Yamaha Rhino Rollover Lawsuit Filed in Florida

A 38-year-old woman has filed a Yamaha Rhino rollover lawsuit in Florida, joining over 200 similar cases that have been filed in various state and federal courts throughout the United States by riders who allege they sustained serious injuries caused by design problems with Yamaha’s side-by-side ATV.

Rachel Jollimore filed her lawsuit against Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, in the Circuit Court for the Fifth Judicial Circuit in Marion County, Florida. The Yamaha Rhino Jollimore was riding in rolled over on July 7, 2007, as the driver was making a low-speed turn on relatively flat terrain.

The Rhino rolled over onto its passenger side, trapping Jollimore under the weight of the vehicle. As a result of the ATV rollover, Jollimore suffered a severe brain injury that required placement of a stent in her brain to drain fluid.

The allegations in Jollimore’s case are similar to those raised in other Yamaha Rhino roll over lawsuits, claiming that as the all-terrain vehicle was designed, it is extremely unstable and has been found to rollover at speeds as low as 10 to 15 miles per hour.

The Yamaha Rhino is a cross between a recreational ATV and utility vehicles. It features a powerful engine, a high center of gravity, a narrow wheel base, small tires and a small turning radius. These design features combine to make the side-by-side ATV prone to roll over, even under normal operating conditions.

There is no consolidated Yamaha Rhino litigation being handled in a coordinated fashion, so every lawsuit alleging design defects with vehicle is being handled as an individual case.

Although Yamaha has not formally confirmed how many lawsuits have been filed against them as a result of Rhino rollovers, several sources have confirmed that at least 200 cases have been filed.

Last week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) acknowledged that they are now looking into the safety issues surrounding the Yamaha Rhino given the growing number of rollovers and reported injuries.

According to the Wall Street Journal, at least 30 deaths have been reported as a result of Yamaha Rhino rollovers.