Personal Injury
A Gwinnet County jury has awarded Mr. Roger McTaggart and his wife Glenda compensation of $317,000 in a personal injury case which could have very far reaching consequences for Yamaha.
Yamaha are facing a high number of lawsuits over their 'Rhino 660' utility-terrain vehicle (UTV) and it's safety problems, in particular is 'unsafe' design.
This is the first case in which Yamaha have been forced to pay, with the implication that future cases may be settled in the same way, leading to millions of dollars in costs for the company.
Mr. McTaggart sustained a crushed leg when his Rhino flipped over while he was turning right at a slow speed, on a flat and grassy surface, and the vehicle landed on his leg. His injuries were both serious and permanent.
The jury found the rhino's design defective and that yamaha didn't make enough of an effort to ensure the Rhino was safely designed.
Since this is the first case in which the plaintiffs have won compensation, this may pave the way for Yamaha having to make more compensation payments down the line.
Further personal injury cases are to be brought against Yamaha in the State Court of Gwinnett County, Georgia, the Superior Court of Orange County, California, and in Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)-proceeding involving Federal Court Plaintiffs from multiple jurisdictions. (source:lawyersandsettlements.com)
Another similar personal injury case against Yamaha is already underway in Orange County, California (a consolidated case,made up of a many cases). the first of the MDL cases is set to go to court on the 18th of October,2010. Please click here for more information on auto accidents personal injury cases.