Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. Releases Statement on Recent Dismissals of Rhino Lawsuits

Jon Crowley | Jan 15, 2010 | Comments 0

Safety drives everything we do at Yamaha. We are proud of the safety record and safety features of the Yamaha Rhino, which has skyrocketed in popularity due to its exceptional reliability, safety and versatility. Over 150,000 Rhino owners have used our vehicles safely, including the U.S. military, border patrol, and a growing number of law enforcement agencies, fire fighters and other first responders. The Rhino has won virtually every “first in class” award and top safety ratings in independent reviews since its introduction.

The popularity of the Rhino, and the fact that it represents a new category of off-road motorized vehicles, has made it a target for some plaintiffs’ lawyers who increasingly use the Internet, television advertisements and the news media to attract clients. Nevertheless, more than 50 Rhino-related lawsuits against Yamaha have been dismissed either by the courts or by the plaintiffs. Most recently, The Estate of Ellen Sand versus Yamaha Motor Corporation, LTD in Warren County, Ohio was dismissed [withdrawn] by the plaintiff’s own lawyers only days before the case was scheduled to go to trial, and in Georgia, the court granted Yamaha’s motion for summary judgment and dismissed the case in Robert Lamar Smith III versus Yamaha Motor Corporation, LTD in XX, Alabama.

Yamaha stands firmly behind the Rhino and will continue to vigorously defend the product. The Rhino is a safe and useful off-road vehicle when driven responsibly and according to the instructions and warnings in our on-product labels, owner’s manuals, and other safety materials.

Yamaha is saddened whenever anyone is injured in a Yamaha product-related accident, and we urge all our customers to follow the safety recommendations on our products and, as importantly, to always operate the products in a safe and responsible manner. Rhinos are designed for off-road use only, and the vehicle is only recommended for adult drivers aged 16 or older with a valid driver’s license. Passengers must be large enough to keep their backs against the seat backs with both feet firmly on the floorboard. Drivers and passengers should wear helmets and the vehicle’s three-point seat belts at all times.

To learn more about the Yamaha Rhino, visit our website www.truthaboutrhino.com.

Van Holmes, Public Relations Manager, ATV & SXS Department, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.