Snowmobiles are common vehicles used to maneuver through snow-filed mountains hills in cold areas. They are often used in more remote areas to prevent the risks of collisions and accidents; that is, they are not used at ski resorts on the trails with skiers and snowboarders. They are also used in sports and for travel, especially at lodges and cabins in the woods. The trouble with snowmobiles is not only that they are dangerous to use if you are inexperienced – the vehicles may also have defects and issues that could cause accidents and contribute to crashes. It is important that you have a working and functioning snowmobile or you may be severely injured in an incident. Arctic Cat is one such company that has recalled its snowmobiles due to hazards. Normandie Law Firm can ensure that you take appropriate legal action to sue the company for your injuries.
Snowmobile Accident Information
Snowmobiles are driven atop snow, often on hills and mountains. They can reach speeds of up to 30 mph, but some snowmobiles specifically made for competitions and racing can exceed 100 mph. Often, accidents can happen for the following reasons:
- Speeding
- Falls off ledges, cliffs, precipices, edges, and more
- Collision with other snowmobiles, individuals, trees, rocks, and more
- Loss of control from attempted jumps, spins, tricks, and more
- Lack of experience from snowmobile rider
- Rollovers, tip-overs, and more
- Slipping on ice or suddenly riding on areas that aren’t snow
- Crashing over embankments or into trenches
- Driving at night or in areas with low visibility, excess trees, and more
- Driving without headlamps or lights
- Riding while drunk or under the influence of drugs
– Kawasaki All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) Recall Lawsuit Info
– Arctic Cat Recall Attorney
– Sue Polaris for Defective ACE 325 Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle
– Roll Cage Defect Attorney – Improper Installation Lawsuit
– Polaris Recalls Defective ACE 325 Recreational Off-Highway Vehicles Fire and Burn Injuries
– Product Liability Attorney Los Angeles
– Average Case Value of a Slip and Fall Spinal Cord Injury Lawsuit
Many of these accidents can simply be attributed to the negligent or reckless behavior of the driver. In some situations, the defective or malfunctioning snowmobiles can cause the accidents. These problems often lead to crash hazards, many of which can be fatal. Examples of vehicle defects with snowmobiles include:
- Broken handgrips or handlebars
- Engine problems
- Throttle issues
- Brake problems
- Broken lights
- Fire hazard from exhaust flames
- Broken seats
- Detached suspension
- Broken skis
- Easily breakable plastic or glass components
These hazards and defects can cause extremely serious accidents. Snowmobiles should not pose additional dangers to riders given the fact that they are already unsafe as it is. They have no seatbelts, roll bars, or other safety features that are designed to protect the riders. This is because the riders would be greatly harmed if they were held in the snowmobiles during accidents. The seatbelts would cause them to be crushed or have their limbs broken, while roll bars may collapse and prevent easy escapes. Because of the lack of safety features, it is imperative that there be no defects with the snowmobiles.
Injuries from Snowmobile Accidents
Snowmobile crashes can lead to numerous injuries, including:
- Broken bones
- Fractures
- Dislocations
- Sprains
- Internal organ damage
- Brain bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Closed head injuries
- Concussions
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Neck injuries
- Knee and hip injuries
- Muscle damage
- Nerve damage
- CRPS
- Crushing injuries
- Puncture wounds
- Disfigurement
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Coma
- Death
Snowmobile accidents can be fatal, especially if victims were not riding in groups. Accidents can lead to victims being stranded in the cold, unable to move, waiting for help to find them.
Recalled Arctic Cat Snowmobiles
Arctic Cat has manufactured numerous models of snowmobiles for regular use. The company has been forced to recall various products, though, due to hazards and defects. Arctic Cat is known for having to pull various vehicles from the market, including ATVs and snowmobiles. The snowmobiles that it has pulled in recent times can be found below.
- Arctic Cat snowmobiles, models M8000, XF8000, ZR8000, and Norseman X8000, were all pulled due to fire hazards. The exhaust pipe could emit flames that could make the snowmobile, rider’s clothing, or other items catch on fire. The snowmobile was recalled in April of 2019; 9000 units were recalled and at risk. They were sold from January 2017 through February 2019 at retail prices between $13,000 and $18,000. There were 70 reports of the flames melting the plastic near the outlet area and 4 reports of the snowmobile catching fire.
- 255 Arctic Cat Pantera snowmobiles were recalled in August 2018 after it was discovered that the handlebar grip could break during the ride, which would cause the rider to be unable to control the snowmobile. They were sold from July 2017 through May 2018 for between $10,000 and $15,000. Although no injuries were reported from the incidents, the risks were still prevalent.
In both cases, Arctic Cat recommended that all riders immediately stop using the snowmobiles and contact the company to schedule a free repair. However, this could prove problematic, as the repair may not be fully effective, and there may be other issues present – which is not a farfetched idea, given the rate of recalls that Arctic Cat has.
Steps to File a Product Liability Lawsuit
If you were hurt because an Arctic Cat snowmobile malfunctioned while you were riding it, you could take legal action. You would file a product liability lawsuit, which would require you to prove one of three points:
- The item was made with a design flaw during the conceptualization process
- The product had a manufacturing error that affected its performance, or a group was poorly made due to a mechanical error
- The item had no warnings on it or on the packaging to tell users about potential hazards
With Arctic Cat snowmobiles, you would likely only have to show that there was an issue with the design or a manufacturing error. After an accident, it is very important that you do not return the snowmobile for a repair or replacement. You should hold on to it, since it is your key piece of evidence. You should also not try to fix the snowmobile yourself; if you do so, your claim may fall apart. The company can claim that you were the reason for the accident if you cannot show how the defect was present beforehand.
You should follow these steps after a snowmobile accident to stay safe and have the best foundation and preparation for your lawsuit:
- Get medical attention at once for your injuries
- Keep receipts and notes from the doctor
- Photograph your injuries, the defect and damage on the snowmobile, the scene of the accident, and more
- Collect statements and testimonies from any bystanders or eyewitnesses
- Make copies of your receipt and bank statement showing you paid for the snowmobile
- Write down any extra contact details, insurance information, and more that is necessary from any third-parties involved in the incident
- Contact an expert attorney with experience in snowmobile accident lawsuits
Your best chance of success lies with getting representation from a skilled lawyer. We can collect your evidence and submit it to the company’s insurance company along with a demand letter outlining the desired compensation for the incident and injuries. You may not have any legal or negotiating experience or know how to move forward with a product liability case. We can pick up all the legwork and ensure that you are properly represented.
Arctic Cat Product Liability Lawsuit Compensation
Individuals who have been hurt in Arctic Cat snowmobile accidents can receive ample compensation for their injuries. We will strive to win you the following damages:
- Medical expenses for surgery, hospitalization, medication, physical therapy, and future costs of medical procedures
- Property damage to your snowmobile and any lost or broken items or personal belongings
- Lost wages from time spent away from work and the future wages you missed due to injuries, recovery time, procedures, and more
- Pain and suffering damages for emotional trauma, PTSD, anxiety, fear, and more
- Wrongful death expenses if a family member or loved one died in the accident, which can include funeral and burial fees, loss of consortium, pre-death medical bills and pain and suffering, loss of expected inheritance and savings, and more
Let our lawyers represent you and we will strive to win you the maximum coverage available under the law.
Normandie and You
Normandie Law Firm is one of the most accomplished law firms in the state. We have years of experience handling Arctic Cat snowmobile accident lawsuits and other claims involving such vehicles. We know the best tactics to win your claim and we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars of our clients throughout our tenure. We are aggressive and do not back down to any insurance agency or company – you are our priority, and we fight for your fair compensation.
Call our law offices today for a free legal consultation to discuss your case. We will talk about the potential value of your claim and the legal process, and you can ask us whatever you wish. We will also tell you more about our zero fee guarantee, which will promise that you won’t have to spend any money throughout the case. We will only get paid if we win, and the money will come from the settlement or verdict won from Arctic Cat. If we lose, we take nothing, and you can walk away with no debt to our firm.
To get started on a product liability lawsuit against Arctic Cat for damages suffered due to a defective snowmobile, contact Normnadie Law Firm today.
