ATV Manufacturer Polaris Faces Four Wrongful Death Lawsuits

The families of four young adults who tragically died in a fiery ATV rollover accident last year have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Polaris, the manufacturer of the ATV. They allege that the company negligently sold vehicles known to have fire hazard risks. The devastating accident occurred in July 2023 when a Polaris Razor side-by-side ATV rolled over and burst into flames. The victims were all in their 20s.

According to the lawsuit, Polaris made “negligent, reckless, and deliberate decisions” to manufacture, market, and sell its Razor (RZR) ATVs despite a documented history of fire risks. The plaintiffs claim that had Polaris addressed the “known defects”, their ATV would not have claimed the lives of four young people.

Further, the claim states that Polaris failed to warn the public about known fire hazards related to their ATV models. Had the plaintiffs known about the potential fire hazards associated with the RZR ATV, they may have made a different decision that day and still be alive to talk about it.

The rollover accident 

The rollover accident occurred on July 29. According to the lawsuit, the ATV’s front-side shock absorber failed, causing the suspension to collapse and the vehicle to nose-dive into the ground. The impact caused the rear-end of the ATV to flip into the air. It immediately caught fire. Witnesses, including parents, rushed in to help, but the fire spread rapidly.

Two of the passengers who were seated in the rear were unable to escape their restraints and burned to death. Two of the others managed to escape despite severe burns and were airlifted to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.

The lawsuit attributes the fire to a “known defect” in the engine and exhaust system which generates excessive heat behind the passenger seats. The lawsuit also details numerous safety issues with Polaris ATVs that include multiple recalls, inadequate fixes, lawsuits, and scrutiny from regulators.

In 2018, Polaris agreed to pay a $27 million civil penalty to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for failing to report defects that posed fire risks. At this point, Polaris had received reports of 150 fires, including one fatal incident involving a 15-year-old passenger. In addition, there were 11 burn injuries reported.

Product liability and ATVs 

ATVs are consumer products and defects related to them that cause injury are filed by personal injury attorneys making product liability claims. These claims allege that a known defect with the ATV can result in serious injuries to a rider. In the case mentioned above, Polaris is alleged to have known about the risk of burn injuries and failed to remedy the problem despite numerous concerns from former users and regulators.

Talk to an Oakland ATV Accident Attorney Today 

Venardi Zurada represents the interests of those who have been injured in ATV accidents. Call our Oakland personal injury attorneys today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin investigating your claims right away.

Source:

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