Yamaha Rhino ATV Lawsuit Alleges Design Defects Caused Rollover

A Texas man filed a product liability lawsuit alleging that design defects in the Yamaha Rhino ATV caused him to sustain injuries when the vehicle rolled over on the passenger side while being operated at a safe speed on relatively flat terrain.

Ryan Rogers, of Bossier City, Texas, filed a Yamaha Rhino ATV lawsuit on May 27, 2008, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas – Marshall division. He alleges that the four-wheel, side-by-side, sport-utility vehicle was not fit for its intended purpose, and posed an unreasonable danger to riders.

Several similar lawsuits have been filed throughout the United States by individuals who suffered severe fractures and head injuries when their Yamaha Rhino rolled over. The claims allege that Yamaha negligently designed the Rhino with a high center of gravity on a small wheel base with narrow tires. When this was combined with a powerful engine, it gave the ATV a propensity to rollover.

Yamaha has attempted to address the rollover problems several times in recent years. In September 2006, they sent a letter to registered Rhino owners warning that they should keep their arms and legs inside of the vehicle if it starts to rollover. However, riders have alleged that given the forces exerted during a rollover, it is nearly impossible to keep arms and legs inside if the vehicle.

In August 2007, Yamaha began offering after-market doors and additional passenger side handholds designed to help keep riders arms and legs from getting crushed during a rollover. Many product liability attorneys have alleged that a Yamaha Rhino recall should be issued to address the inherent stability issues. Even with the small doors and passenger hand-holds, riders continue to report serious injuries when the vehicle rolls.