We handle Polaris RZR Fire Cases Nationwide

Types of

Injuries Sought

Types of Injuries

Polaris RZR fires erupt with terrifying speed. Victims sometimes have less than 60 seconds to escape before flames engulf the entire vehicle. When passengers cannot unbuckle seat belts quickly enough, the consequences too often have been catastrophic.

The injuries suffered too often are severe, life-altering, and often permanent.

Severe Burn Injuries

RZR fire victims commonly suffer second-degree and third-degree burns covering large percentages of their bodies. These are not minor injuries.

They are devastating wounds that require immediate hospitalization, multiple surgeries, and years of ongoing medical treatment.

The Fuel Rail Injectors

Second-degree burns penetrate through the outer layer of skin (epidermis) into the middle layer (dermis). Victims experience:

•..Severe pain

•..Blistering and open wounds

•..High risk of infection

•..Scarring even after healing

•..Sensitivity to temperature and air movement

Second-degree burns covering large areas of the body require hospitalization and often skin grafting. Recovery can take months, and scarring is permanent.

Third-Degree Burns

Third-degree burns destroy all layers of skin and can damage underlying fat, muscle, tendons, and bones. These are the most severe thermal burns and cause devastating injuries, including:

•..Destruction of skin tissue

•..Damage to nerve endings (burns may appear white, black, gray, or leathery)

•..Inability to heal without surgical intervention

•..Months or years of treatment required

•..Permanent disfigurement

Too many RZR fire victims suffer third-degree burns over 45% to 65% of their bodies. A 13-year-old boy suffered burns over 45% of his body. When burns cover such extensive areas, survival itself becomes uncertain. The larger the burn area, the higher the mortality risk.

Skin Grafts

Victims of severe RZR fire burns too often require multiple skin graft surgeries to survive and heal. Skin grafting is a painful, complex process that takes months or years. Recovery from skin graft surgery is difficult:

•..Grafted areas must remain immobilized for days to allow the skin to attach

•..Both donor sites and graft sites cause severe pain

•..Risk of graft failure if infection develops

•..Multiple rounds of surgery are required as healing progresses

•..Physical therapy and occupational therapy are needed to regain function

•..Pressure garments must be worn for months or years to manage scarring

Even after initial grafts heal, victims often need additional reconstructive surgeries years later to address scarring, contractures, and functional limitations.

Amputations

Some RZR fire victims suffer burns so severe that amputation becomes necessary.

An 11-year-old girl from Texas lost her right leg and left foot after suffering third and fourth-degree burns in a RZR fire. She will live with this disability for the rest of her life. A 15-year-old girl from Utah endured multiple amputations before dying.

For victims who suffer amputations in RZR fires, the impact extends across decades. They face a lifetime of challenges that should never have existed, such as:

•..Prosthetic fittings and adjustments throughout life

•..Ongoing physical therapy

•..Limitations in mobility and activities

•..Psychological adjustment to permanent disability

•..Lifelong medical costs

Brain Injuries

Some victims suffer brain injuries as a result of RZR fires. Extended oxygen deprivation during fire events, trauma during escape attempts, or complications from severe burns can all cause brain damage. Consequences can include:

•..Cognitive impairments

•..Memory problems

•..Personality changes

•..Need for lifelong care and supervision

•..Lost educational and career opportunities

These injuries can rob victims of their futures.

Psychological Trauma

The physical injuries from RZR fires are apparent. The psychological wounds are equally devastating. These are sometimes overlooked, but not by our legal team.

Victims of RZR fires commonly suffer:

•..Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

•..Depression and anxiety

•..Nightmares and flashbacks to the fire

•..Fear of vehicles, fire, or enclosed spaces

•..Social withdrawal due to disfigurement

•..Loss of self-esteem and identity

Many burn victims require psychiatric treatment and counseling for years. Some never fully recover emotionally from the trauma.

Scarring and Disfigurement

Even after skin grafts heal, RZR fire victims bear permanent scars. These are not minor cosmetic issues. They are severe, visible disfigurements that affect every aspect of life.

Some victims wear long sleeves year-round to hide scars. They avoid pools, beaches, and any situation requiring exposed skin. They endure stares and questions from strangers. The psychological impact of permanent disfigurement cannot be overstated.

Wrongful Death

Tragically, not all RZR fire victims survive.

A 15-year-old girl died after suffering burns over 65% of her body when her family's RZR caught fire. In 2023, four adults in their twenties were killed when their RZR rolled over and burst into flames. A wonderful 23-year-old conservation officer in Idaho died the day after he was trapped in RZR flames. A beautiful young nursing student from Tennessee died after 115 days in hospital burn unit intensive care.

These are not isolated incidents. At least 13 deaths have been attributed to Polaris RZR fires.

Families who lose loved ones in RZR fires suffer unimaginable grief:

•..Loss of a child, parent, spouse, or sibling

•..Emotional trauma from witnessing the fire or seeing loved ones suffer

•..Financial hardship from funeral costs and lost income

•..Psychological counseling for surviving family members

•..A lifetime of absence and what-ifs

No amount of compensation can bring back a loved one. But families deserve justice and accountability for preventable deaths.

The Financial Burden

The medical costs of RZR fire injuries are staggering:

•..Emergency room treatment and ambulance transport

•..Hospitalization in burn units for weeks or months

•..Excruciating skin debridements

•..Multiple skin graft surgeries at tens of thousands of dollars each

•..Reconstructive surgeries that continue for years

•..Physical therapy and occupational therapy

•..Prosthetics and assistive devices

•..Prescription medications and wound care supplies

•..Psychological counseling

•..Home modifications for accessibility

•..Lost wages during recovery

•..Reduced earning capacity due to permanent disability

Families may face medical bills totaling hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Many victims require ongoing medical treatment for life. The financial devastation compounds the physical and emotional trauma.

The Life-Changing Consequences of Polaris’ Inaction

Every burn injury, amputation, and death from a Polaris RZR fire is a tragedy. Worse still, Polaris knew about the design defect that caused these fires as early as 2012. Despite this, the company continued manufacturing and selling vehicles with the same dangerous forward-facing exhaust header for over a decade. Polaris issued recalls that did not fix the fundamental problem. The company prioritized profits over safety.

Victims should not have suffered these catastrophic injuries. Children should not have lost limbs, burnt heads, or died in fires that Polaris could have prevented.

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a Polaris RZR fire, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and permanent disabilities. You deserve justice.

What You Can Recover

in Minnesota

Minnesota law allows victims to pursue compensation for:

•..All past and future medical expenses

•..Skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, debridements, and ongoing treatment

•..Lost wages and loss of earning capacity

•..Pain and suffering

•..Emotional distress and psychological trauma

•..Permanent disability and disfigurement

•..Wrongful death damages for surviving family members

Because Minnesota has no caps on damages in product liability cases, juries can award compensation that truly reflects the devastating impact of severe burn injuries. Other states arbitrarily limit damages to $250,000 or other fixed amounts, even for victims with catastrophic injuries. Minnesota allows full compensation recovery. Also, there are no caps on further punitive damages a jury may award in Minnesota, unlike the many other states that limit punitive damages, some severely.

Free Consultation |

No Fees Until Recovery

If you or a loved one suffered burn injuries, amputations, or wrongful death in a Polaris RZR fire, contact our legal team today.

We have extensive experience representing RZR fire victims. We understand the medical complexities of burn injuries. We know how to document the full extent of your damages. Not just current medical bills, either, but future surgeries, lifelong care needs, and permanent impacts on your quality of life.