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James Bingham and the family of deceased Steven Groves recently filed a lawsuit against Polaris Industries, claiming that the UTV manufacturer is liable for an accident that caused the death of 24-year-old Groves, and the severe burn injuries of 42-year-old Bingham. Known for erupting into flames, Polaris-brand RZR, Ranger, and General UTVs have all been recalled at various times, due to key manufacturing defects that have killed at least 3 people and caused over 250 dangerous fires.
In spite of ongoing class action litigation against Polaris and a previous multi-million-dollar settlement with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, these defects have continued to claim lives and cause catastrophic injuries. By bringing a lawsuit against Polaris Industries directly, James Bingham and the surviving family members of Steven Groves hope to secure some measure of justice, and prevent similar incidents from affecting other families.
The Tragic Toll of UTV Fire Accidents
In May 2019, James Bingham and Steven Groves were simply driving a 2017 Polaris RZR vehicle in the Idaho Wiser Sand Dunes when it suddenly caught fire. Bingham was able to cut free of his harness and escape the vehicle, but sustained significant burns in the process. Bingham attempted to assist Groves, but by the time he was able to escape the vehicle, he had suffered third-degree burns. After being transferred to the Salt Lake City burn center, Groves died within a few hours from his injuries.
Unfortunately, this tragic incident is far from the first to affect the lives of Idaho and Utah residents. The plaintiffs allege that Polaris has been receiving reports of defects since 1999, and earlier this year Polaris recalled current model-year vehicles for fire hazards. Dozens of lawsuits have now been filed on behalf of those injured or killed in UTV fires. 3 deaths involving Polaris vehicles have occurred in Utah alone, and the CSPC has received hundreds of additional reports of fires all around the country.
Committed to Seeking Justice for Burn Injury Victims
At Cutt, Kendell & Olson, we’ve gained a unique reputation for taking on Polaris fire injury and wrongful death claims. Because we’ve been pursuing these cases since the very beginning, we’ve seen the true damage that these dangerous machines can cause – and we’ve been instrumental in pushing for Polaris to recall products and account for their actions.
Our attorneys can represent victims of Polaris fires across the nation. Whether you were seriously injured or suffered the loss of a loved one on these recreational vehicles, we can help you seek justice, acting as aggressive and experienced legal advocates on your behalf.
Contact (801) 901-3470 today to get in touch with our Salt Lake City product liability team.