Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer - Defective & Dangerous Products

The Yamaha Rhino 660 ATV Continues To Injury Conumers

M. Brandon Smith — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:08:00 GMT

The Yamaha Rhino has been a subject of controversy that has recently grown to massive proportions in the legal field. With problems in development and testing, mishaps early in the Rhino's history would have affects that would create a butterfly affect years later. In fact, even in early testing the vice president in charge of the Rhino’s development, Ike Miyachi, was reportedly injured while testing the Yamaha Rhino 660.

Keisuke Yoshida, the driver of the Rhino and president of a US based Yamaha Motors subsidiary, raised the question only weeks later about the instability of the vehicle and possible future liability cases. Even with this question, the Rhino was released, and was an immediate success. The Rhino sold more than 150,000 in 15 months. With this explosion in sales came an explosion in consumer injuries and deaths. Within that time approximately 59 riders have been killed in accidents involving the Rhino, and there are currently more than 440 wrongful death or personal injury Rhino lawsuits pending.

With this influx of liability suits, Yamaha began recalling Rhinos for repair. In fact, Yamaha has recalled practically every part of its Rhino “side by side”. Although the Rhino was marketed as an off road vehicle, it does not have the traditional set up of motorcycle style seating. Instead it’s driver and passenger sit side by side instead of the normal tandem setup. The Rhino also has a tighter frame, in order to allow it to navigate easier through rocks and fit into the back of pickup trips without the need for a pull behind trailor. This shortened frame however has casued great instability in the Rhino 660s design and has caused thousands of rollovers with consumers. Rollovers in Rhinos have even occurred during test drives at dealerships as recently denoted in the CBS NEWS story on this topic.

These crashes are not just due to high speeds or reckless driving. Serious accidents have even occurred at low to moderate speeds within normal conditions. Rhino Accidents have also been reported on flat ground, which is much tamer than the wild terrain the Rhino has and continues to be marketed for.

Yamaha contends that it is operator error that is responsible for the crashes and not faulty designs. Rhino crashes have occurred to drivers under 16, with crashes reported with drivers as young as 12. Although the rules and regulations of being 16 to operate an all terrain vehicle still apply, the vehicles design still needs some simple changes that would have prevented many of these accidents from occurring.

For more coverage of the Rhino ATV, CBS has multiple videos outlining Rhino “side by side” crashes at http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5214842n&tag=related;photovideo

If you or anyone you know has been injured by a Rhino 660, consult the our Yamaha Rhino Attorneys now.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

The Yamaha Rhino 660 Continues To Injury Conumers CBS Reports

M. Brandon Smith — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 10:52:18 GMT

For many people, especially in the summer months, adventures outdoors are what the season is all about. For more than a few of these lovers of summer, outdoor adventures include rides on all-terrain vehicles or other vehicles of that type. Yamaha is a popular manufacturer of these types of vehicles and in 2003, Yamaha sought to introduce a vehicle which was different-the Yamaha Rhino 660. Yamaha created a vehicle which incorporated features of a go-cart, a golf cart and a traditional all-terrain vehicle. The new rhino vehicle was not marketed as ATV and therefore was not regulated by the same established laws and safety regulations because was instead labeled as a ‘utility terrain vehicle.’

The Rhino was extremely popular even from the very beginning with its sporty look and its ability to be loaded into the back of most pick up trucks without the need for a separate trailer. However, that popularity soon began to wane as the reports of injuries began to emerge.

Due to its dangerous design, the Rhino is not the safe and reliable an off-road vehicle seen on numerous commercials and print ad campaigns. CBS News recently reported on the dangers of the vehicle and some of the law suits which have arisen due to injuries or deaths sustained while operating or riding in the Yamaha Rhino 660.

Today the Yamaha Rhino 660’s design defects has been linked to 59 deaths and hundreds of other injuries to riders and consumers. This staggering number of injuries and deaths has caused over 440 Yamaha Rhino lawsuits to be filed alleging the defective and dangerous nature of the Rhino 660. What is perhaps more disturbing to many is that the company seemed to be aware of the issues with the Rhino’s stability and design and failed to adequately act to correct these issues in a timely manner.

Yamaha itself has attempted to partially remedy the situation and has engaged in massive damage control by offering a free repair service on the models in question which include the Yamaha Rhino 450, 660 and 700. This came about as the result of continued pressure and attention Yamaha received from defective design and safety plagued Rhino linked to early reports of serious accidents injuries, and deaths. Some of the defects of the Rhino include the fact that it was inherently unstable due to the top heavy nature of the Rhino due to a narrowed chassis and other reports have indicated that the seatbelts actually unspool in the event of a rollover. For those who have been hurt critical questions remain: Why did Yamaha not choose to make the recall and repairs sooner? Why did Yamaha not feel it was important to inform consumers of the dangerousness of the Yamaha Rhino 660 and why did Yamaha continue manufacture and sell the Rhino despite knowing of its design defects and safety flaws as CBS reports.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Yamaha Rhino accident involving a Yamaha Rhino 660, you may be asking yourself the same questions. There are currently a number of Yamaha Rhino law suits which have been filed in the state of Georgia and other areas to get answers to these questions and to further protect the rights of consumers. The law firm of Childers and Schlueter, LLP is currently handling many of the Yamaha Rhino injury cases which have been filed in Georgia and is still reviewing cases nationwide on an individual basis for those who have been seriously injured in a Yamaha Rhino accident. If you have questions, please contact us immediately about these Rhino accidents.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by M. Brandon Smith

Parents, Please Check for Recalled Products Says US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Jessica Smagacz — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:09:00 GMT

According to Examiner, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents to go through their homes and search for any recalled products.

CPSC urges to be on the look out for products Simplicity, Inc. has manufactured. In recent years the manufacturer has had several products that have been recalled.

CPSC says, “SFCA Inc., the Reading, Pa.-based company that purchased the assets of juvenile product manufacturer Simplicity Inc. after foreclosure, appears to no longer be conducting day to day operations. SFCA Inc. is no longer answering phone calls, responding to e-mails from consumers, or providing repair kits to fix hundreds of thousands of defective cribs. At least 13 children have tragically died in recalled Simplicity cribs and bassinets. CPSC is urging all parents, caregivers, online sellers and purchasers, daycare providers, and thrift store owners to immediately check if they have one of the following Simplicity-made or Simplicity-branded products and dispose of those units where there is no longer a remedy."

So, parents, keep a look out for those recalled products to ensure your children are safe.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Jitterbug Cell Phones Recalled—May Not Call 911

Jessica Smagacz — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:17:15 GMT

According to AP, Samsung is voluntarily recalling thousands of Jitterbug cell phones.

They are taking this action because of the possibility that the phones might refuse to make an emergency call when in a no-service area.

The Federal Communications Commission has made it law that any wireless phone must be able to reach a 911 call center even when in a no-service area or out of range. “The device should be able to piggyback off another network in the area.”

Apparently, the company is contacting consumers who have the Jitterbug to schedule a free software upgrade.

If you have a Jitterbug and haven’t received a call, call this number: 866-304-4980.

You can also check out the Consumer Product Safety Commission here.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Fire Fears, GM Recalls 1.5 million Cars

Jessica Smagacz — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 08:12:20 GMT

Because of the potential for engine fires, General Motors Corp. (GM) is recalling 1.5 million cars.

Thankfully, there have been no reports of fires or injuries. The reason for this recall is that drops of oil could fall into the exhaust system and cause a fire in the engine.

Kerry Christopher, a GM spokesman, “says it was a precautionary measure for consumers.”

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced yesterday that the recall includes sedans manufactured between 1997 and 2003.

Particularly included in the recall are certain mid and full size passenger sedans under GM’s Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Oldsmobile brands.

These affected cars have 3.8 liter V6 engines, “engines that use atmospheric pressure rather than a mechanical blower to bring in air for combustion—according to documents that GM field with federal regulators last week.”

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

The CPSC Continues to Investigate the Yamaha Rhino after some 30 deaths

Jessica Smagacz — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:02:58 GMT

A couple days ago, Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. of Cypress, California announced a free repair program to address safety issues with all Rhino 450, 660, and 700 model off-highway recreational vehicles.

This is happening because the US has been keeping a spotlight on Yamaha Rhino. Federal safety regulators are investigating the vehicles after receiving reports of around 30 deaths involving the vehicle including the death of two young girls last month.

Yamaha actually faces more than 200 lawsuits in state and federal courts where it is alleged that Rhino’s design is unsafe.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said “its investigation of this type of vehicle, which it calls a utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, was prompted by various factors including the number of accident reports and the lawsuits.”

The CPSC also said that there are no regulatory standards for the new breed of off-road vehicles. “They aren’t subject to ATV safety standards because of design differences such as having a steering wheel, in contrast to the ATVs’ handlebars.”

Please see our past blogs on the Dangers of the Yamaha Rhino: Ellie’s Mission Page & the Dangers of Yamaha Rhino 660; Yamaha Motor Corp. Experiencing Troubles with Model Rhino Vehicles; Yamaha Rhino 660 ATV Causes Serious Risk Of Injury And Death For Riders; and Yamaha Rhino 660 ATV Causes Serious Risk Of Injury And Death For Riders.

If you or a loved one have questions about the Yamaha Rhino 660 or other similar ATV give our Yamaha Rhino Lawyers a call to find out more about your rights and situation. Our Georgia law firm, Childers & Schlueter L.L.P. has filed dozens of these cases already and continues to investigate them.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Yamaha Motor Corp. Experiencing Troubles with Model Rhino Vehicles

Jessica Smagacz — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:10:30 GMT

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said yesterday that Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. of Cypress, California announced a free repair program to address safety issues with all Rhino 450, 660, and 700 model off-highway recreational vehicles.

Yamaha is actually voluntarily suspending sale of these models immediately until the models are repaired. Therefore, consumers should stop using these “popular recreational vehicles” immediately until the repair completed.

“CPSC staff has investigated more than 50 incidents involving 46 driver and passenger deaths in these two Rhino models. More than two-thirds of the cases involved rollovers and many involved unbelted occupants. Of the rollover-related deaths and hundreds of reported injuries, some of which were serious, many appear to involve turns at relatively low speeds and on level terrain.”

Since Fall of 2003, about 120,000 of the 450 and 660 model Rhinos have been distributed nationwide.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

CPSC announces BowTech Archery & Green Thumb Twin Wheelbarrows Recalled for Injury Risks

Jessica Smagacz — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:55:19 GMT

According to NewsInferno, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the recall of two products because of the injury risks associated with them.

BowTech Archery of Eugene, Oregon recalled about 8,000 “The General” Compound Bows. These have been recalled because “the ends of the bow’s limbs can unexpectedly break during use and send fragments of the bow in the direction of the user or bystanders, posing a risk of injury.”

Currently, there have been 255 reports of the bow’s limbs breaking including 11 reports of injuries. Injuries include lacerations, abrasions, or contusions. These particular bows measure about 31 inches long and have draw lengths of about 26-30 inches. These products were sold at BowTech Dealers nationwide from September 2007 through July 2008 for $800. They were sold in both real tree and mossy oak camouflage patterns.

“CPSC is advising consumers to immediately stop using the recalled The General Compound Bows and to contact the dealer to schedule a free repair of the defective bow.” BowTech Archery’s number is 888-689-1289. Check out their website at www.bowtecharchery.com.

CPSC also announced the recall of the Green Thumb Twin Wheelbarrow with tan plastic wheel rims, a black plastic tray, and steel handles and axle. This product was being sold for $80 at True Value stores nationwide starting in September 2008 through October 2008. CPSC additionally advices consumers to stop using this recalled product and return them to any True Value store to receive your full refund. True Value’s number is 800-621-6025. Check out their website at www.truevalue.com.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Bowel Cleansing Products associated with Kidney Injury

Jessica Smagacz — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:36:20 GMT

Yesterday FDA sent out an alert about reports of acute phosphate nephropathy which is a type of acute kidney injury and its association with the use of oral sodium phosphate products for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy or other procedures. Over-the-counter and prescription products are included in this (Visicol and OsmoPrep and other oral sodium phosphate products such as Fleet Phospo-soda).

FDA has not been able to rule out that some of these patients were dehydrated prior to the ingestion of oral sodium phosphates or if they did not drink sufficient fluids after ingesting the oral sodium phosphates.

What is acute phosphate nephropathy?

On FDA’s website, it explains it is a form of acute kidney injury associated with deposits of calcium-phosphate crystals in the renal tubules. This can result in permanent renal function impairment. This injury is rare but a serious adverse event.

Who is at risk?

FDA says individuals who have an increased risk of acute phosphate nephropathy following the use of oral sodium phosphate products are those who are over 55 years old; those who are hypovolemic or have decreased intravascular volume; those who have baseline kidney disease, bowel obstruction, or active colitis; and those who are using medications that affect renal perfusion or function.

As a result of this warning, Los Angeles Times reports that C.B. Fleet Co. (maker of laxative products) said the company is voluntarily withdrawing its oral, over-the-counter bowel cleansing solutions. The company said it was going to recall its Fleet Phospho-soda and Fleet Phospho-soda EZ-Prep Bowel Cleansing System used to clear the bowels before a colonoscopy.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz

Urgent Recall of Pediatric Arterial Cannulae from Terumo Cardiovascular Systems

Jessica Smagacz — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:43:34 GMT

On December 1, Terumo Cardiovascular Systems issued an urgent worldwide and nationwide recall of the company’s Tenderlow Pediatric Arterial Cannulaw. This recall included 21 lot codes.

Terumo, a company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Elkton, Maryland; Ashland, Massachusetts; and Tustin, California, is a marketer of medical devices and global manufacturer for cardiac and vascular surgery.

There were five reports explaining the difficulty retracting the introducer from the cannula. When this happens, the cannula must be removed and replaced. In this type of process, aortic damage, blood loss or death can occur.

The lot numbers can be found on the FDA website here:

Currently, there have been no reports of injury or death associated with this product.

What is an arterial cannula?

It is a disposable tube that is inserted in the aorta during many cardiac bypass surgery procedures.

Terumo distributed this product to 68 U.S. hospitals and to distribution centers in Australia, Canada and Europe. Customers are highly recommended to not use this product unless medically necessary. FDA recommends if it is necessary to use this product to do so without the introducer.

Please call the company’s # at 800-521-2818 with any questions.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jessica Smagacz