Result: New safety features added to vehicles
Year: 2009

Yamaha Rhino Lawsuits

Lieff Cabraser represented clients across America who suffered serious injuries in rollover accidents involving the Yamaha Rhino. The four-wheel side by side vehicle became one of the most popular Utility Terrain Vehicles sold in the U.S. in the mid- and late 2000’s.

The complaints charged that the Yamaha Rhino contained numerous design flaws, including the failure to equip the vehicles with side doors, which resulted in repeated broken or crushed legs, ankles or feet for riders. The complaints also alleged that the Yamaha Rhino was unstable due to a narrow track width and high center of gravity leading to rollover accidents that killed and/or injured scores of persons across the nation.

Litigation and Advocacy for Victims Led to Safety Improvements

On behalf of injured Yamaha Rhino drivers and passengers, and the families of loved ones who died, along with the Center for Auto Safety and the San Francisco Trauma Foundation, Lieff Cabraser advocated for numerous safety changes to the Rhino in a report submitted to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Subsequently, on March 31, 2009, the CPSC, in cooperation with Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A., announced a free repair program for all Rhino 450, 660, and 700 models to improve safety, including the addition of spacers and removal of a rear only anti-sway bar.