Since being introduced in the early 1970s, ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) have been a safety concern due to the alarming injury rates among children and adolescents. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has recently reported that more than 7000 deaths occurred from 1982-2005 as a result of the use of an ATV.
In August 2007 Yamaha issued a safety bulletin letter to owners of their Rhino models, informing them of several design defects that make the Rhino fundamentally unstable. The safety bulletin advised vehicle owners that they should return the vehicles to Yamaha dealers for installation of new equipment - doors and passenger handles - at no cost to improve safety. Beginning in 2008, doors and passenger handles came standard on all Yamaha Rhino ATVs.
But no less than two years later, in March 2009, Yamaha issued a recall for their latest Rhino 450 and 700 ATVs, and urged owners to stop using all recalled Rhino ATVs and return to them to Yamaha dealers for free repairs. Yamaha acknowledged that these deficiencies could be attributed to 46 deaths of victims riding on one of their defective ATVs.
What does Yamaha Rhino ATV recall involve?
The recall involves model year 2008 Rhino YXR450 and YXR700 vehicles sold nationwide from October 2007 through March 2008. The brake caliper on the left front wheel could have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in a brake fluid leak. The defect can cause a loss of breaking ability and vehicle control, posing a serious safety risk to both the driver and passenger. Owners who believe this recall may affect their vehicle should contact their Yamaha Rhino dealer and provide the vehicle's primary identification number to verify if it was included in the recall.
What about models and years not involved in the recall?
Merely because the recall was limited to 2008 Rhino models 450 and 700 does not mean that all other Yamaha Rhinos manufactured in different years are free from defects. The number of injuries and deaths stemming from the use of these ATVs continue to rise since the March 2009 recall.
If you or a loved one has been injured, or even killed, while using a Yamaha Rhino, and the incident was caused by a deficiency in the ATV, contact the experienced lawyers of Dyer, Garofalo, Mann & Schultz to assess your legal options. We will fight for you to get sufficient cash settlement for you. Call 1-800-223-8897 or contact us today to set up a free consultation.
While DGM&S, L.P.A. will maintain responsibility, certain cases may also be referred to other attorneys with particular expertise. Licensed to practice in OH, IN, KY, PA, CA; not available in all states.