Yamaha Not Responsible for Rhino Death, Texas Jury Says

The first lawsuit of its kind to go to trial accusing Yamaha Motor Corp. of marketing defectively dangerous Rhino all-terrain vehicles has been decided in favor of the company.

Jurors in Orange County, Texas found Yamaha was not responsible for the death of 13-year-old Johnny Ray, who was killed in a roll-over accident while driving one of the popular Rhino vehicles, according to a report in the Southeast Texas Record. The jury agreed with arguments made by attorneys for Yamaha, who said Ray’s own actions on the day of the accident and other considerations were responsible for his death, not the unsafe design of the Rhino. Jurors — eight men and five women – needed just a few hours of deliberation before reaching the verdict in favor of Yamaha, the Record reported.

Earlier this week, readers of attorneyatlaw.com learned about Ray’s case, which had just begun testimony. His was just one of hundreds of lawsuits filed against Yamaha for deaths and injuries suffered in Rhino accidents.

Because the suit filed by Ray’s parents was the first to go before a jury, it was seen as a possible indicator of how those hundreds of cases might proceed. A win for Ray’s family could be used by other victims to bolster their own cases against Yamaha, while a victory in court for Yamaha might prove useful to the company in defending those other cases in the future.

What Does This Mean for Other Rhino Suits?

So the $64,000 question is: What does the verdict mean for hundreds of other Rhino lawsuits filed in courts across the United States? Well, the short answer is probably not much.

Personal-injury lawsuits are highly fact-based cases in which the final outcome can turn one way or another on a small, seemingly insignificant detail. The actions of the driver and others involved in the accident, the design and condition of the vehicle, road and weather conditions, and other important factors all play large roles in the litigation of Rhino-accident cases.

In short, every lawsuit is different and there is no way to say how the Texas jury’s verdict in the Rhino death case will affect other suits. The only way to determine whether you or your loved ones have legal rights stemming from a Yamaha Rhino accident is to consult with qualified, experienced, and knowledgeable legal counsel for a full review of your accident and other circumstances.

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