The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is writing mandatory rules for the two- to four-passenger recreational off-road vehicles also known as ROVs. If you or a loved one has been in an ROV accident, call a McClellan Law Firm San Diego Personal Injury Lawyer today at 619.677.1641 for a free consultation.
Manufacturers of recreational off-road vehicles are attempting to head off regulators by incorporating some safety features into their products. The chairperson of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says these belated efforts won’t deter the government from pursuing safety standards.
The Commission is writing mandatory rules for the two- to four-passenger recreational off-road vehicles also known as ROVs.
Bloomberg News reports that U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission chair Inez Tannenbaum told a meeting of ROV manufacturers that “it concerned me then, and it concerns me now, that there were no standards for ROVs. News accounts and investigations of rollovers and incidents have not stopped,” she said.
There are reports of at least 268 deaths on the vehicles since 2003, with many serious injuries as well.
Also called UTVs (utility-type vehicles) and side-by-sides, ROVs look like a hybrid of a small Jeep and a golf cart; they’re typically equipped with a metal-bar roll cage over the cab in which the driver and passenger sit.
Manufacturers have recently suggested voluntary safety measures for the vehicles, such as helmets and safety belts, but regulators reject those as falling far short of what’s needed to protect riders from unnecessary injuries and fatalities.
The consumer agency said stricter measures will be adopted, including rollover tests and features to keep riders’ limbs safer. The vehicles have acquired a reputation for being involved in crashes resulting in severe injuries requiring amputations. Other ROV-related injuries include crushed limbs, as well as skin torn from arms and legs.
If you have been injured in a crash or rollover of an ROV or UTV, contact a California personal injury lawyer who can assess the facts of your case. Look for a personal injury attorney who understands both the vehicles and the law that protects you and your family when someone has been injured because of a defective or flawed product design.
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Toyota’s recall of floor mats, instead of addressing what was most likely electrical issues, raised concerns that Toyota was valuing income over customer safety. However, Toyota was not the first car manufacturer who placed importance on the dollar. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automotive defect, call a California product liability attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
Threat of Litigation Helps Ensure Defective Vehicles Are Fixed
Automotive defects can be very dangerous and increase accident rates significantly. These defects, such a Ford’s unsafe gas tank location and poor SUV design leading to car fires and rollovers, were not given much thought by the auto company until the threat of litigation faced them. If you or a loved one has been injured due to an automotive defect, call a California product liability attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
Teen Drivers at High Risk for Car Accidents
Across the nation, lawmakers are imposing a variety of restrictions on teen drivers in the hopes of stemming high crash rates. Teens are at a higher risk for car accidents, which is due to not only inexperience, but also distractions like passengers and cell phones. If you or a loved one has been injured due to a car accident, call a California car accident attorney from the McClellan Law Firm at 619.677.1641.
