Some people find that driving a golf cart in a neighborhood is more convenient than driving a motor vehicle. They also may consider it far safer than the car because the golf cart does not travel at high speeds.
However, golf carts do not have the same safety items built into them as a motor vehicle, so they cannot offer the same protection as a motor vehicle. There are no air bags or protective cages around passengers, like they would have in a car. Passengers can fall out of the golf cart if the driver goes too fast around a corner.
If you were a passenger in a golf cart, and you suffered an injury because of the driver’s negligent behavior, you have the right to bring a personal injury lawsuit. These types of claims can be tricky. So consider hiring an Ocala golf cart accident lawyer for help with your case. Contact Bogin, Munns & Munns at (352) 690-7400 today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Golf Cart Accidents
Often, when someone who is operating a golf cart causes an accident where someone is injured, it occurs because of a mistake that the driver makes. A judge would use the evidence from this type of mistake to rule in your favor in the personal injury claim.
Some of the types of accidents in which a golf cart operator could be found negligent may include:
- Impaired operation: where the person operating the golf cart had been drinking or taking drugs before the crash, which could show negligence, as the alcohol or drugs may cause the operator to have reduced control of motor skills to react to hazards.
- Driving recklessly: where the person driving was going far too fast for road conditions or was making sharp turns on purpose, leading to the possibility of a tip-over accident.
- Distracted operation: where the operator was looking at a smartphone instead of focusing on the road ahead, leading to a crash that was avoidable.
- Driving without lights: where the golf cart operator was driving at night without lighting on the cart, leaving him or her unable to see a hazard ahead.
Recovering Damages After a Golf Cart Crash
After the golf cart crash in which you suffered an injury, you may be wondering whether your injuries rise to the level of a personal injury lawsuit. There are several types of damages you can seek after this type of accident, many of which are like what you could attempt to receive after a traffic accident, including:
- Medical bills
- Missed time at work
- Lost ability to work in the future
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Emotional trauma
- Reduction in quality of life
Understand that because the golf cart driver does not have liability insurance on the cart like he or she would have on a motor vehicle, you may have to attempt to seek compensation from the operator’s homeowners’ liability insurance.
Our Golf Cart Accident Attorneys Can Help Prove Your Case
Accidents involving golf carts can create tricky personal injury cases. Sometimes, there is no police report, especially if you were not sure whether you were injured in the aftermath of the accident.
However, you may find that after the adrenaline wears off the next day, you are in a lot of pain. When you visit the doctor, you may find that you have some personal injuries that will leave you with significant medical bills, as well as pain and suffering that may linger for weeks or months.
To gain some help in proving your side of the case, you may want to retain an Ocala golf cart accident lawyer. Once you choose to retain us, the team at Bogin, Munns & Munns will study the facts in the case and interview witnesses, using the facts we uncover to show that you deserve a fair settlement amount.
To consult with an experienced golf cart accident lawyer serving Ocala
855-780-9986
Local Golf Cart Regulations
For those who live or work in Ocala, several regulations exist that limit the way people can use these powered vehicles in the city. The Ocala City Council’s regulations include:
- Registration: where any golf cart used on designated city streets must be registered with the city, or it will not be legal for the owner to drive it in the city.
- Designated streets: where the council has set aside certain streets where someone can drive a registered golf cart.
Should the person who was driving the golf cart in the incident in which you suffered an injury be violating local regulations, you can use this information to show negligence on the part of the golf cart driver in your personal injury claim.
Florida Statute §316.212 is similar, limiting exactly where drivers can use their carts. Golf carts rarely can be driven on roads in the state highway system, for example, other than under special circumstances.
Contact the Office of a Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Ocala to Learn More Today
The team at Bogin, Munns & Munns takes pride in defending the rights of victims in all types of personal injury accidents, including those involving a golf cart, where the victim did nothing wrong. We understand how frustrating it can be to suffer injuries because of the negligence of other parties, leaving you unable to continue working as you did before the accident.
Because of the way Florida and local laws are written regarding the operation of golf carts, it can be challenging to file a claim after an accident involving these carts.
An Ocala golf cart accident lawyer can help you sort through the facts in the case, determining exactly what happened and who should be held liable for your golf cart accident injuries.
Please note that your time to take legal action is limited. The statute of limitations for a golf cart accident is only two years from the date of the accident.
This means that after this deadline has passed, you can lose out on your chance to seek compensation.
It is best to contact our golf cart accident attorneys as early as possible after the accident, so we can begin investigating the case while the facts are still fresh in the minds of those who witnessed it.
Call us today for a free consultation, we’re ready to help you explore your legal options and evaluate your case.
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