Yamaha Rhino Accidents and Rhino Rollovers

The four-wheel, side by side Rhino manufactured by Yamaha Motor Corporation became one of the most popular Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) sold on the market in the U.S. and Canada. The Rhino seats the driver and passenger next to each other.

In Rhino accidents nationwide, nearly 60 riders have been killed and hundreds seriously injured. Many of the Yamaha Rhino deaths have been of children. While every accident involving a Rhino can pose a risk of serious injury, when a child is riding, the injuries have often been more severe. Children have been thrown from the Rhino and died after it landed on top of them.

The national law firm of Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP represented persons across America who suffered serious injuries and the families of those killed in Yamaha Rhino accidents, including rollovers. The injuries typically were broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet. In some cases, the injuries were so severe as to require amputation.

Legal Advocacy Leads to Safety Changes

On March 31, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC"), in cooperation with Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A., announced a repair program for ALL Rhino 450, 660, and 700 models to address rollover safety defects which killed scores and injured hundreds of others in the U.S. Yamaha suspended the sale of the Rhino until they were retrofitted.

In conjunction with a group of the families of victims, the Center for Auto Safety, and the San Francisco Trauma Foundation, Lieff Cabraser advocated for these and additional safety changes in a safety report submitted to the CPSC.

Yamaha Rhino Lawsuits

Lieff Cabraser served as Plaintiffs' Lead Counsel in the litigation in federal court and Co-Lead Counsel in coordinated California state court litigation arising out of serious injuries and deaths in rollover accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino. The complaints charged that the Yamaha Rhino contained design and engineering flaws and should have been equipped with doors from inception.

Lieff Cabraser is no longer accepting new Rhino cases.