How Is Fault Determined in a Golf Cart Accident?

If you or someone you love suffered injuries in a golf cart accident, a Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer can hold the at-fault party accountable on your behalf. They will explain how fault is determined in this kind of accident and how your state defines negligence. Typically, the elements that constitute negligence can establish how fault is determined in a golf cart accident. Those elements are duty, breach, causation, and damages. 

A law firm can use its team members and resources to build and prove your case for compensatory damages. A lawyer will also help you recover compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. On your own, understanding insurance after a golf cart accident can be complicated. Your law firm will investigate your accident and explore every avenue of financial recovery.

The Elements of Negligence That Determine Fault in a Golf Cart Accident

Determining who is at fault in a golf cart collision can be complicated and confusing. You can work with a personal injury attorney in your area who can identify the accident’s cause and who’s responsible. Their familiarity with state and local law means they understand how to prove the elements of negligence. 

It also means they can build a strong case file with evidence that includes:

• Police reports and other records from the accident’s location 
• Statements and observations from passengers and eyewitnesses
• Photos and video footage of the accident’s before and aftermath
• Medical records that describe your injuries and their cause

If the at-fault party claims the accident was fully or partially your fault, your ability to recover damages could be in jeopardy. A lawyer can help you prove the accident’s cause and the at-fault party’s financial liability.

Commonly Reported Causes and Locations of Golf Cart Accidents

Golf carts are commonly used in many areas outside of a golf course. You can typically find these low-speed vehicles at or on:

• Airports  
• Campgrounds 
• Colleges
• Concerts 
• Farms
• Hospitals 
• Retirement homes
• Stadiums  
• Theme parks
• Universities 

With such widespread use, golf cart accidents can have the following causes and contributing factors:

• Dangling limbs outside of the golf cart
• Driving while distracted
• Driving while intoxicated
• Failure to properly engage brakes
• Faulty repair or maintenance
• Inexperienced drivers
• Overloaded golf carts
• Rough or rugged terrain
• Sharp turns leading to rollover
• Speeding and recklessness

Golf cart injuries can vary depending on the case. Passengers can be ejected from golf carts, collide with or be struck by items inside the carts, and suffer burns, road rash, and other disfiguring injuries. 

Understanding the Insurance Requirements of Golf Cart Ownership

Unlike traditional motor vehicles, insurance is not always required for a golf cart. If the golf cart in your accident did not have insurance, you still have options for obtaining compensation. Your lawyer will pursue:

• The at-fault driver directly 
• A third-party entity if a manufacturing or design error in the golf cart or its parts caused the accident

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), a golf cart must have insurance if its owner, operator (or someone else) modified it to become a low-speed vehicle (LSV). As such, it is required to have personal injury protection (PIP) and property damage liability (PDL) insurance.

Your attorney will determine the status of the golf cart to understand your financial recovery options. 

Recovering Economic and Non-Economic Damages After a Golf Cart Accident

They might be slow-moving vehicles, but golf cart accidents can be surprisingly dangerous. If you or someone you love was involved in one and suffered injuries that required emergency and ongoing medical care, a local attorney can help you recover the following damages:

• Medical bills
• Income loss
• Property damage
• Property loss
• Physical disability
• Disfiguring injuries
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish
• Emotional trauma
• Impaired quality of life

The lawyer or legal team you choose will help you assess your financial expenses and losses and take on the at-fault party directly or seek fair compensation from their insurance provider. If insurance doesn’t cover the golf cart, your attorney will pursue the responsible driver.

The Benefits of Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Golf Cart Accident

Because a golf cart accident and its aftermath can be complex, you might want to work with a lawyer. They can handle the legalities of your case and will take all the following steps for you:

• Build a comprehensive evidence file
• Identify all liable parties and damages you suffered
• Complete and submit insurance claim forms
• Conduct an independent investigation
• Draft and file your potential lawsuit
• Interview lay and expert witnesses 
• Provide ongoing updates on your case
• Review police and other accident reports

A golf cart accident lawyer will use your evidence collection to seek a settlement from the liable party, which takes less time than going to trial. They will also work with the at-fault driver and their insurance company to negotiate a fair and appropriate monetary settlement. 

How the Statute of Limitations Applies to Golf Cart Accidents

Understanding and complying with Florida’s personal injury statute of limitations is important. It determines how much time you have to file your lawsuit. Missing the filing deadline could prohibit you from filing your lawsuit at all. 

In Florida, the personal injury statute of limitations is generally two years from the accident date, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11. When a lawyer agrees to represent you, they will review the accident’s details since its circumstances could indicate exceptions to the statute of limitations, per Florida Statutes § 95.051. They can advise if any of these exceptions affect your golf cart injury case for damages.

The statute of limitations can be complicated to understand. A golf cart accident lawyer can interpret it for you and explain how it affects your case. In addition to promptly filing a legal action, hiring a lawyer sooner rather than later has additional benefits. They can visit the accident scene and interview witnesses while their recollections are vivid.

Call Our Law Firm After a Golf Cart Accident ASAP – Our Attorneys Can Help

If you or someone you love got hurt in a recent golf cart accident, our legal professionals will seek financial compensation on your behalf while you rest and recover. We will explain how fault is determined in a golf cart accident and our strategy for pursuing the at-fault party for damages.

You can also learn how it could help your case if you work directly with our partners, Jason and Debi, and how our team will fight for you. Contact our consultation and strategy team at Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers to get started during a free legal consultation.