Manufacturer sued for spinal cord injury

Four years after a devastating snowmobile accident rendered him paraplegic, a Wisconsin man is suing Arctic Cat for his injuries. In the suit, he states that his accident, which occurred during a snowmobile race, was caused by a problem with the steering system. He recently found out that Arctic Cat revealed the problem in 2006 for his 2002 model vehicle.

On Sept. 19, 2006 Arctic Cat recalled approximately 50,500 snowmobiles, involving model years 2002 to 2006 inclusively. According to the recall notice, the steering shaft “can fail at the steering shaft/steering arm attachment” leading to loss of control and possible “injury or death.” The company recommended that owners stop using the machines immediately and contact Arctic Cat to arrange the free repair.

Unfortunately, it was too late for the Wisconsin man. After losing control of his snowmobile and crashing during a February 2003 race, he was run over by one or more other snowmobiles, resulting in his spinal cord injury. He contests that his paraplegia is a direct result of this defect, and made his snowmobile  "unreasonably dangerous for its intended uses."

Arctic Cat, however, is arguing that the man’s injuries were directly due to his actions or those of others. Further, any possible involvement of the snowmobile itself in his injuries “was caused by the abuse and/or unforeseeable misuse of the product." The model he was riding, the 2002 440 Sno Pro, is specifically designed for racing.

Other models affected in the recall include:

Approximately 11,000 people per year suffer paraplegia and quadriplegia injuries, and about 250,000 Americans live with these disabilities. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injury (46.9%), followed by falls, acts of violence, and sports. Medical costs alone can range from $500,000 to $3 million over the lifespan of a patient, and usually results in a lessened life expectancy directly related to the severity of the injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered spinal cord injury leading to paraplegia or quadriplegia, and you feel that a product defect or the negligent act of someone else is to blame, contact Jim S. Adler & Associates. We have over 30 years of product liability and negligence cases, and we may be able to help you secure a fair settlement to compensate you for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t let your injuries harm you financially as well. Call Jim S. Adler & Associates right now or fill out the free case review form on this page with the details of your paraplegia or quadriplegia injury.

Additionally, Jim S. Adler & Associates has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237; and Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas).