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Whether you’re hitting the green or ambling around your subdivision, driving a golf cart can feel like all fun and games – until you’re in an accident.
After a crash, it’s important to seek medical care immediately. Then, if you’ve incurred damages to your cart (or vehicle) or sustained any injuries, the next step is finding an experienced golf cart accidents attorney.
It’s important to find someone who understands the laws, rules, and state-specific regulations that pertain to golf cart accidents. You’ll also want an attorney with a strong commitment to client service, so you know they’ll fight to get you the best outcome possible.
Reach out to the team at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm today for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand the most important factors to winning a case like yours as well as the types of compensation to which you could be entitled.
Schedule your free case review today when you use the contact form on this page.
When Should I Contact a Golf Cart Accidents Attorney?
If you or a loved one has been involved in a golf cart accident, it’s important to contact a qualified golf cart accident attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney can provide guidance on the legal process and evaluate any potential injury claims you may have.
To start, you will need to know a few key things about the golf cart accident.
Your lawyer will help you define the severity of your crash, any potential legal concerns, and who may be at fault for the accident. They can also help you begin calculating your damages based on the medical bills you have incurred and the income you have lost.
Additionally, your attorney can represent your interests in court if necessary, ensuring that your rights to seek due compensation are protected.
With comprehensive case management and a compassionate approach towards our clients, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your claim is properly handled and has a high chance of success.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Golf Cart Accidents?
When it comes to golf cart accidents, there are several common causes that can lead to injury or death. In fact, from 2007 to 2017 alone, data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System found that there were roughly 156,040 people treated for golf cart-related injuries.
Today, more and more people are still getting injured in golf cart accidents, with crashes remaining all too prevalent.
The most frequent causes of golf cart accidents include:
- Driver Negligence: Oftentimes, drivers of golf carts may be inexperienced or unaware of the rules of the road, leading to reckless driving and other negligent behavior. They may also be intoxicated or taking risks, such as driving on a public roadway.
- Vehicle Malfunction or Defect: Faulty brakes, steering components, or electrical systems can cause golf cart accidents, especially if they aren’t regularly serviced and inspected.
- Poorly Maintained Courses: Golf courses that aren’t adequately maintained can lead to dangerous (and unexpected) obstacles that may result in an accident.
- Obstructed View: Golf cart pathways should be clear of view obstructions and unreasonable hazards, or at least warn drivers while providing navigational aids like roadway mirrors. Drivers must also be cautious of their surroundings.
- Other Drivers and Operators: Other vehicles can pose serious dangers to golf cart occupants, especially road-going cars and trucks. Golf carts and traffic don’t mix safely, but sometimes passenger vehicle drivers veer into cart paths or make unsafe turns across cart thoroughfares, leading to dangerous and deadly accidents.
To protect yourself from being involved in a golf cart accident, make sure to inspect your vehicle before each use for any signs of damage or malfunctioning parts. Always drive within the speed limit posted on the course’s signage and take proper precautions in adverse weather conditions.
Even with these precautions, though, a golf cart rider can sustain major injuries through the negligence of another party or the fault of a defective product.
What Are the Most Common Injuries Sustained in Golf Cart Accidents?
Golf cart accidents can lead to serious injuries and, in some cases, even death. From 1990 to 2006, it was estimated that 147,696 golf cart-related injuries were reported. The most common type of injury was soft tissue damage, but other injuries were also reported.
The most common injuries that can result from a golf cart accident include:
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Brain and head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Crushed or amputated limbs.
Of course, this is far from an exhaustive list, and if you’ve sustained a more serious injury, it’s important to seek immediate medical attention before contacting an attorney.
Injuries that bear high medical costs — or require ongoing treatments like physical therapy — should not be paid out of pocket if there is another party you can hold liable.
What if My Golf Cart Accident Occurred on a Regular Road?
Generally, any type of small motorized vehicle that is used primarily for recreational or utilitarian purposes is considered a golf cart, including electric golf carts and slightly larger GEM cars. But what if your golf cart accident occurred on a regular road?
There are laws in place for the safe operation of golf carts on or near roadways, especially in neighborhoods and private facilities that specifically permit a shared roadway.
However, even when operating a golf cart in a non-approved way, others on the road have a duty to avoid accidents and drive safely, especially if golf cart traffic is a known factor.
Your attorney will help you review the factors in your case and determine the most appropriate legal strategy available while procuring all evidence.
The consequences of a golf cart accident with a road-going motor vehicle can be astronomical, so we will do everything we can to identify all parties that hold liability for the damages you have suffered.
Who Can Be Held Liable in a Golf Cart Accident Case?
Golf cart accidents are often complex matters. In determining who is liable for a golf cart accident, you and your attorney may need to look at several factors, including:
Negligence
Negligence involves a breach of the duty of care held by a person or company, which leads to harm to the injury victim. If the golf cart operator or another driver was negligent in any way, they could be held liable for the accident.
Similarly, if a golf course or private neighborhood fails to maintain safe roadways or designed cart paths with unreasonable hazards, then they could be held responsible for any injuries that result.
Third-Party Liability
In some cases, a third party may be held responsible for an accident due to their negligence. This could include businesses that maintain golf carts, such as rental companies and golf courses.
If a business fails to properly maintain its fleet of golf carts or fails to warn customers about the potential risks associated with riding in them, it could be held liable.
Premises Liability
Golf courses and other facilities (or properties) that permit golf cart use have a duty to make premises reasonably safe for visitors and travelers. They’re expected to maintain safe roadways and paths, with clear traffic demarcations and safe designs.
They must regularly inspect their facilities in order to discover potential hazards and address them in a reasonable timeframe. Any failure to uphold these duties that results in an injury could make the property owner liable.
Vicarious Liability
In some circumstances, an employer may be held liable if one of their employees causes an accident while operating a golf cart on their premises.
This is often referred to as “respondeat superior,” which means that the employer is responsible for the actions of its employees while they are performing duties within their scope of employment.
Defective Products
Manufacturers that create products with unreasonable risks can be held liable for the injuries they cause, whether the risk was created through a flaw in the design or an error in the manufacturing process.
Golf carts that fail to provide adequate warnings to operators or instructions for proper maintenance could also potentially be considered at fault.
What Should I Do After I’ve Been Involved in a Golf Cart Accident?
Always seek prompt medical care after your accident. Even if you aren’t sure if you’re seriously hurt, it is prudent to obtain a full medical evaluation.
Failing to diagnose any injuries promptly can lead to complications, and it is also critical to have a record of a medical exam close to the accident date.
The next most important thing you can do following a golf cart accident is to collect and retain as much information as possible. This includes any paperwork that relates to the incident, such as medical records, insurance documents, and police reports.
It’s also important to capture photos of any damage caused by the accident. These documents will be invaluable when pursuing a legal claim against those responsible for your injury.
The next step is to go over the facts of the case and try to determine whether another party can legitimately be held responsible for your accident.
Reach out to an experienced golf cart injury accident lawyer, such as someone from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, so you can go over your case and determine how much you may be owed by the responsible party.
What Kind of Damages Might I Be Entitled to in a Golf Cart Accident Case?
When you are in a golf cart accident, you may be entitled to several different kinds of damages, depending on the circumstances of the accident. Here are a few that you may be able to receive:
- Medical expenses: This includes any costs for hospitalization and medical procedures that were needed due to injury or sickness suffered in the accident, as well as future medical costs.
- Lost wages: If you had to take time off from work because of your injuries, you may be eligible for lost wages or other financial losses.
- Pain and suffering: You may also be entitled to receive compensation for pain and emotional suffering caused by the accident, such as mental anguish or physical distress.
- Property damage: If your property was damaged as a result of the accident, you may be entitled to reimbursement for the repair or replacement of your items.
- Punitive damages: In cases where another driver or third party was found to have acted recklessly or with malice, it is possible you may be able to receive punitive damages from them (or their insurance company) as well.
It is important to note that these types of damages will vary from case to case and depend on your individual circumstances, so it is best to consult with an experienced Golf Cart Accidents Lawyer who will be able to help evaluate what type of compensation you may be entitled to.
Reach Out to a Golf Cart Accident Attorney Today
Finding the right golf cart accident lawyer to handle your case is an important decision, one that can often determine your level of success in recovering all damages.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm team has dealt with many of these kinds of cases. We know how to use federal and local laws as well as previous case outcomes to your advantage.
We also provide our clients with access to resources to help them recover fully from their accident, including highly reputable medical care providers and repair shops. Our sole goal is to make your life easier while you pursue the damages you have suffered.
Use the contact form on this page, or call (833)254-2923 to schedule your 100% free, confidential case review. Our golf cart accident attorneys are ready and waiting to assist you.