Yamaha Rhino rollover warning

November 27th, 2008 Mike Evans

A Yamaha Rhino rollover can change a life forever.

It’s Thanksgiving day, and a lot of you will have Friday off, giving many people a long weekend. If you’re one of those people who enjoys riding ATVs or UTVs, we want to issue a special caution about riding Yamaha Rhinos. As we’ve said before, the Rhino has a high center-of-gravity and a narrow wheelbase, which makes it especially prone to rollover accidents, even on level ground. Yamaha was first-to-market with a side-by-side UTV, and acted  as if they were safe until August 23, 2007, when Yamaha finally issued a press release, saying: “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.” A month later (September 2007), Yamaha issued a new guide for owners of 2004-2007 Yamaha Rhinos which said: “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.” One wonders why it took Yamaha over 4 years to admit that Rhinos roll over easily and can crush hands, legs and cause death. We here at the ATV Attorney Alliance wonder why Yamaha hasn’t recalled the Rhino to remedy the problems that lead to rollovers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has launched an investigation into the Yamaha Rhino. This follows 30 deaths, including the deaths of two young girls last month. The Yamaha Rhino is also the subject of at least 200 lawsuits involving Rhino rollovers. The Journal reports that Yamaha has settled some lawsuits but recently beefed up its defense and says it may start to fight rather than settle. The Journal reports that there are currently no legal regulations governing side-by-side vehicles, such as the Yamaha Rhino. One possible outcome of the CPSC investigation is that safety regulations may be handed down by the CPSC.

The CPSC is dependent upon incident reports from consumers and manufacturers to investigate the safety of a product. If you or your family member have been injured or died in a Yamaha rollover, please fill out the CPSC’s Consumer Product Incident Report. For information about the safe use of ATVs, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATVSafety.gov. Although the CPSC’s rules on ATVs do not cover side-by-side vehicles such as the Yamaha Rhino, the CPSC’s recommendation are a good place to start looking for advice on safe use of an off-the-road vehicle.

We at the ATV Attorney Alliance want to suggest that you avoid riding or allowing your children to ride a Yamaha Rhino. As we have done before, we call on Yamaha to recall the Rhino to remedy it’s dangerous stability problems.

You can watch a video explaining the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino at www.ATVAttorneyAlliance.com. You can read more about the dangers, and Yamaha’s delay in dealing with those dangers, at the ATV Alliance’s Yamaha Rhino page. learn more about the dangers and the history of the Yamaha Rhino at the American Attorney Alliance’s Yamaha Rhino page. If you have been injured lost a family member in a Yamaha rollover, you can fill out a form to obtain a free, no-obligation review of your potential Yamaha Rhino lawsuit, or you can call and speak with at attorney free-of-charge at 1-800-509-5357.

The ATV Attorney Alliance was created to provide top-quality 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.

Posted in ATV accidents, ATV recalls, ATV safety information, Rollover accidents, Yamaha Rhino ATV, Yamaha Rhino accident, Yamaha Rhino attorney, Yamaha Rhino lawsuits, Yamaha Rhino lawyer, Yamaha Rhino recall, Yamaha Rhino rollover | No Comments »

Yamaha Rhino rollover kills two Mississippi girls

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 »

Yamaha Rhino rollover kills 29-year-old man

October 6th, 2008 Mike Evans

The Edmonton Sun reports that a Yamaha Rhino flipped last Saturday, killiing its 29-year-old passenger.

The Yamaha Rhino has a narrow wheelbase and high center-of-gravity, making it very prone to roll over. Hundreds of Yamaha Rhino riders have been injured or killed since the unstable Rhino was first placed on the market.

For more information about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino, visit the ATV Attorney Alliance’s Yamaha Rhino Rollover page. If you or someone in your family has suffered injuries or death due to a Yamaha Rhino rollover, you can use our free Yamaha Rhino lawsuit review service to obtain a no-obligation review of your potential lawsuit.

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

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 »

Yamaha Rhino rollover seriously injures two California teens

September 4th, 2008 Mike Evans

Livermore, California - Two California teenagers were seriously injured in a Yamaha Rhino rollover Saturday afternoon, according to the Amador Ledger-Dispatch. The 17-year-old driver and his 17-year-old passenger were looking for an afternoon of fun when they went for a ride on a 2007 Yamaha Rhino. When the driver attempted to make a sharp turn, the Yamaha Rhino ATV rolled over on its side. The driver sustained major injuries to his neck and face and was flown to Sutter Roseville Medical Center in Roseville, CA. His passenger sustained trauma to her neck and right arm, and was flown to Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael, CA. Initial reports indicated that neither person was wearing a seat belt or helmet at the time of the accident.

The Yamaha Rhino ATV has a long history of causing serious injuries and deaths in rollover accidents. The Rhino has a narrow wheelbase and high center-of-gravity that makes it especially prone to rollover. In an online Rhino Guide Supplement, Yamaha has admitted 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.”

For more information about the dangers of the Yamaha Rhino, and its ability to crush limbs and cause deaths in rollover accidents, please visit our Yamaha Rhino rollover page.

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

Yamaha Rhino rollover kills 3-year-old Wisconsin boy

August 25th, 2008 Mike Evans

Lancaster, Wisconsin - A three-year-old boy was killed when the Yamaha Rhino on which he was a passenger rolled over on Sunday, August 24, 2008. The driver of the Rhino ATV suffered a broken leg, according to reports by WKOWTV.com and NBC15.com.

This is the second weekend in a row that a child has been killed in a Yamaha Rhino rollover. Last weekend, an 8-year-old Texas boy was killed in a rollover in Oklahoma. These tragic accidents call attention to the dangerous design of the Yamaha Rhino, and the need for Yamaha to take action to remedy the problems.

Yamaha Rhino ATVs have a narrow wheelbase and a high center-of-gravity, making the Rhino prone to rollover accidents. Additionally, 2005 and 2006 Rhinos were sold without doors, allowing passengers’ arms and legs to be crushed during Rhino rollovers accidents. As we have done before, the ATV Attorney Alliance calls on Yamaha to recall the Rhino ATVs to remedy their defective design.

For more information about the dangers of the Rhino ATV, see our Yamaha Rhino page. If you were injured or lost a family member in an Yamaha Rhino rollover or other ATV accident, you can use our online ATV case review form to obtain a free evaluation of your potential lawsuit by lawyers of the ATV Attorney Alliance. The ATV Attorney Alliance is a national alliance of law firms for people injured or killed in a Yamaha Rhino or other ATV accident.

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Texas boy killed in Yamaha Rhino ATV rollover

August 19th, 2008 Mike Evans

McClain County, Oklahoma - An 8-year-old Texas boy was killed on August 17, 2008, when the Yamaha Rhino ATV on which he was a passenger rolled over, according to the Pauls Valley Daily Democrat. Investigators’ reports show the vehicle was turned sharply to the left while riding on dirt in a pasture. The Yamaha Rhino came to a rest on top of the boy, who was pronounced dead of massive trauma at the scene of the rollover.

Yamaha Rhinos have a high center-of-gravity and narrow wheelbase, making them particularly prone to roll over. For more information on the dangers of Yamaha Rhino rollovers, see the ATV Attorney Alliance’s Yamaha Rhino rollover page.

As we have done before, the ATV Attorney Alliance calls on Yamaha to recall the Rhinos to remedy the defective design that makes the Rhino prone to roll over during use.

For information about the safe use of ATVs, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATVSafety.gov.

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

With kids out of school, risk of ATV injuries increases

July 15th, 2008 Mike Evans

With warm weather and kids out of school for summer vacation, it’s not surprising that the number of children being injured on ATVs or UTVs seems to have increased. In the past 24 hours, there have been news articles published about a 14 year-old-boy who was injured in an ATV accident in Oklahoma, a 13-year-old boy who was injured in an ATV rollover accident in California, a 10-year-old girl who was killed in a Missouri ATV accident, and a 9-year-old boy who suffered extensive head injuries in an Indiana ATV accident.

This is a good time to review the recommendations of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for ATV safety at ATVSafety.gov. According to the CPSC, ATVs killed more than 500 people in 2006, and almost 1 in 5 was a child. In addition to the deaths, ATV accidents sent 146,600 people to hospital emergency rooms. With the growing popularity of side-by-side ATVs such as the Yamaha Rhino and Polaris Ranger RZR, parents may be tempted to give children rides on the family ATV. Parents should be aware, however, that children need to wear helmets and seat belts. Also, parents should no that some side-by-side ATVs, such as the Yamaha Rhino, can roll over on flat ground at relatively low speeds. And rolling over in an ATV is much more serious than flipping on a bicycle; side-by-side ATVs weigh around 1,000 pounds, and can crush bones, injure spinal cords, cause traumatic brain injuries, and cause death.

Some ATV accidents are caused by driver error. Other accidents are caused by design or manufacturing defects. If you or your family member suffered injuries in a Yamaha Rhino, Polaris or other ATV accident that was caused by a manufacturer’s defect, use our free ATV Lawsuit Review service to obtain a no-obligation review of your potential lawsuit.

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

Clintonville, New York boy saves father’s life in Yamaha Rhino ATV accident

June 30th, 2008 Mike Evans

New York - On April 9, 2007, Ryan, who was 10 at the time, was riding with his father, Albert Mills, on a Yamaha Rhino ATV through the woods near their home in Clintonville.

The vehicle flipped on a turn and landed on top of Albert, pinning one of his legs underneath.

Unable to move and feeling immense pain, Albert told his son to get the log roller from the back of the ATV and lodge it under the vehicle.

Following his father’s instructions, Ryan attempted to use the roller as leverage to lift the ATV, which weighed about 2,000 pounds, off his father’s leg.

After four attempts, the 10-year-old managed to lift the vehicle enough so his father could push himself away with his injured leg.

Ryan then ran and got a truck to drive his father to the house.

“With every bump and shake back, I could feel awful pain in my leg,” Albert said. “When we got out, there was a huge pile of blood on the floormat.”

After about 10 minutes, an ambulance arrived and rushed Albert to the hospital.

Click here for the full text of The Press Republican’s article.

For more information about Yamaha Rhino rollovers, see A Yamaha Rhino rollover accident can change a life forever, on the website of the ATV Attorney Alliance.

The ATV Attorney Alliance was created to provide top-quality 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.

If you or your family member suffered injuries in a Yamaha Rhino rollover, or in another defectively designed or manufactured ATV, you may obtain a free, no-obligation review of your potential lawsuit by filling out ATV Attorney Alliance’s Free Yamaha Rhino or Other ATV Lawsuit Review Form.

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

Texas man killed, 8-year-old injured, in ATV rollover

June 20th, 2008 Mike Evans

A 34-year-old Houston, Texas, man was killed, and a young boy was injured, when their 4-wheeler was involved in a rollover accident, according to a June 8, 2008 article by khou.com. It was reportedly the boy’s first ride on an ATV.

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Hoover, Alabama teen dies in ATV rollover accident

June 4th, 2008 Mike Evans

According to this article on Birmingham’s CBS42.com, 19-year-old Wynand “George” Jooste of Hoover, Alabama, died in an ATV rollover accident Tuesday night around 9 o’clock. Investigators say Jooste was driving his 4-wheeler along a road when he lost control, flipping it over, and it landed on top of him, taking his life where a cross now marks the spot. It’s estimated that 900 people die in the U.S. every year due to ATV accidents.

The article did not identify the model of ATV that was involved in the accident. For ATV safety tips, visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ATVSafety.gov.

Posted in Rollover accidents | No Comments »

More Yamaha Rhino rollover videos show dangers of the ATV

May 30th, 2008 Mike Evans

We’ve posted YouTube video clips before that show how easily the Yamaha Rhino rolls over. Here are a few more clips that help make the same point. Fortunately, the people in these videos weren’t killed, and didn’t get an arm or leg caught under the ATV. Unfortunately, there are hundreds who have not been as lucky. As we’ve written before, a Yamaha Rhino is a dangerous vehicle that can quickly turn a day of recreation into a lifetime of regret.

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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.

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