POLARIS RECALLS BRUTUS UTVS | PRODUCT LIABILITY LAWYER

On January 30, 2020, Polaris recalled about 340 of its 2017-2018 Brutus UTVs. The reason for this recall lies in the rear brake line, which is faulty. It can potentially be punctured and split open, rendering the brakes unusable, which can lead to crashes or collisions.

The 2017-2018 Brutus UTVs come in colors grey, black, and blue. The word “POLARIS” is on the front grille, while the words “POLARIS BRUTUS” can be found on the side of the UTV on the utility bed. The words “DIESEL HD” are also located on the front fenders. The vehicle identification number (VIN) can be located in the driver’s side front wheel well on the frame. The VIN numbers that are included run non-sequentially from 7740364 to 8576615. The three models included are the 2017 Brutus DSL HD PTO DLX, the 2017 Brutus DSL HD PTO, and the 2018 Brutus DSL HD PTO DLX.

The UTVs were manufactured in Minnesota and sold at numerous Polaris dealerships and stores across the country. They were sold from May 2016 to April 2019 and cost between $18,800 and $24,100.

To date, a single report has been filed wherein the rear brake line broke during use. There have been no other accidents or injuries reported from this defect, though. The company recommends that all individuals stop using the UVs at once and to contact Polaris. Polaris is also contacting known customers. The remedy is to schedule a free-of-charge inspection and repair to fix the faulty brake line.

Injury Risks from Defective Polaris UTVs

UTVs, or Utility Vehicles, are vehicles that are primarily used to haul items during work and you need to move across rough terrain. The vehicles have utility beds that can store items and may be able to tow small trailers. They are designed to be easily accessed, but this is one of the shortcomings of the vehicle. UTVs have no windshields or airbags, and the seat belts can only protect so much. They have no doors or coverage, so in the event of a crash, you are completely exposed to the environment or other vehicle. The dangers are very prominent when riding in a UTV.

The dangers increase when there are potential faults with the vehicles themselves. Damaged brake lines are a recipe for disaster. If you are unable to stop in time, you could get into a serious accident. You may hit a fallen tree, crash into another UTV, collide with a person, drive into a ditch or hole, swerve and veer off the road, and more. It is crucial that you have a UTV that has working brake lines, and if a company distributes a vehicle with such a defect, subsequent injuries should be on them.

Some of the damages you can suffer include:

• Concussions
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Closed head injuries
• Abrasions
• Crushing injuries
• Puncture wounds
• Internal bleeding
• Internal organ damage
• CRPS
• Aggravation of pre-existing injuries
• Dislocations
• Nerve damage
• Torn muscles
• Broken bones
• Severed limbs and digits
• Spinal cord injuries
• Disc injuries
• Neck damage
• Fractures
• Sprains
• Lacerations
• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Degloving
• Hip and knee injuries
• Burns
• Coma
• Death

These injuries may be permanent or long-lasting. If an accident happens due to broken brake lines in a UTV, you could hold Polaris financially responsible for the ensuing expenses and losses.

Suing Polaris for Injuries from a Defective Brutus UTV

In order to sue Polaris, you will need proof of the issue with the UTV. A product liability lawsuit can be filed if you can prove that the company made an error of some kind. There are three potential points that can be proven; they are:

• There was a design flaw with the UTV that prevented it from properly working
• There was a manufacturing error with the UTV that resulted in the wrong materials being used or the assembly being wrong
• There was a lack of hazard signs or warning symbols on the UTV or elsewhere

The Polaris Brutus UTVs likely had a manufacturing error that contributed to the faulty brake lines. Polaris has developed many UTVs before and it is assumed that they know how to run a brake line and ensure that it is safe. However, not every batch of vehicles that is produced is made in the same way or with the same materials. The choice to use a different material for the brake line on the Brutus vehicle could have contributed to its faultiness. Further, there may have been a problem with the machines when they were being made, which could have caused the brake lines to become damaged during the vehicle’s creation.

Next, you will need proof of the defect and evidence of your injuries to file a claim. We recommend following these steps:

Firstly, you should go to the hospital to get medical treatment for your injuries. You will need to hold on to the medical receipts, doctor’s notes, test results, and other pieces of evidence. You should not wait too long to go to the doctor after you’ve been hurt; if you do, you may cause the insurance agent to doubt your claim. The gap can cause him to believe you were injured in another accident not caused by the broken UTV. Further, if you don’t seek treatment at once, you may actually cause your injuries to worsen, which is extremely detrimental to your health.

Next, you should have photos of the defective UTV, pictures of the scene of the accident, and more. it is possible that someone was recording or wearing a GoPro, or that you had a dashboard camera active, which could lead to video evidence of the incident, but this is not very likely.

It is important that you do not return the UTV to Polaris, take it to a mechanic to fix it, try to fix the defective brake line yourself, or get rid of the UTV I it is defective. You should hold on to it throughout the claim. If you do anything to it, you run the risk of the company blaming you for the problems. You should also ensure you keep it because it is the primary piece of evidence for your claim, and losing it will make it next to impossible to prove you were injured due to the faulty brake lines.

If there were any passengers or eyewitnesses who saw the incident happen, you can add their testimonies and statements to your claim. Other individuals may also have been hurt because of the defective brake lines, which could result in a class action lawsuit against the company.

You will need receipts, documents, proof of purchase statements, credit card or bank statements, and other evidence showing that you were the rightful owner of the UTV.

Lastly, you should reach out to a skilled lawyer who can handle your product liability claim for you. If you try to move forward by yourself, you run the risk of receiving nothing – you might not have legal experience or negotiating tactics, and the insurance agent will simply throw out or reject your claim. Our attorneys can work around the clock to ensure you are fairly represented and your case is closely examined. You can focus on your recovery.

Value of a Product Liability Lawsuit against Polaris

The value of your product liability lawsuit will be determined by the insurance agent handling your claim. He will consider the severity of your injuries, how responsible you were for the crash, the liability of the company, your career and age, and more, and he will come up with an offer. Our goal is to negotiate a fair deal from him. We will ensure that you are covered for the following losses and damages:

• Medical expenses from the past and future
• Property damage for any lost items or belongings
• Lost wages from the time you could not return to work
• Pain and suffering damages for emotional turmoil, fear, anxiety, PTSD, and more



call our law offices today.

How We Help You

The Downtown LA Law Group is well known for its successful product liability lawsuits and for winning large settlements against companies like Polaris. We have secured hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients throughout the years and we know the most efficient and viable methods for success. Our lawyers are aggressive and will stop at nothing to win you the damages you need.

For a free legal consultation, call our law offices today. We’ll help you understand the legal process and the potential value of your claim. We will also give you more details about our zero fee guarantee, which says that you won’t have to spend a dime of your own money on the case. We will cover the costs and we will only get paid if we win. If we lose, get no payments.

To sue Polaris for injuries from a defective Brutus UTV accident, get in touch with the Downtown LA Law Group today.