Golf carts may look safe as someone is puttering around the golf course community, but looks can be deceiving. In the last two years, 35,000 people visited the emergency room for golf cart-related injuries. 

These vehicles have no common safety features, such as seatbelts or airbags. While aftermarket seatbelts can be installed, they’re not enough to prevent serious injuries from rollovers or impact crashes. 

Compare golf carts to cars, which have crumple zones that are designed to take the impact in a crash. Steering columns in standard cars are likewise designed to absorb force so it isn’t passed on to you. Golf carts lack these features, which means passengers absorb all the impact of a crash. 

The lack of doors on golf carts means that passengers can fall out because there's little to hold onto when carts turn. Falls from these vehicles can cause head injuries, physical trauma, or death. 

There's no way around it: Golf carts are not safe. If you are harmed in a related accident, our personal injury attorneys can fight for your rights under the law. 

Our lawyers may be able to obtain damages that reflect: 

• Physical trauma
• Pain and emotional strain 
• Property damage
• Lost wages 
• Medical bills 

In most cases, yes. Golf courses and country clubs must ensure that their courses are free of hazards and that their vehicles are safe to drive.

Sometimes, however, the vehicle’s manufacturer may be deemed responsible. A poorly designed golf cart may have defective parts, such as brakes, tires, or engines. These sorts of defects can cause golf carts to handle erratically and lead to serious accidents.

In other cases, the driver may be responsible for the collision. For instance, if they’re distracted by their cell phone or become too intoxicated to handle the vehicle safely.

There are specific steps you’ll want to follow if you’re ever involved in a golf car accident.

First, check yourself and your passengers for injuries. Anyone who needs immediate medical treatment should go to the hospital as soon as possible. If necessary, call 911 to alert ambulance services of the accident.

Next, you’ll want to take photographs of the crash scene, including damage to the cart and any potential causes of the crash, like potholes or fallen objects. If the cart appears to have malfunctioned, make sure you get pictures of any broken or defective parts.

It’s also a good idea to get the contact details of the golf course manager. That way, you can ask them for the details of their insurance policy. They may provide these details on their own; if not, a golf course attorney can gather the information on your behalf.

If you’ve sustained significant injuries from the accident, you might consider filing a lawsuit. Serious injuries can result in long-term health issues, and your insurance may not cover all your required care. Seeking financial remuneration through a legal claim may be your best alternative for covering medical expenses.

The compensation available to you will depend on the facts and circumstances of your case. If your accident results in severe injuries, you may be eligible to receive monetary damages for past and future medical costs, lost wages, and household expenses while you recover.

Victims may also recover damages for emotional pain and anguish, disability and disfigurement, and loss of quality of life. 

If you’ve survived a loved one who’s lost their life in a golf car accident, you may be able to recover compensation for funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship and parental guidance, and emotional distress.

A skilled attorney at Morgan & Morgan can help determine the type and amount of compensation you may be entitled to.

If you’re partially responsible for the golf cart accident, you may still be able to collect damages. States with comparative fault laws allow victims to collect monetary compensation even if they were partially responsible for the accident.

However, the laws in each state are different. Some allow you to collect reduced damages as long as you bear 50% responsibility for the accident or less, while others allow for awards even if you’re 80% responsible or more. 

Speak with a qualified accident attorney to determine how your state identifies fault in golf cart accidents.

All states have a statute of limitations that restrict the time an individual can seek monetary damages in a personal injury claim. Statute of limitations laws vary but are usually between one and four years.

If you plan to pursue a legal claim in a golf cart accident, it’s best to start the process as soon as possible.

Your attorney will need time to gather evidence and develop an appropriate strategy for your case. The sooner you get the ball rolling, the quicker you can recover the compensation you need.

It depends. Some cases resolve through the settlement process within four to six months. Others are not as easy to conclude and may require a trial. 

When you work with an attorney at Morgan and Morgan, they’ll review the facts of your case to determine the likelihood of a settlement or court verdict and work tirelessly to secure the maximum compensation on your behalf.

At Morgan & Morgan, we represent people, not companies. For over 30 years, we've taken the side of the little guy, fighting for accident victims to receive awards that reflect the extent of their pain and suffering. 

We believe in treating our clients like family, which means that we are always there for our clients throughout the legal process. From a dedicated app to 24/7 phone service, we are truly here when you need us. 

Our golf cart accident lawyers have a track record for aggressively trying cases and never backing down from a fight. Insurance companies know that we'll take a case to court so you get what you're due rather than settle. Let us try your case to get you the compensation you deserve as a victim. Since we operate on a contingency fee model, there is no risk to you. You will pay nothing for our legal aid until we obtain relief. Learn more by filling out a free case evaluation today.