Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of Father Who Lost His Son in Rhino ATV Rollover Accident
Submitted by: The Ammons Law Firm
2009-02-04 00:02:29
Dallas, TX (OPENPRESS) February 4, 2009 -- The father of Michael Lane McCloud, passenger on a Yahama Rhino ATV in August of 2008 that flipped over, landing on top and killing the young man, filed a lawsuit in Dallas County Monday.
Michael McCloud alleges that Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America, and Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., are negligent for failing to exercise reasonable care for the safety of plaintiffs by negligently designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling the vehicle without the necessary safety features.
The suit says that the Rhino has a narrow track width and a high center of gravity, which decreases the vehicle's stability. The Yamaha Rhino is much narrower than most vehicles in its class, being designed to fit in a pickup truck bed as a convenience to consumers. Such convenience was achieved through designing the vehicle with a narrow track width, greatly decreasing the vehicle's stability characteristics.
The Yamaha Rhino was first delivered to the United States market in 2003. Since that time, it has been estimated that over 100,000 Yamaha Rhinos have been sold.
In 2006, Yamaha sent letters to Rhino owners enclosing new warning labels and describing the rollover risks.
In August 2007, Yamaha sent out notices that it would install doors and additional passenger handholds on its Rhino's manufactured in the last four years. The upgrades are available to new or used Rhinos and installed free of charge by a Yamaha dealer.
"Here is another incident where a young life has been lost due to poor design and lack of meaningful safety standards," said attorney Rob Ammons.
"It is hoped this case will draw attention to this problem as well as persuade the manufacturers to address the issues and fairly compensate families of the victim," Ammons added.
The lawsuit further states Yamaha is negligent for failing to exercise reasonable care for the safety of plaintiffs by negligently designing, manufacturing, marketing and selling the vehicle without the necessary safety features.
About The Ammons Law Firm:
Rob Ammons is an attorney with a national practice that focuses on the prosecution of automobile product liability cases, including vehicle rollovers, fuel-fed fires, crashworthiness cases, and tire failures. For more information, please contact Bob Gunner at 713-523-1606.
Contact Info:
Bob Gunner
The Ammons Law Firm
3700 Montrose Blvd.,
Houston, Texas 77006
Phone: 713.523.1606 Fax: 713.523.4159
Email: bgunner@ammonslaw.com
Web: http://www.ammonslaw.com
