Who is legally responsible for injuries and damages after a golf cart accident depends on the circumstances and cause of the incident. The liable party in your case could be a distracted driver, a drunk driver, or a golf cart manufacturer, depending on the facts of your case.
If you suffered injuries in a golf cart accident, you may want to discuss your options with a personal injury lawyer to get a better idea of who might be responsible and how you can seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other costs. Most law firms provide free case consultations for injury victims.
Determining Responsibility in a Golf Cart Accident Case
Golf cart drivers and passengers suffer serious injuries in many ways. The types of accidents and incidents that involve these low-speed electric or gas-powered carts are innumerable. Common causes of golf cart accidents can include:
- Rolling over, often from excessive speed in a turn
- A car colliding with a golf cart
- A golf cart being hit by a commercial vehicle
- Falling from a golf cart
- Two or more golf carts colliding
Florida has a number of golf cart laws that rule how owners and operators equip, operate, and safeguard themselves and others on the road. When someone driving a golf cart or the owner of the cart violates one of these laws, and it causes an accident, they might be responsible for any injuries that occur.
Golf cart drivers must also follow any applicable traffic laws, such as stopping at stop signs and obeying yield signs. Violating a traffic law could cause a crash and result in the driver being held liable.
Of course, the other party is sometimes at fault in a collision. Passenger car drivers often fail to see smaller vehicles and fail to yield when turning left. They may try to pass them on narrow roads and take other risks that lead to crashes and serious injuries.
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Proving Liability in a Golf Cart Accident
To hold another party legally liable for injuries, an investigation is necessary. This requires evidence gathering to determine what happened and each party’s role in the crash. The evidence should clearly show who acted negligently, how this caused the incident, and the harm it caused.
Some of the steps that might be necessary to properly document a golf cart injury case include:
- Interviewing eyewitnesses
- Obtaining official documents, such as police reports
- Seeking video of the incident
- Surveying the accident scene
- Reviewing relevant medical records
- Working with medical and economic experts
- Gathering documents to show expenses and losses
Using Liability Insurance to Pursue Compensation After a Golf Cart Accident
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the state does not require registration or insurance for golf carts. However, many owners invest in liability insurance because of the possibility of a collision. This provides a way for victims hurt in a golf cart accident caused by the cart’s owner to recover compensation without the owner paying out of their own pocket.
When the at-fault party is a motorist, their car insurance coverage should cover the expenses and losses involved, including those stemming from life-altering injuries and wrongful death.
Working with an attorney familiar with the state’s golf cart accident laws can help you identify the liable party and understand your options for holding them responsible. You should not have to pay for your medical bills and other costs if someone else caused your accident and injuries.
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How Long You Have to Sue After a Florida Golf Cart Accident Injury
Florida Statutes § 95.11 states that personal injury victims generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party. However, it may be in your best interest to get started on your case as soon as possible.
For example, it may be easier for your legal team to collect evidence shortly after the accident occurred. Some types of evidence disappear within hours or days, and you will not have access to this evidence to support your claim or lawsuit unless it is preserved quickly.
Connecting with an attorney as soon as your injuries are stable can help get your case started as quickly as possible. If your loved one has a traumatic brain injury or other catastrophic injuries, you can reach out on their behalf to discuss how to best protect their rights during this time.
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How Can a Lawyer Help With a Golf Cart Accident Injury Case?
Hiring a personal injury lawyer familiar with state and local golf cart laws may make it easier to navigate the legal process and seek compensation for your injuries and losses. When you choose to work with an attorney, they will:
- Investigate what happened and gather evidence to document negligence
- Research the applicable laws and how they affect the case
- Determine who is at fault for the incident
- Establish a compelling case showing negligence and liability
- Identify any insurance coverage available in the case
- Negotiate with the insurance carrier, if possible
- Sue the liable party as necessary
- Represent your best interests throughout this process
Personal injury firms understand how difficult it is to worry about your legal case and financial standing when receiving treatment and undergoing therapies for catastrophic injuries. Let our legal team handle your insurance claim or lawsuit while you focus on your healing and physical recovery.
Contact a Golf Cart Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation
Dismuke Law provides free initial consultations for those with injuries after a Florida golf cart accident. To learn your options, all you have to do is ask Dave. Get answers to your questions and learn how we will help you fight for justice and compensation.
Contact us on the phone or online to get started today.
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