Yamaha Motor Corporation has announced a Yamaha Rhino side-by-side recall due to risk of brake failure. The recalled Yamaha Rhino products are Model Year 2008 Yamaha Rhino YXR450 and YXR700 Side-by-Side Vehicles—about 7,800 vehicles.

This Yamaha Rhino side-by-side recall involves potentally-defective brakes. According to the Yamaha Rhino ATV recall announcement, the brake caliper on the left front wheel could have been made incorrectly, resulting in brake fluid leaking. This can cause a loss of braking and control of the vehicle, posing a serious safety risk to the driver and passenger.

For more information, see our Yamaha Rhino ATV recall information.

Labels: Yamaha recall, Yamaha Rhino side-by-side

The CPSC has announced a Polaris Outlaw recall—about 11,300 Polaris Outlaws, certain model year 2006-2008. According to Polaris Industries Inc. of Minnesota, a retention bolt can come loose causing the rear wheels to lock up, which poses a risk of serious injury to the rider.
Polaris has received 11 reports of loss of control, including one rider who suffered a strained leg muscle.

The Polaris Outlaw recall involves select 2006-2008 Polaris “Outlaw” ATVs with Independent Rear Suspension (IRS). The affected models are:

2006 OUTLAW 500 “IRS”
2007 OUTLAW 500 “IRS”
2007 OUTLAW 525 “IRS”
2008 OUTLAW 525 “IRS”

The model name is printed on decals located on either side of the fuel tank.

The recalled Polaris Outlaw ATVs were sold at Polaris dealers nationwide from January 2006 through January 2008 for between $6,900 and $7,400. Read about other ATV recalls.

Posted March 2008.

Labels: ATV recalls, Polaris

Due to the volume of people contacting us regarding Yamaha Rhino rollover accidents, we have launched a Yamaha Rhino lawsuit website. The site includes information on the following:

• Yamaha Rhino – Lawyer and Attorney: Our law firm has a national reputation in the area of product liability and is currently handling Yamaha Rhino cases throughout the United States.
• Yamaha Rhino Recall: There has not been a Yamaha Rhino recall, but Yamaha has offered Yamaha Rhino owners doors and handholds.
• Yamaha Rhino Rollover Injury: We represent a number of people who suffered severe leg and arm fractures in side-by-side Yamaha Rhino rollovers. These rollovers can result in occupants’ arms and legs being trapped between the ground and the passenger protective cage.
• Yamaha Rhino Wrongful Death: Lead attorney on the Yamaha Rhino cases, Fred Pritzker, was recently interviewed by NBC affiliate KSBY regarding the death of a 12-year-old girl in California.
• Yamaha Rhino Lawsuit FAQ: Our Yamaha Rhino lawsuit FAQ provides valuable information for people injured in Yamaha Rhino accidents and families considering a wrongful death lawsuit.
  

“We are receiving scores of inquiries from people injured on certain Yamaha Rhino ATVs. The pattern of injury is strikingly similar: low speed turns leading to sudden rollovers. The legs and arms of occupants – even while using seat belts – are crushed by the roll cage as the vehicle slams to the ground. These people have been seriously injured, and we are making every effort to help them obtain compensation for damages caused by the Yamaha Rhino.” – Attorney Fred Pritzker

Labels: yamaha rhino lawsuit, yamaha rhino lawyer

On February 7, 2008, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a voluntary recall of about 49,000 Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles. This recall involves Trek girls’ bicycles model MT220 and model years 2005 (light metallic blue), 2006 (metallic silver and metallic purple or pink and pearl white), and 2007 (pink and white pearl or metallic purple). The model name is printed on the frame of the bicycle. Model year 2008 bicycles re not included in this Trek recall.

According to the Trek bicycle recall announcement, the bicycle’s frame can break during use, causing the rider to lose control and suffer injuries. The manufacturer of the recalled Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles, Trek Bicycle Corp., of Waterloo, Wisconsin, has received 13 reports of frames breaking, including four minor injuries. Accidents involving the recalled Trek bicycles could lead to product liability claims, claims against drivers of other vehicles, and other claims. An experienced bicycle accident lawyer should be consulted regarding liability and compensation in a bicycle accident case.

To contact a lawyer at our law firm regarding a bicycle accident, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our free case consultation form.

Labels: bicycle accident, lawyer, product liability, Trek recall

There are no protective elements surrounding the body when one is riding a motorcycle. A helmet and heavy gear (leathers or other) are the only standard forms of protection for motorcyclists. In addition, many drivers of motor vehicles may not be adequately aware of the need to look for motorcycles. These factors result in a significant number of motorcycle accidents leading to head injury.

to help prevent head injuries, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the CDC recommend that motorcyclists use helmets, and many states require the use of motorcycle helmets. While head injuries can still occur when one is wearing a helmet, such injuries are typically less severe than if one is not wearing a helmet (1,2). At present the protective potential of helmets is assessed by a variety of rating scales (3,4). All helmets must meet the Department of Transportation (DOT) standard. An additional, voluntary certification known as Snell certification is also included for some helmets. The Snell certification is often sought after because the criteria for certification are more strenuous than the minimal DOT standards and all other standards in the US. Although controversy has arisen regarding the Snell rating system for motorcycle helmets, you should consider the Snell rating when purchasing a motorcycle helmet.

We represent people injured in motorcycle accidents. From a legal standpoint the amount of compensation awarded in a motorcycle accident case may be affected if the injured person was not wearing a helmet. This depends on the state in which the accident took place and the facts of the case. Contact us for a free consultation after a motorcycle accident. We are a national law firm and represent injured people throughout the United States.

Resources:

1. (2007) Accid Anal Prev 39(1):190
2. (2006) Traf. Inj. Prev. 7(1):49-54.
3. www.webbikeworld.com
4. www.motorcyclistonline.com

Labels: head injury, helmet, motorcycle accident, motorcycle accident lawyers, motorcycle safety

Reduce the risk of injury from any frontal airbag by observing the following:

• Buckle your safety belt.
• Keep about 10 inches or more between your chest and the airbag cover.
• Never place a rear-facing infant seat in front of an air bag, even a reduced-power or advanced air bag, unless the air bag on-off switch is in the OFF position.
• Place children age 12 and under in the back seat, and make sure they are properly restrained, either in a safety belt or a child safety seat that is appropriate for their size, weight, and age.
• Watch for car recalls involving airbags.
  

Warning!!! Even with advanced air bags, children can be killed or seriously injured by air bags. Always put children age 12 and under in the rear seat.

We have a national reputation in the area of product liability. If you were in a car accident and the air bag did not deploy, contact us regarding your accident toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit our online consultation form (right) for review by one of our car accident lawyers.

Labels: air bag, airbag recall, airbag safety, car accident lawyers

A husband and wife are in critical condition after they were hit head-on by a Freightliner semi truck near Windom, Minnesota, on Tuesday. According to the Minnesota State Patrol incident report, Carol Kirstein, 67, of Wilder, Minnesota, was driving a Buick LeSabre northbound on Highway 71 when she crossed over the centerline and collided with the Freightliner, which was pulling a 53-foot trailer. At the time of the accident, Robert Kirstein, was a passenger in Carol Kirstein’s vehicle. Mrs. Kirstein broke her leg and sustained other injuries. Mr. Kirstein sustained internal injuries. Both were airlifted to Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

As the family deals with the physical and emotional difficulties of this situation, insurance companies will be contacting the family regarding a number of issues. Whenever someone is seriously injured in a car accident, it is critical to contact a Minnesota car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Once the family retains a lawyer, the insurance companies generally are not allowed to contact family members, and the family’s lawyer will take care of all issues involving the insurance companies, including medical expenses and compensation for pain, suffering, disability and wage loss.

In a case where a spouse is a passenger in the vehicle, obtaining adequate compensation for pain, suffering, disability and wage loss can require the spouse-passenger to make a claim or even file a lawsuit against the spouse-driver. This may seem outrageous, but given the language of insurance contracts, it is usually necessary. The spouses and other family members need to understand that sometimes legal actions are necessary for the good of everyone in the family. For more information, please contact a car accident lawyer at Pritzker | Ruohonen, a Minnesota law firm with a national reputation. To contact the firm, please call toll-free at 1-888-377-8900 or submit the firm’s online consultation form.

Labels: car, collision, Minnesota accident, pain, semi, spouse passenger, suffering