New 2009 Yamaha Rhino still does not address risk of rollover accidents

The 2009 Yamaha Rhino side by side ATV will be released this month, but it does not appear that any substantial redesign was made for the new model year, to make the vehicle safer or less prone to rollover. Since it was first introduced in 2003, the Yamaha Rhino has been plagued by stability problems, and hundreds of riders have suffered severe and disabling injuries when the vehicle tipped over.

>>INFORMATION: Yamaha Rhino Rollover Accidents

The Yamaha Rhino is a popular all terrain vehicle which allows the driver and passenger to sit side by side in two bucket seats. When Yamaha decided to enter the side by side market, they designed a vehicle that is a mix between a larger utility vehicle and a powerful four wheel sport ATV.

The vehicle was designed with a very high center of gravity, a narrow frame, small tires and a powerful engine. These features combined to make the side by side prone to rollover, even when it is operated in a safe manner at slow speeds. Yamaha Rhino rollovers have been reported at speeds as low as 13 miles per hour on flat surfaces.

For the 2008 Yamaha Rhino model year, small doors were added to the vehicle and additional passenger side hand-holds were placed to help keep occupants’ arms and legs inside the vehicle during a rollover. However, the stability issues were not addressed and Yamaha continued to provide inadequate warnings about the risk of rollovers. Even with the small doors, the vehicle continued to pose an unreasonable risk to occupants that was not properly disclosed.

Promotional materials on the Yamaha website for the new 2009 model of the Rhino still do not outline any substantial safety improvements or new information for riders about the risk of rollovers.

YAMAHA RHINO ROLLOVER LAWSUITS

The ATV rollover lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals who have been seriously injured when their Rhino rolled over under normal operating conditions. Despite the addition of small doors last year, riders continue to suffer devastating injuries and it appears that will not change with the 2009 Yamaha Rhino either.

If you, a friend or family member suffered an injury in a Yamaha Rhino accident, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.