Golf Cart Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been injured in a golf cart accident, understanding your legal options is critical. Golf carts might seem like benign vehicles, but they can cause serious injuries just like any other motor vehicle when an accident occurs. 

A golf cart accident lawyer from Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the complex landscape of personal injury law regarding these types of incidents.

Types of Golf Cart Accidents

Golf cart accidents, although sometimes underestimated in their potential for harm, can be just as varied and dangerous as other vehicle accidents. 

Here’s an overview of the types you might encounter on and off golf courses:

• Collisions with vehicles: Many people use these vehicles off of a golf course. Carts sharing the road or crossing paths with larger motor vehicles can lead to significant collisions and serious injuries due to disparities in size and protection.
• Golf cart rollovers: Due to their typically small size and lack of safety features, golf carts can be prone to rolling over when taking sharp turns or driving on uneven ground, putting occupants at risk for serious injury.
• Pedestrian accidents: Golf carts are often used in pedestrian-heavy areas like golf courses, resorts, or gated communities, so accidents can occur when pedestrians are struck by a driver who is not paying attention.
• Collisions with objects: Carts can run into trees, equipment, or other stationary objects around a golf course or within a community space. These impacts pose a risk of injury for those in and around the cart.
• Falls from the golf cart: Lack of doors and seat belts can sometimes lead to passenger injuries from falling out, especially if the cart makes a sudden turn or stop. These accidents can result in severe golf cart injuries depending on the speed at which they occur and how accident victims land.

If you’ve experienced an accident involving a golf cart, whether it was as a driver, passenger, pedestrian, or passerby, and whether it was on a golf course or somewhere else, you may have legal recourse. 

Common Golf Cart Injuries

Golf carts, despite their association with leisure and slower speeds, can still lead to severe injuries in the event of an accident. Many golf cart accidents result in common injuries, including: 

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Neck injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Back and spinal cord injuries 
• Soft tissue damage 
• Cuts and lacerations 
• Concussions
• Bruises and contusions 
• Paralysis
• Death

If you or a loved one are recovering from injuries sustained in an accident, or if you’re facing a tragic incident of losing a loved one as a result, speaking to an attorney can help determine if your case may qualify for compensation. 

Causes of Golf Cart Accidents

Golf cart accidents happen due to various forms of negligence and hazardous behavior. These accidents are often the result of one or more of the following:

• Removing speed regulators: Some users illegally tamper with carts to increase speed beyond safe limits, creating a risk of loss of control and collisions.
• Overloaded carts: Overloading golf carts beyond their weight capacity or carrying too many passengers can alter the vehicle’s balance and maneuverability, increasing the chances of rollovers. This often occurs on golf courses and at sporting events involving golf carts.
• Inexperienced golf cart drivers: Individuals who are not familiar with golf cart driving practices may find themselves in precarious situations, leading to poor decisions that can result in accidents.
• Reckless driving: The informal setting of driving golf carts often leads drivers to take liberties they wouldn’t take in a different type of vehicle, leading to recklessness like speeding, taking sharp turns, or just generally not paying attention to where they’re going. 
• Driving under the influence: Operating golf carts while intoxicated is just as illegal and dangerous as driving a traditional vehicle under the influence. Alcohol and drugs severely impair judgment, reflexes, and motor skills.
• Mechanical failures: Golf carts lacking proper maintenance may experience issues like brake failure, steering problems, or accelerator defects. This can lead to accidents and injuries.

Why You Need a Golf Cart Accident Attorney

Unfortunately, accidents happen, and navigating the legal aftermath of a golf cart accident often requires experienced representation to ensure injury victims get the help they need. 

Here’s what our lawyers do to help:

• Calculating Damages: Our knowledgeable attorneys can help you evaluate both the economic and noneconomic impacts of your injuries to ensure a fair assessment when seeking compensation. 
• Determining Liability: We will work tirelessly to determine liability and establish who was at fault in the accident so you know who to seek damages from. 
• Negotiating With Insurance Companies: We’re skilled in dealing with insurance companies and will ensure they don’t undervalue your claim as they often try to do.
• Access to Resources: Our firm has access to a wide range of necessary resources for building a strong case, such as accident reconstructionists and medical experts who can write reports and testify on your behalf. 

Possible Liable Parties in Golf Cart Accident Cases

Determining liability in these types of personal injury cases largely depends on the unique circumstances of each incident, but there are common parties that frequently may be held liable: 

Statute of Limitations for Incidents Involving Golf Carts

The statute of limitations is a legal deadline within which you must file a lawsuit following an incident. If you don’t initiate legal action within this time frame, you typically lose your right to seek compensation through the court system.

Just like other types of serious accidents or personal injury claims, the specific length of the statute of limitations for incidents involving golf carts depends on state law. Each state sets its own limits. 

For example, in Illinois, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury case. However, in other states, this period may be longer or shorter—usually between one and six years, most frequently around two or three years. 

Property damage claims can have different statutes of limitations as well, often ranging between two and five years, depending on where you’re located.

It’s also important to note that there can be exceptions to these standard time limits that can shorten or extend the deadline. 

Damages Golf Cart Accident Lawyers Can Help You Recover

When you’ve been involved in a golf cart accident, the impact on your life can be both immediate and long-lasting. Retaining a skilled lawyer can significantly improve your ability to seek compensation for damages incurred from the accident. 

Typically, these damages fall into two main categories:

Economic Damages: These are quantifiable expenses that arise directly due to the accident. They may include:

• Medical expenses associated with acute treatment and ongoing care
• Lost wages if you’re unable to work during recovery or if there is any loss of earning capacity
• Costs of rehabilitation like physical therapy
• Expenses related to required modifications for disabilities resulting from the accident
• Property damage costs if golf carts or any other personal property was damaged due to the accident

Non-Economic Damages: These are less tangible yet equally significant losses that don’t come with a predetermined monetary value. They often cover:

• Pain and suffering endured as a consequence of your injuries
• Mental anguish and emotional distress stemming from the accident and injuries
• Loss of enjoyment in life if you can no longer participate in hobbies or social activities as you did before
• Loss of consortium, which refers to the impact on your relationship with your spouse or partner due to injuries
• Reduced quality of life if there are long-term effects from the accident

The damages you’re entitled to after an accident depend on the specific circumstances of your case. 

The Average Value of a Golf Cart Accident Case

There is no go-to, standard settlement amount for a golf cart accident case because each situation is unique with its own set of circumstances. 

Factors that influence the value of a claim might include:

• The severity and nature of injuries: More severe injuries typically result in higher medical bills, which can increase the value of your claim.
• Long-term effects: If an injury leads to lasting disability or chronic pain, it will likely add to the compensation amount for future medical costs and diminished quality of life.
• Liability determination: If you bear no fault in causing the accident versus a shared responsibility scenario, this can increase your potential settlement amount due to comparative negligence laws.
• Insurance coverage limits: The at-fault party may have golf cart insurance to cover golf cart accidents, but they will have a limit that caps how much you can recover from their insurer directly, affecting the outcome. 

What to Do After a Golf Cart Accident

If you’ve been involved in an accident, taking the right steps immediately afterward can be crucial for your health and any subsequent legal claims. Here’s what you should do:

• Seek medical attention: Even if injuries seem minor, it’s critical to get checked out by a medical professional as some injuries may not present symptoms right away.
• Report the accident: In some situations, you should notify local law enforcement and, if applicable, the golf course or property manager where the incident occurred.
• Gather evidence: Capture images of the scene, including vehicle damage, your injuries, and any relevant road or environmental conditions that could have contributed to the accident.
• Collect contact information: Get names and contact details for any witnesses and other drivers involved in the accident, along with their insurance carrier information if available.
• Document your account of the event: Write down everything you remember about what happened before details become hazy over time. 
• Do not admit fault: Avoid making any statements that might be perceived as an admission of guilt or responsibility for the accident. These conversations should take place with your attorney present.
• Contact a personal injury lawyer: Contact a knowledgeable attorney who specializes in personal injury and golf cart accident cases as soon as possible. They can provide legal representation, help protect your rights, and begin the process of seeking compensation for your significant injuries and losses. 

Are Golf Cart Accident Attorneys Expensive?

You may be concerned about the cost of hiring an attorney after an accident, but the golf cart accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers work on a contingency fee basis. 

Under a contingency fee arrangement, our payment is contingent upon winning your case or achieving a settlement agreement. Rather than charging hourly rates or requiring retainer fees, we receive an agreed-upon percentage of the compensation we secure for you. 

If your case does not result in any compensation being awarded to you, you don’t owe us anything. 

The Time It Takes to Settle Cases Involving Golf Cart Accidents

Settling cases involving golf cart accidents can vary in duration depending on several factors. While some cases may be resolved within a few months, others could take years to reach a settlement or go through trial. Several elements that affect this timeline include:

• Complexity of the case: If liability is clear and damages are straightforward, the case may be resolved relatively quickly. However, if the fault is disputed or injuries are severe and complicated, it might take longer to gather evidence and negotiate a settlement.
• Extent of injuries: Typically, you want to wait until reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI) before settling so that all future costs are accounted for accurately in your claim, allowing time for a complete understanding of the long-term impacts. The worse your injuries are, the longer this can take.
• Willingness to settle: Both parties’ willingness to come to an agreement also factors heavily into the timeline. 
• Quality of legal representation: Experienced attorneys know how to efficiently navigate the legal process while advocating for your best interests. Effective representation can significantly expedite reaching a satisfactory conclusion.

The timeline for resolving an accident case depends heavily on the individual circumstances of your situation. 

Contact a Golf Cart Accident Attorney Today!

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with our golf cart accident lawyers. Reach out online or call us at (888) 424-5757. You don’t pay us unless we win or settle your case.

Resources: [1] Gitnux.org, [2] Technology Associates, [3] American Academy of Pediatrics