In September 2007, Forest Ray, 13, died after the Yamaha Rhino he was riding rolled over in a turn from a field onto a paved road.
His parents filed a wrongful death suit against Yamaha Motor Co. (Ray v. Yamaha Motor Corp. USA, B070626-C, 163rd Judicial District, Orange County, Texas (Orange)).
The U.S. Consumer Safety Commission has linked 59 deaths to certain Yamaha Rhino models. “These Rhino models have serious design defects that cause them to roll over at low speeds on level terrain,” stated Attorney Eric Hageman, a leading attorney for Yamaha Rhino lawsuits. “They also lack safety features necessary to help prevent injury.”
As the parents of Forest Ray watched, the attorney for Yamaha argued that the accident was the boy’s fault. “Because there is a death, that doesn’t mean it’s defective,” Yamaha’s attorney stated. “This vehicle was tested for four years in every prototype stage. It was an important product for Yamaha, so they wanted to do it right.”
Yamaha may have “wanted to do it right,” but it didn’t according to over 500 victims and families who have filed lawsuits against Yamaha Motor Co. When a product injures and kills people, the manufacturer should do the right thing and compensate the victims and their families.
Our lawyers are fighting for justice for Yamaha Rhino rollover victims and their families. To contact our law firm, please call 1-888-377-8900 (t0ll free) or submit our online form for a free consultation. We are not paid unless you win.
