The next generation of rollover-prone vehicles is grabbing headlines in much the same way as the beginnings of the SUV rollovers. This time, its ATVs manufactured by Yamaha under the brand name Rhino that are developing a reputation for maiming or killing people as they flip over with ease. As can be expected, action from the manufacturers is either too little or too flimsy to be of any effect.

Texan resident Ryan Rogers is suing the company for injuries sustained when his ATV rolled over on the passenger side. Rogers is the latest in a line of injured drivers and passengers, and victims’ families filing lawsuits, suing Yamaha for the defective design of its ATV that has shown a marked propensity for rolling over even at low speeds on flats surface.

The faults lie with the design of the ATV itself, with its top-heavy frame and narrow tires that make the risk of a rollover while making a turn highly possible. There is also no protection for the passengers legs in the event of a rollover accident, and in many cases, victims have had their legs crushed with the massive weight of the ATV bearing down on them. These design defects ensure that when a rollover accident does occur, which is more and more often these days, the chances is of injuries are massive. There’s little chance you would escape with negligible injuries if a person was driving and an ATV suddenly decides to flip over on top of them.

Yamaha seems to have taken a note out of Ford’s book when it comes to defending the safety of its ATVs. In September 2006, the company sent a letter to Rhino ATV owners that seemed to imply that blame for any rollover accidents involving their ATVs should be laid at the door of the drivers themselves. The company warned drivers to keep their hands and legs inside the vehicle at all times while driving, and announced the affixing of warning labels. Obviously, this failed to help. Yamaha failed to realize that a person in an ATV has a split second to react before the vehicle rolls over, and it’s next to impossible to keep your legs inside your ATV when it’s tipping over.

In August 2007, after new reports of fatal rollover accidents involving the Rhino, Yamaha announced that new vehicles would be fitted with doors to prevent passengers from falling out of the vehicle during a tip over.

Yamaha’s biggest defense is that its vehicles are safe when all road safety rules are followed. Wear a seatbelt, drive slowly and all should be fine, the company insists. However, ATV accidents have been reported even when drivers have worn seatbelts and driven at low speeds. There have even been reports of accidents when the ATV was being driven on a flat surface. As expected, the company has no explanation for these accidents.

The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of ATV and motorcycle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.