawsuit by using the ATV Attorney Alliance’s Free ATV Lawsuit Review Form.

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Texas man injured in Yamaha Rhino ATV accident files lawsuit against Yamaha

May 28th, 2008 Mike Evans

A Southeast Texas Legal Journal article reports that Bossier City resident Ryan Rogers was injured in a Yamaha Rhino accident while he was riding as a passenger in the Rhino. According to the lawsuit, the Yamaha Rhino was traveling on relatively flat land when it rolled toward the passenger side, injuring Rogers. The lawsuit alleges that the Yamaha Rhino was unreasonably dangerous. This is just one of many such lawsuits filed against the accident-prone Yamaha Rhino.

If you were injured or your family member was injured or killed in a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident, please use our Free ATV Lawsuit Review Form to have your potential Rhino lawsuit reviewed by a lawyer of the ATV Attorney Alliance (a coalition of lawyers from across the U.S.) Read the rest of this entry »

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Yamaha Rhino ATV accident claims life of Kentucky girl

May 28th, 2008 Mike Evans

An Appalachian News-Express article reports two deaths from ATV accidents over the weekend. A 12-year-old girl was riding a Yamaha Rhino with a 13-year-old boy when the ATV became stuck in the gravel on the railroad tracks. The girl and boy were trying to free the vehicle when it went into a nearby creek on top of them.

In an unrelated accident, a 17-year-old Floyd County girl was riding as a passenger with a 17-year-old boy on an ATV which is not identified in the news article. The ATV on which the two were riding hit a bump in the road and overturned, killing the girl.

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Texas teen overcomes major injuries in Yamaha Rhino rollover accident

May 27th, 2008 Mike Evans

An article posted on amarillo.com today tells the inspiring story of 17-year-old Tyler Baker, who is graduating from high school a year ahead of schedule. He accomplished this in spite of horrific injuries suffered in March 2005 in an accident on his Yahama Rhino ATV. The article states:

“Baker took a curve apparently too fast for the conditions, causing the 1,200-pound Yamaha Rhino to fall on its side. Baker’s leg was trapped underneath as the vehicle skidded 40 feet.

“It basically severed off my lower leg,” Baker said. “The only thing holding it on was a piece of skin.”

Baker was airlifted to an Amarillo hospital, where he and his parents, James and Suzanne, were told about the only thing that could be done was to amputate. The Bakers weren’t accepting that opinion, and Tyler was flown to University Medical Center in Lubbock.

Baker was at UMC for 21 days. He underwent muscle grafts, skin grafts and artery grafts. He had two inches of bone in his leg removed and two plates and 12 screws inserted. His leg was saved.

The recovery, though, was just beginning as Baker went from wheelchair to crutches to physical therapy to the hospital and back again. In all, Baker endured 13 surgeries, which includes one a little more than a year ago when he ruptured a disc in his back when he fell while on crutches.

Although the article says “Baker took a curve apparently too fast for the conditions,” the sad truth is that Baker had no warning in 2005 that Yamaha Rhinos could roll over on flat ground at speeds as low as 11 miles per hour. If you check out the unsafe history of the Yamaha Rhino ATV, you will see that it was not until September 2006 that Yamaha began to acknowledge the problems that were occurring in Rhino rollover accidents. The September 2006 letter warned Rhino owners: “if you are in a situation where the vehicle is tipping over, do not put your arm or leg outside the vehicle to try to stop it. You could be severely injured. You could suffer a crushed hard, arm, leg, or foot, if part of your body is caught underneath the vehicle.” Almost a year later, in July 2007, Yamaha updated the Rhno owner’s manual to say “Abrupt maneuvers or aggressive driving, even on flat, open areas, can cause loss of control, including rollovers.” Unfortunately, these warnings came too late for Tyler Baker.

Tyler Baker’s story is both a tribute to his courage and determination, and a warning to others about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino.

For more information about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino ATV, and legal remedies available to victims of Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents, visit the Yamaha Rhino page provided by the ATV Attorney Alliance.

Posted in Rollover accidents, Yamaha Rhino ATV | No Comments »

It’s Memorial Day weekend - Be careful on those ATVs

May 23rd, 2008 Mike Evans

With a long holiday weekend upon us, many will be pulling their ATVs out of storage to have some fun outdoors. While ATVs can be fun, it’s important to remember to play safe, because an ATV accident can cause serious permanent or life-ending injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 555 deaths from ATV accidents last year, with another 146,600 treated in hospital emergency rooms due to ATV accidents. To help protect against accidents, the CPSC has these safety tips:

Get trained
Wear a helmet
No children on adult ATVs
Don’t ride tandem
Don’t ride on pavement
Don’t ride under the influence

More safety information can be found at the CPSC’s ATVSafety.gov.

The attorneys of the ATV Attorney Alliance have another word of caution for people who plan to ride on a Yamaha Rhino ATV. Rhinos have a narrow wheelbase so they will fit on the back of a pickup, and they have a relatively high clearance from the ground so they can avoid getting stuck. While those things may sound good, it is actually a negligent way to design the ATV because these things combine to give the Yamaha Rhino a high center-of-gravity which makes it very easy to roll over. Yamaha has admitted that Rhinos will rollover on flat, level ground at the speed of only 11 miles per hour if the driver makes a sharp turn. The safest course of action is to avoid using the Yamaha Rhino. The second safest option is to be careful not to drive the Rhino at high speeds, don’t make sharp turns, and don’t try to climb or ride around even moderately steep hills. If you own a pre-2008 Rhino that doesn’t have sides, take it to a dealer and get them to install side doors to help keep passengers’ body parts inside the Rhino in case there is a rollover accident. Use seat belts and safety helmets. And if you find yourself involved in an ATV that is tipping or rolling over, do the best you can to keep your hands, arms, legs and the rest of your body inside the ATV. Some people have had to have amputations after having an ATV roll on top of their arms and legs.

For the skeptics out there who wonder about the tendency of the Yamaha Rhino to roll over, we suggest you visit YouTube.com and run a search for “Rhino rollover”. Here’s a sample of what you will find:

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Are lawsuits helping make Yamaha Rhinos ATVs safer?

May 21st, 2008 Mike Evans

According to this article in the Montreal Gazette, “ATVs have adapted to safety concerns.” The article says manufacturers have heard complaints about the ATVs (noise, rut marks, and concerns over safety), and “in the last few years, the design and use of ATVs has evolved, providing a more family-friendly and safe environment.”

One example of manufacturers’ concern for safety that the article cites is “Yamaha’s Rhino 700 includes seatbelts and a cage around the passengers for additional safety.” How about that? After having multiple deaths and serious crushing injuries, the nice people at Yamaha are now providing a cage around passengers for additional safety. I wonder whether Yamaha would be spending money on improving safety if it weren’t for the multitude of Yamaha Rhino lawsuits that have been filed by injured people and others who have lost family members to death in a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident

Unfortunately, Yamaha did not exhibit this concern for safety in previous years, when it sold Rhinos without side doors to protect occupants from having their arms, legs and spinal cords crushed in rollover accidents. The article also fails to mention the narrow wheel base and high center-of-gravity that makes Yamaha Rhino ATVs particularly prone to tip over. We at the ATV Attorney Alliance continue to call on Yamaha to recall Rhinos to make changes that will make them reasonable safe for people to use. We also call upon Yamaha to modify the design to eliminate the narrow wheel-base, high center-or-gravity design that makes Yamaha Rhino ATVs prone to rollover accidents when people are driving as slow as eleven miles per hour on level ground.

If you or someone in your family has been injured in a Yamaha Rhino ATV accident or other accident caused by a defectively designed ATV, or you have lost a member of your family due to such an accident, you can use our free ATV lawsuit review form to get a no-obligation review of your potential lawsuit by lawyers of the ATV Attorney Alliance.

Posted in Yamaha Rhino ATV | No Comments »

Arizona teenager dies in Yamaha Rhino ATV rollover accident

May 17th, 2008 Mike Evans

A Yamaha Rhino ATV claimed another life May 16, 2008 when a 15-year-old Arizona boy died of injuries suffered in a rollover accident. According to AZFamily.com “Maricopa County Sheriff’s Investigators said the boy was among four teens riding on the small four-wheeled vehicle called a Rhino when it overturned near 102nd Avenue and Jomax Road at about 4:00pm.”

This tragedy is the latest in a long list of Rhino accidents in which people have been killed or injured in Rhino rollovers. The ATV Attorney Alliance calls on Yamaha Motor Corp. to recall the Rhinos to remedy the defective design that creates a propensity for the Rhino to roll over. Click here for an explanation of the unsafe history of the Yamaha Rhino.

Posted in Rollover accidents, Yamaha Rhino ATV | No Comments »

Polaris ATV rollover accident injures spinal cord of Indiana man

May 17th, 2008 Mike Evans

An Indiana man is paralyzed from his waist down after having a rollover accident in his Polaris 700 Sportsman all terrain vehicle. According to the Martinsville & Morgan County Reporter-Times, Steffan Paris was riding his 4-wheeler when it flipped on or rolled over on him on May 4, 2008. The Reporter-Times writes: “His wife said that doctors told her his back was broken and there were bone fragments in his spinal cord. “After surgery, doctors said they found that his spinal cord was shredded,” his wife said.”

Tragedies such as this are a good reason to use extreme caution if a person chooses to ride an ATV. Important information about ATV safety can be found at the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATV Safety website. According to the website, the CPSC is aware of at least 13 deaths from April 14 through April 23, at least 4 of which involved young people.

Posted in Polaris, Rollover accidents | No Comments »

Yamaha Rhino ATV videos show how easily Rhinos rollover

May 14th, 2008 Mike Evans

YouTube has some revealing video clips showing how the Rhino’s high center-of-gravity makes it easy to have a rollover accident in a Yamaha Rhino. We don’t recommend that you try this at home (in fact, we don’t recommend driving Yamaha Rhinos). Check out these videos:

Posted in Yamaha Rhino ATV | No Comments »

Honda recalls 1,400 ATVs due to loss of steering control

May 13th, 2008 Mike Evans

Honda recently announced a recall of 2008 Honda TRX500 ATVs due to a defect in the steering shaft. According to the announcement by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), “The electric power steering shaft of the recalled ATVs could break unexpectedly, resulting in the rider’s losing steering control. This poses a risk of injury or death to riders.” Although no injuries have been reported to the CPSC at this time, consumers are advised to stop using the ATVs immediately and contact any Honda dealer to make necessary repairs.

This atv recall follows closely on the heels of a March 25, 2008 recall of 2008 Yamaha Rhino ATVs due to a brake defect, and a March 4, 2008 recall of Polaris “Outlaw IRS” ATVs, Model Years 2006-2008. Click here for a more comprehensive list of ATV recalls. If you have been injured or have had a family member injured or killed in an accident caused by a defective ATV, you can obtain a no-obligation review of your potential lawsuit by using our Free ATV Accident Case Review Form.

Posted in ATV recalls, Honda | No Comments »

Yamaha Rhino ATV aftermarket kits may improve safety

May 13th, 2008 Mike Evans

One of the main problems with the Yamaha Rhino is the danger of rollover accidents caused by the Rhino’s narrow wheel-base and high center-of-gravity. A new Yamaha Rhino can have a rollover accident on flat ground at speeds as low as 12 miles per hour. Now some companies are offering products that increase the Yamaha Rhino’s stability. And even ATV enthusiasts are taking note of the Rhino’s instability. One such site (www.off-roadweb.com) recently posted a review of a Bolt-On Long-Travel Kit for the Yamaha Rhino. Here are a couple of quotes about the travel kit’s effect on the Rhino’s stability:

“The difference between the two was amazing, and we cannot properly express to you how much a Rhino actually needs a long-travel kit until you experience it for yourself.”

“With a foot more of track width, this Rhino was definitely more stable than a stock one. We were able to take some pretty harsh slides without feeling like we were going over. Again, we cannot say the same for the stock one.”

If you have been injured, or your family member has been injured or killed in a Yamaha Rhino rollover accident, you can get a free review of your potential lawsuit by contacting the attorneys of the ATV Attorney Alliance, a national coalition of law firms making legal representation available to victims of ATV accidents wherever they may live.

Posted in Yamaha Rhino ATV | No Comments »

11-year-old girl seriously hurt ATV rollover

May 12th, 2008 Mike Evans

According to Fox 11 News in Tucson, an 11-year-old girl suffered serious injuries when the ATV she was riding in with two siblings rolled over on April 29, 2008.

Every year, more than 500 people are killed, and over 140,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries suffered in ATV accidents. Information about the safe use of ATVs can be found at the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATV Safety website.

Posted in Rollover accidents | No Comments »

ATV Attorney Alliance uses Internet to make it easy for ATV accident victims to find lawyers

More Yamaha Rhino rollover videos show dangers of the ATV

2 Missouri teens die in ATV accidents, hospital starts ATV safety program

Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents kill 2 on same day at same California park

Texas man injured in Yamaha Rhino ATV accident files lawsuit against Yamaha

Yamaha Rhino ATV accident claims life of Kentucky girl

Texas teen overcomes major injuries in Yamaha Rhino rollover accident

For more information about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino ATV, and legal remedies available to victims of Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents, visit the Yamaha Rhino page provided by the ATV Attorney Alliance.

It’s Memorial Day weekend - Be careful on those ATVs

Are lawsuits helping make Yamaha Rhinos ATVs safer?

Arizona teenager dies in Yamaha Rhino ATV rollover accident

Polaris ATV rollover accident injures spinal cord of Indiana man

Yamaha Rhino ATV videos show how easily Rhinos rollover

Honda recalls 1,400 ATVs due to loss of steering control

Yamaha Rhino ATV aftermarket kits may improve safety

11-year-old girl seriously hurt ATV rollover

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