Experienced Golf Cart Accident Attorneys Golf carts are an effective means of transportation at golf courses, retirement communities, airports, hotels, and to aid elderly and disabled people looking for an alternative way of getting around. Despite this ease of use, according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, golf cart fatalities and injuries have risen […]
Golf carts are an effective means of transportation at golf courses, retirement communities, airports, hotels, and to aid elderly and disabled people looking for an alternative way of getting around. Despite this ease of use, according to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, golf cart fatalities and injuries have risen in the last decade. The most common reason for these crashes, aside from the increasing number of retirees using golf carts, is drunk driving and improper use of the vehicles. Laws have not been put in place to put legal regulations on these vehicles for the safety of the driver and their passengers despite nearly 150,000 individuals injured in a golf cart accident in the last decade.
In the case of an accident with a golf cart, liability usually falls on the cart driver. While the manufacturer can be at fault for not doing their best to make a safer product, when used correctly and safely, there is far less of a chance of a golf cart accident death or severe injury as there can be if cart was driven by a negligent or drunk driver, or if a person is thrown off their own vehicle while it’s being driven recklessly.
Since golf carts don’t have the same common safety features cars have, such as seatbelts or airbags, when there is a golf buggy accident, the passengers are more likely to absorb the impact of the crash and suffer the brunt of the injuries.
With over 15,000 golf cart crashes every year, ranging from smaller accidents on golf courses to wrecks that caused severe injuries and even death to the passengers. There are a variety of different injuries that can arise after an accident such as:
The worst golf cart accidents can even lead to the death of the passengers involved, especially if the driver is drinking or ignoring golf course law by playing around and going faster than allowed. The terrain on a golf course can be rough, making the passengers even more susceptible to injury.
Golf cart crashes have steadily increased over the last few decades. Currently, there is an average of 15,000 accidents per year since they were not designed for street traffic and they are not designed to be used at their highest speed. Because they have a high center of gravity, small wheels, and low pressure tires they are at a high risk of flipping over accidentally.
From a safety perspective, lifted golf carts tend to be more dangerous because people assume that once you put on more substantial tires, the cart will be able to do more. Aside from the detrimental effects lifting has on a golf cart, people tend to think that their cart can now be used in other settings with additions not normally paired with a golf cart.
Golf carts can tip over if they are used improperly. A drunk golfer or a driver who is acting negligently, unskilled drivers, or drivers who misjudge the capacity their golf cart can hold can all cause tip golf carts and dangerous wrecks.
If you or a loved one was injured in a golf cart crash due to a drunk driver or negligence, you could be entitled to compensation. A professional golf cart accident lawyer from Parker Waichman LLP can help answer any questions you may have about your claim while also assuring you that the health of you and your loved ones is the utmost priority. Our law firm is dedicated to ensuring you’re kept in the loop every step of the way, with a goal of returning any phone calls within a day or the following day at the latest. When we take your case, we strive to prove to you that when you put your trust in us, you won’t regret it.
If you’re looking for an attorney that understands golf cart accidents, the personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP are well-versed in golf cart regulations and injuries, and can help you with your claim. Contact us today for a free consultation by filling out our online contact form or call us at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).