Youth ATVs Recalled Due To Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death

Peace Industry Group has announced the recall of Peace Sports Youth All-Terrain Vehicles due to an injury hazard. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the youth ATVs fail to comply with the requirements of the federal mandatory ATV safety standard. The handlebars on the ATV pose a laceration hazard if the child’s body or head impacts the handlebars at a high rate of speed. In addition, the parking brakes fail to hold, posing a potential collision hazard. Further, the ATVs are missing the required safety reflectors for vehicles intended for use by children 10 years of age and older. One model’s footguards pose a laceration, contusion, and amputation hazard if the rider’s foot enters near the rear wheel area. ATVs that fail to meet federal mandatory minimum requirements pose a serious risk of permanent injury or death.

Peace Industry Group is offering full refunds to all customers who purchased the product.

ATV injury lawsuits

 The most recent example of an ATV injury lawsuit was filed by the families of 4 people who tragically died when their ATVs caught fire. Their families have since filed wrongful death lawsuits against Polaris, the manufacturer of the ATV in question, alleging that the company negligently sold defective vehicles known to be fire hazards. The incident occurred last July when a Polaris Razor side-by-side ATV rolled over and burst into flames. The victims, who were all in their 20s, suffered painful deaths as a result of the ATV’s failure, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs contend that 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 believe that had Polaris addressed the known defects, the four young people would still be alive today.

According to the lawsuit: “Had Polaris properly and truthfully communicated to Plaintiffs what Polaris knew about the thermal hazards related to its RZR vehicles, including the RZR at issue in this case, the RZR would not have operated on the day of the fire, and four young adults would not have been in the RZR at the time of the fire.”

The plaintiffs contend that the ATV’s front-side shock absorber failed, causing the suspension to collapse and the vehicle to nose-dive into the ground. The impact of this flipped the rear end of the ATV into the air, which immediately caught fire. Onlookers rushed into help, but the fire spread too rapidly. Those seated in the rear were unable to escape their restraints and died in the fire. Those in the front managed to escape despite severe burns but died later at the hospital.

Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today 

Halpern, Santos & Pinkert can help you file an ATV injury lawsuit if you are injured in an ATV crash. Call our Florida personal injury attorneys today to schedule an appointment, and we will review your allegations, investigate your injuries, and the incident that caused them, and help you prepare an ironclad case against the manufacturer and any retailers that sold the product. Call today to learn more.

Sources:

cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Peace-Industry-Group-Recalls-Youth-All-Terrain-Vehicles-ATVs-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-and-Violation-of-Federal-ATV-Safety-Regulations

yoursourceone.com/columbia_basin/families-of-four-people-killed-in-fiery-atv-rollover-wreck-in-kittitas-county-sue-polaris/article_3e718814-1486-11ef-9471-1ffd8ad8af2a.html