Injured in a Golf Cart Accident? Here’s What You Need to Know

At some point in time, you or someone you know might find themselves in an accident that involves a somewhat unconventional vehicle. Golf carts are a case in point. Having grown in popularity over the last 3 decades, it was perhaps not surprising when an American Journal of Preventive Medicine report showed that personal injuries caused by golf carts had increased by more than 130% between 1990 and 2006.

There are more than 13,000 golf cart accidents in America each year. What are your options when you or your loved ones experience an injury after such an accident? Getting a Boca Raton personal injury lawyer would be a great place to start. There are nuances around Florida’s accident laws that can determine whether you win a claim or not. The expert advice of a season Boca Raton accident attorney is vital.

Growing Number of Accidents

Initially an almost exclusive preserve of the golf course, golf carts are now increasingly being driven on college campuses, airports, hotels and even public roads. Predictably, this has coincided with an increase in the number and severity of golf cart accidents.

The structure of the golf cart and the much lower protection mechanisms it confers on its drivers and passengers means driving them on a public road exposes the person to considerable risk.

Also, because of the laid-back environment that golf carts were originally designed to be driven in, there’s a tendency of users to take a casual approach to safety by treating them as little more than toys. This is a potentially deadly miscalculation considering golf carts can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour.

Worse still, the carts have open sides, easily tip over and are often not equipped with seat belts or airbags. Owners usually do not take their maintenance and servicing as seriously as they do with conventional vehicles so worn out brakes are not uncommon.

Golf carts have also been pushed to more non-traditional use following a rise in gas prices. Another factor is the rising life expectancy over the years which has led to a steady expansion of the retiree population. As a sport that can be played with much less physical exertion than most, golf is popular with senior citizens and this has in turn led to an increase in the use of golf carts.

The state of Florida considered golf carts to be such a serious concern that they have labeled them a ‘dangerous instrumentality’. Their use on public roads has been considerably limited.

Personal Injury Claim

Golf cart accident injuries can vary widely. They include bruises, bumps, whiplash, dislocations, fractures and back injuries. Determining who is liable in a golf cart accident comes down to the nature of the accident. The golf cart maker would be at fault if the accident was due to vehicle design issues.

If the crash was as a result of speeding, intoxication or reckless driving, the driver and/or cart owner would be the targets of the personal injury claim. Sometimes, the passengers would be at fault if they for instance were hanging outside the cart while it was in motion.

The injured person in a golf cart accident will usually sue the at-fault party for negligence. For the lawsuit to be successful, the injured person must demonstrate that the defendant failed in their responsibility to take reasonable care.

The claim can cater for the plaintiff’s medical expenses, disfigurement, scarring, suffering, pain, emotional trauma, lost wages, damage to property, household expenses and more.

When you are injured in a golf car accident, first seek medical attention. Use your phone or other camera at your immediate disposal to take pictures of the accident.

Contact Experienced Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Boca Raton for Help

If you are not in a position to do so, request someone else at the scene to do it for you. Irrespective of who you think caused the accident that led to your injury, getting a competent Boca Raton personal injury attorney by your side increases the likelihood of a successful claim.

Do not disregard your right to fight for compensation. Contact Leifer & Ramirez today to get the aggressive Boca Raton personal injury lawyer you deserve.