Our law firm is representing several people who were injured in Yamaha Rhino rollovers. In these cases, the rollovers occurred at low speeds, and arms or legs were crushed during the rollover. Although there have been a number of Yamaha Rhino rollover lawsuits, Yamaha has not issued any Yamaha Rhino recalls on the Yamaha Rhino 660 ATVs or the pre-2008 Yamaha Rhino ATVs. The company has, however, issued a “warning” letter and has offered owners of these vehicles free doors and handhold. Yamaha also issued a Yamaha Rhino side-by-side recall involving about 7,800 Model Year 2008 Yamaha Rhino YXR450 and YXR700 side-by-side vehicles. The 2008-model Yamaha Rhino recall involves brakes that may be defective. According to the 2008-model Yamaha Rhino recall announcement, the brake caliper on the left front wheel could have been made incorrectly, resulting in brake fluid leaking, which could cause a loss of braking and control of the vehicle, posing a serious safety risk to the driver and passenger. Read the full 2008-model recall announcement on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission site.

September 2006 “Warning” Letter – No Yamaha Rhino Recalls of Pre-2008 Models

On September 11, 2006, Yamaha sent a letter to Rhino owners regarding new Yamaha Rhino warning labels. The letter reads in part:

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 hand, arm, leg, or foot, if part of your body is caught underneath the vehicle. You must keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle until it has stopped moving.

To help remind you and other operators or passengers in your Rhino of this important information, Yamaha has prepared new warning labels, one for each side of the enclosure. We recommend you install these labels on your Rhino or have your authorized Yamaha dealer install them for you.

This is not a Yamaha Rhino recall. There have been no Yamaha Rhino recalls voluntarily issued by Yamaha, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission does not have the authority to issue a recall. There does not have to be a Yamaha Rhino recall to have a product liability claim against Yamaha.

Yamaha Offer to Install Doors and Additional Passenger Handholds – No Yamaha Rhino Recalls of Pre-2008 Models

Yamaha Motor Corporation is offering Rhino customers doors and additional passenger handholds. The following is an excerpt from Yamaha’s website:

Yamaha has developed new doors and additional passenger handholds for the Rhino. These new features, as shown in the pictures below, are designed to help keep occupants from sticking arms or legs out of the vehicle in response to a side rollover. They may also enhance passenger stability and comfort. Yamaha recommends that Rhino owners have these doors and handholds installed on their Rhino vehicles.

Again, this is not a Yamaha Rhino recall. Although Yamaha has attempted to address faulty design issues on its newer Yamaha Rhino models, the company has not issued any Yamaha Rhino recalls to address the design issues with the older models, including Yamaha Rhino 660 and 450.

We represent a number of people who suffered severe leg and arm fractures in side-by-side Yamaha Rhino rollovers.

Certain Yamaha Rhinos, which were first produced in 2004 and continue to be sold, are alleged to be unstable during normal operational maneuvers (low to moderate speed turning on level ground). In addition, the vehicles were designed and initially sold without doors.

Thus, Yamaha Rhino rollovers can result in occupants’ arms and legs being trapped between the ground and the passenger protective cage. In apparent recognition of the Yamaha Rhino rollover problem, Yamaha sent a letter in August 2007 to Rhino owners advising them of the availability of free doors and additional passenger handholds. Yamaha also provided warning labels. However, there have been no Yamaha Rhino recalls of pre-2008 models. Yamaha did initiate a recall of Model Year 2008 Yamaha Rhino YXR450 and YXR700 side-by-side vehicles, but this recall was due to potentially-defective brakes and not a potentially-defective design that has led to rollover accidents. Read about the 2008-model Yamaha Rhino recall on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Our firm has considerable experience in representing people injured as a result of defectively designed ATVs and motorcycles and we have collected millions of dollars on their behalf. Fred Pritzker, lead attorney on these Yamaha Rhino rollover cases, said “We are receiving scores of inquiries from people injured on these Rhino ATVs. The pattern of injury is strikingly similar: low speed turns leading to sudden rollovers. The legs and arms of occupants – even while using seat belts – are crushed by the roll cage as the vehicle slams to the ground.

Pritzker | Ruohonen, a premier personal injury law firm, is representing people with Yamaha Rhino injuries. Lead attorney on the Yamaha Rhino injuries cases, Fred Pritzker was recently interviewed by NBC affiliate KSBY regarding the death of a 12-year-old girl in California and Yamaha Rhino rollovers.

Pritzker | Ruohonen, a national law firm, is representing people with Yamaha Rhino rollover injuries. We are receiving scores of inquiries from people injured during Rhino rollovers. The pattern of injury is strikingly similar: low speed turns leading to sudden roll-overs. The legs and arms of occupants - even while using seat belts - are crushed by the roll cage as the vehicle slams to the ground. Lead attorney on the Yamaha Rhino injuries cases, Fred Pritzker was recently interviewed by NBC affiliate KSBY regarding the wrongful death of a 12-year-old girl in California and Yamaha Rhino rollover injuries.

Yamaha Rhino Rollover Injuries – Amputation and Multiple Surgeries

When arms and legs are crushed in a Yamaha Rhino rollover, the resulting injuries are serious. Broken and crushed bones, severed muscles and other injuries can require multiple surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. In some cases, the arm or leg cannot be saved, and amputation is the only option. In all cases, Yamaha Rhino injuries require extensive medical treatment. Contact us regarding compensation for medical expenses, including anticipated future medical expenses. One of our lawyers working on the Yamaha Rhino rollover cases will provide a free case review.

Yamaha Rhino Injuries – Compensation for Pain and Suffering

People suffering from Yamaha Rhino injuries endure pain and suffering that may continue for the rest of their lives. It is important to contact an attorney regarding compensation for pain and suffering, including anticipated future pain and suffering.

All of our attorneys have significant experience arguing for adequate compensation for pain and suffering. Attorney Rich Ruohonen, one of our partners, recently presented two courses at a legal seminar on conveying pain and suffering issues in a jury trial. Rich’s courses were entitled, “Pain and Suffering Issues with Before and After Witnesses” and “Arming the Jury with Ability to Award Significant Pain and Suffering Damages in Closing Argument.”

Given Rich’s experience with pain and suffering issues, he chaired the seminar. According to Rich, “Pain and suffering can be a large percentage of a compensation package. With these Yamaha Rhino rollover injuries, it is important to understand all of the pain and suffering issues involved”