Attorney Daily - Your source for the most important legal news

On December 22, 2009, a defective product recall was conducted by Polaris Industries, Inc. in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the below mentioned defective all-terrain vehicles immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: 2009-2010 Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)

Units: About 8,500

Manufacturer: Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minnesota.

Hazard: The front suspension ball joint stem can separate from the steering knuckle and cause the rider to lose steering control, posing a risk of injury or death to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: Polaris has received 19 reports of incidents involving the recalled ATVs

Description: This recall involves model year 2009 and 2010 Polaris Sportsman ATVs (models listed below) with certain VIN numbers. The ATVs were manufactured between January and August 2009. The VIN number and manufacture date are located on the right front of the ATV on the frame rail next to the front shock.

Sold at: Polaris dealers nationwide from February 2009 through November 2009 for between $7,500 and $10,800.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled ATVs and contact their local Polaris dealer to determine if your model and VIN number are included in this recall and to schedule a free repair. Polaris is directly contacting registered owners about the recall.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Polaris toll-free at (888) 704-5290 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.polarisindustries.com

A recent Jackson Clarion-Ledger article focuses on the dangers of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). In the article, Lee County, Mississippi, Coroner Carolyn Gillentine-Green and a Mississippi lawmaker are leading proponents of tougher laws for people using all-terrain vehicles. Gillentine-Green said her opinion was shaped by her work with people involved in ATV accidents.

In 2008 Gillentine -Green pronounced 20-year-old woman and her 5-year-old cousin dead after an ATV accident. “I’m a proponent for anything to make it safer,” Gillentine-Green said.

State Rep. Dannie Reed, R-Ackerman, is planning to refile a bill in the upcoming session to require safety practices and encourage safety education. Some dealers offer free training, but there are no ATV safety regulations in Mississippi.

State figures show 29 people were killed last year and more than 1,500 traumatic injuries occurred because of ATV accidents in Mississippi, Reed said.

Reed also said the state’s injury rate from ATV accidents is three times higher than the rest of the country.

From January 1, 1981, until December 31, 2007, Mississippi reported 271 people killed in ATV accidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Just from 2005 until 2007, 65 people were killed in the state, according to the safety commission.

“Mississippi has lost more people on ATVs than the state has lost soldiers to the Iraq war,” Reed said.

The following defective all terrain vehicles safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm named below in cooperation with the CPSC on December 2, 2009. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Model Year 2010 Can-Am® ATVs

Units: About 2,400

Distributor: BRP U.S. Inc., of Sturtevant, Wisconsin.

Hazard: The dynamic power steering can fail, resulting in the sudden loss of steering control. This poses a risk of injury or death to riders.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one incident report.

Description: The recall involves Model Year 2010 Can-Am® Outlander and Renegade ATVs. The following models are affected by this recall and can be located on the side panels:

Sold by: Authorized Can-Am® dealers nationwide from August 2009 through November 2009 for between $6,800 and $13,500.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using these vehicles and contact any Can-Am® dealer to schedule a free repair. Consumers are being sent a direct notice from BRP.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call BRP toll-free at (888) 638-5397 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.can-am.brp.com