Do I Need a Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Bradenton?

Years ago, golf carts were limited to golf courses and resorts. However, you now see the little electric vehicles practically everywhere. In many Florida towns, such as Bradenton, golf carts are ubiquitous in residential communities and public roads. Golf carts can potentially cause serious accidents with injuries and fatalities, despite being designed for low speeds. Injured individuals often only realize how challenging recovering compensation can be when the worst has already happened.

If someone else caused your golf cart accident, you should not have to carry the financial burden alone. Our experienced golf cart accident lawyers in Bradenton can examine your accident and identify all avenues for pursuing compensation. Contact us now to determine for free whether you have a case.

Florida Golf Cart Regulations

Drivers of standard golf carts in Florida must be at least 14 years old but are not required to possess a driver’s license. Golf carts, unlike motor vehicles, do not need to be registered, have a license tag, or carry insurance.
 
The use of golf carts in Bradenton is generally restricted to certain golf cart communities, state parks, mobile home parks, and other specially designated public roads. Standard golf carts must not be operated in the dark unless fitted with headlights and other essential safety features. 

Crucially, drivers operating a golf cart on a public road must follow all applicable traffic rules and regulations. Under Florida state laws, drivers must not:

• Drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Drive distractedly
• Drive dangerously or recklessly

Further, drivers must obey all road signs and signals, yield right of way when required, and follow all other road rules. If you got hurt in a golf cart accident due to another driver not following road laws, you could have legal recourse and pursue damages. 

Low-Speed Vehicles (LSV) 

Not all vehicles that look like golf carts are golf carts. In Florida, a converted golf cart or similar electric vehicle operating at speeds above 20 mph is classified as a “low-speed vehicle” (LSV). LSVs, unlike true golf carts, require insurance, safety equipment, and a license tag, just like standard motor vehicles. Drivers of LSVs must also possess a valid driver’s license.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Golf Cart Accidents?

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), golf cart accidents are no rarity. In the ten years of 2007 to 2017, no fewer than 156,040 individuals had to seek emergency medical care due to golf cart injuries. Golf carts are often seen as a fun and relaxing way to get around the neighborhood. However, despite being smaller and lighter than cars, serious accidents can occur just the same. Frequent causes for accidents with golf carts include:

Negligent Driving Behaviors

The following negligent and reckless driving behaviors can cause golf cart accidents:

• General dangerous and reckless maneuvers
• Driving while intoxicated
• Disregarding traffic laws and regulations
• Distracted driving, such as texting or eating while driving
• Overloading carts with passengers or cargo

Mechanical Defects

Less frequently, accidents occur due to golf cart defects. Mechanical defects can arise from a lack of maintenance and repair or from irregularities during the manufacturing process.  

External Conditions

Golf carts are prone to accidents from external circumstances such as bad weather, road defects, or hazards and objects on the road.  

Injuries in Bradenton Golf Cart Accidents

Although anyone riding in a golf cart can potentially get hurt, figures suggest that children and older adults are particularly at risk of suffering golf cart-related injuries. According to figures from the NSC, traumatic brain injuries among children occur at more than three times the rate compared to adults in golf cart accidents. Injuries from golf cart accidents can be anything but harmless and, in some instances, change the lives of victims. Common golf cart-related injuries include:

• Soft tissue injuries
• Knee injuries
• Shoulder, neck, and back injuries
• Bone fractures
• Road rash and bruising
• Spinal cord injuries
• Head and brain injuries

Sadly, some victims never recover and pass away from their golf cart accident injuries. If you got hurt or a loved one died in a golf cart accident, you may have legal options for recovering the compensation you need to get your life back on track. We understand that a severe or permanent injury can turn your entire life upside down and cause emotional, physical, and financial turmoil. Our golf cart accident lawyers can advise you and offer a shoulder to lean on. 

Compensation for Golf Cart Accident Victims

If someone else is responsible for your golf cart accident and injuries, you could be entitled to compensation, including:

Medical Expenses

You could receive all costs for medical expenses for injuries sustained in a golf cart accident, including but not limited to:

• Surgeries
• Specialist appointments
• Diagnostic testing
• Medications
• Medical devices
• A home health aide

You could also receive compensation for your future expected medical bills related to the golf cart-related injuries.  

Wage Loss

A prolonged recovery period could result in long work absences. You could be entitled to past, present, and future loss of income as a result of your golf cart accident injuries. 

Non-Economic Damages

Individuals significantly injured in golf cart accidents can suffer from reduced life quality. You could be entitled to various so-called “non-economic” damages reflecting your degree of suffering and reduced life enjoyment, including awards for:  

• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of a limb
• Loss of life quality
• Permanent disability
• Scarring and disfigurement

No two golf cart accidents are the same, and injuries vary from one individual to another. Therefore, consider consulting with an experienced golf cart accident lawyer in Bradenton who can calculate your damages and estimated future damages accordingly. 

Why You Might Need a Bradenton Golf Cart Accident Attorney

In a car accident, you could have several avenues for recovering damages, including your PIP insurance and filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s car insurance. However, golf cart accidents victims could be left high and dry. Golf carts do not normally require insurance, especially when under private ownership. Therefore, filing an insurance claim may not be an option. Since it can be challenging to get what you deserve, working with a dedicated attorney can be critical, especially if you suffer significant injuries and have high medical costs. 

Moreover, there is the question of who is liable for your injuries. It is not always immediately clear who is at fault and what caused the golf cart accident. A seasoned golf cart accident lawyer can work with professional accident investigators and technical experts to analyze your case and determine cause, fault, and liability. 

Other golf cart accident circumstances when you need a great attorney by your side include:

• Suffering catastrophic or life-changing injuries
• A loved one dying due to a golf cart accident
• Facing astronomical medical bills after an accident

Morgan & Morgan Is Here for You 

If you recently got hurt in a golf cart accident, our experienced golf cart accident lawyers could walk you through your options and help you move forward with a claim. Our attorneys fight hard for the rights of injured victims and have recovered over $20 billion in damages over the years. We could help you too.