Yamaha Rhino v. 2009 Honda Big Red

September 18th, 2008 Mike Evans

Popular Mechanics took Honda’s new Big Red side-by-side ATV for a test drive recently, and their article about the test drive contained some interesting comments about the Yamaha Rhino. Popular Mechanics believes Honda officials have been slow to enter the competitive side-by-side market because of legal issues that have plagued the competition. From reading the article, it appears that Honda’s caution has led them to design a vehicle that is far safer than the Rhino. We at the ATV Attorney Alliance have argued that the narrow wheelbase and high center-of-gravity of the Rhino make it prone to unexpected rollover accidents, causing horrific crush injuries to arms, legs and heads. We’ve also pointed out the lack of doors on early model Rhino side-by-sides makes it more likely that a person’s extremeties will be outside the vehicle during a rollover in a Rhino with no doors. Honda’s Big Red was apparently designed to avoid these problems. Popular Mechanics writes: “We conquered sloping grades, descended steep hills using all three drive modes, and articulated over uneven terrain—mostly at crawl speeds. Thanks to its 64-in. width (which is almost 10 in. wider than the Yamaha Rhino) and its low center of gravity, Big Red felt surprisingly stable during low-speed, off-camber maneuvers. Its ability to keep all four wheels on the ground exceeded our willingness to push its limits. Passengers don’t have a steering wheel to grab onto. So they can gain confidence from the three-point seatbelts and handholds.”

While the ultimate test of the Big Red’s safety can’t be determined until the vehicles are sold to consumers and used in the field, it appears that Honda went to great lengths to get the stability issue handled properly. Good for them. We at the ATV Attorney Alliance don’t believe ATVs should be taken off the market; we just believe they shouldn’t be sold with design defects that can cause life-ending or life-changing injuries during normal, foreseeable use of the product.

The ATV Attorney Alliance, with lawyers in most states, offers a free online case review service. If you were injured or lost a family member in an ATV accident involving a defective ATV (particularly a Yamaha Rhino rollover), please use our Free Case Review form to get a no-obligation review of your potential right to recover money from the manufacturer of the ATV. Or call attorney Phillip Jauregui at 800-509-5357 at no charge to discuss your potential lawsuit.

Posted in ATV accidents, ATV safety information, Honda, Rollover accidents, Yamaha Rhino ATV, Yamaha Rhino rollover | No Comments »

Oklahoma - One Honda ATV crashes twice in same day

July 15th, 2008 Mike Evans

An Ada Oklahoma Evening News article reports that two people wrecked the same Honda 4-wheeler within a five-hour span on July 14, 2008. Just after 12:00 a.m., a 2004 Honda four-wheeler driven by 14-year-old Gavin Saunders, Sulphur, failed to make a curve in the road, ran off the road and through a fence. Saunders was admitted to the hospital in serious but stable condition with neck and external injuries.

Five hours later the same ATV was involved in an accident when Jeremy Courtney, age 23, was driving the same four-wheeler on the same county road and failed to make a curve in the roadway, ran off the road and overturned. Courtney was admitted to the hospital in fair condition with head and internal injuries.

Posted in Honda | 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 »