October 22nd, 2008 Mike Evans
Yamaha Rhino rollover causes deaths of two 11-year-olds
Lewisburg, MS - The commercialappeal.com reports that two sixth-graders were killed when the Yamaha Rhino ATV upon which they were riding flipped as it went off the pavement last Saturday. Data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (”CPSC), a govenrment agency that monitors ATV safety, reported there were 80 ATV-related deaths in Mississippi for children under 16 from 1982-2002, an average of four per year. A total of 237 ATV deaths were reported from 1982-2006 in Mississippi.
Yamaha was first to market an ATV with side-by-side seats, so that two people could ride instead of one. (For this reason, the Yamaha Rhino is sometimes referred to as a side-by-side or UTV). These vehicles proved very popular, and other manufacturers later entered the market. Unfortunately, the Rhino was not as stable as some of its competitors. It has a narrow wheelbase and a high center-of-gravity that makes in prone to rollovers under circumstances that would not cause a rollover in some other vehicles. Making matters worse was the fact that the 2004-2007 model Yamaha Rhino side-by-side did not have doors, so there was nothing to keep a riders’ arms or legs inside the vehicle if the Rhino flipped over.
In 2007, Yamaha offered to install doors and handholds to try to keep passengers inside the 2004-2007 model Yamaha Rhinos when they rollover. Yamaha admitted in a guide on the Yamaha website that “Doing things with a Rhino that some people do for thrills in other vehicles (such as sideways sliding, skidding, fishtailing, or donuts) have led to side rollovers. These rollovers can result in crushed limbs and other serious injuries or death to drivers or passengers.”
Yamaha has failed to recall the Rhino to remedy the stability problems, and the number of Rhino victims continues to grow. Although riding an ATV or UTV can be a fun activitiy if drivers follow safety rules and ride a safe vehicle, the ATV Attorney Alliance again calls on Yamaha to recall the Rhino to remedy its dangerous instability that has injured and killed so many people.
The Yamaha Rhino Rollover page at the ATV Attorney Alliance has more information about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino. If you or a family member have been injured in a Yamaha Rhino rollover, you can use a form on the Yamaha Rhino Rollover page to obtain a free evaluation of your potential lawsuit. For information about ATV and UTV safety, please visit www.ATVSafety.gov. You can also use the following form to file a complaint with the CPSC about a Yamaha Rhino rollover.
Posted in ATV accidents, ATV safety information, Rollover accidents, Yamaha Rhino ATV, Yamaha Rhino accident, Yamaha Rhino attorney, Yamaha Rhino lawyer, Yamaha Rhino recall, Yamaha Rhino rollover | No Comments »
