A West Virginia father has filed a lawsuit against Yamaha Motor Corporation after his young daughter was seriously injured when the Rhino – a four wheeled utility terrain vehicle (UTV) – she was riding in rolled over. So many accidents and deaths have been reported that the company has now recalled 120,000 Rhinos.

West Virginia product liability lawsuit

This West Virginia product liability lawsuit involves Brian Shears and his young daughter whose name was not given. According to a news report in the West Virginia Record, Shears filed a lawsuit against Yamaha after his daughter was seriously injured while riding in a Rhino in 2006. Like so many others who have filed lawsuits against the company, he alleges that the Rhino’s high center of gravity, narrow track width, narrow wheels and tires, and side-by-side seating combine to make the vehicle especially prone to rolling over.

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He is seeking compensation for medical costs, emotional injuries, physical impairment, disfigurement, pain, discomfort, disability, anxiety, lost wages and punitive damages against the company – and maintains that the company knew about problems with the Rhino since it came out in 2003, but until very recently, did nothing to adequately warn consumers.

Rhino recall

Yamaha did recently recall approximately 120,000 of its Rhinos, but for so many people – including Shears – that recall may have been too late. In March 2009, Yamaha recalled Rhino models 450, 660 and 700. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) (link to www.cpsc.gov/), the recall has been issued so that dealers can install a spacer on the rear wheels and remove the rear anti-sway bar to help reduce the risk of rollover.

Yamaha will also install half-doors and additional passenger handholds on Rhinos in situations where owners did not know about, or avail themselves to, an offer Yamaha previously extended to Rhinos that were sold from 2003 to August of 2007. Rhino owners may contact the company at (800) 962-7926 with further questions or visit the company’s website at www.yamaha-motor.com. Of course, if you’ve been injured due to Yamaha’s Rhino, contact a products liability attorney to discuss your situation and evaluate your options.

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