Golf Cart Accidents in Florida

Floridians love golf, and so do the many visitors who flock to the state to enjoy our beautiful courses. Unfortunately, we experience more than our fair share of golf cart accidents in Florida.

Whether you’ve suffered an injury by the negligence of someone driving a golf cart or got hurt by the negligence of another motorist while riding in a golf cart, the losses you experience can be considerable. Obtaining the compensation to which you are entitled is critical. Contact the Eltringham Law Group in Florida to begin your golf cart accident case with an experienced auto accident attorney.

How Do Golf Cart Accidents Occur?

Golf cart accidents can take a wide range of forms, including:

• Accidents caused by negligence on the part of the person driving the golf cart, such as when a pedestrian is harmed
• Accidents in which the person riding in the golf cart is struck by another negligent motorist
• Accidents suffered by passengers that are caused by inexperienced golf cart drivers

Some of the primary reasons that golf cart operators get into trouble behind the wheel include:

• Intoxicated or impaired driving
• Taking turns too quickly
• Failing to account for wet or muddy conditions adequately
• Failing to adequately account for the effects of driving downhill
• Failing to engage the cart’s brakes when exiting

Are Golf Carts Street Legal in Florida?

Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles classifies golf carts as vehicles designed to be driven for recreational purposes and incapable of exceeding 20 MPH. As such, golf carts are only street legal when they are operated on roadways deemed suitable for golf carts and with posted speed limits of 30 MPH or less.

Additionally, golf carts are allowed to cross a portion of a county road in the following two circumstances:

• The portion of the road intersects with a road approved for golf carts.
• The portion of the road intersects with a mobile home park or golf course.

When golf carts are street-legal in the state, the road in question should have signs that alert motorists to this fact.

Golf carts are also afforded the following exceptions in terms of vehicle requirements:

• Golf carts do not require titles or registration.
• Golf carts do need to carry either personal injury protection (PIP) or property damage liability (PDL) coverage.
• The golf cart operator is not required to have a driver’s license, but they must be at least 14 years old to drive the vehicle on a public roadway that’s been designated safe for golf carts.

A Note About Golf Carts

It is essential to note that, even though golf carts are street legal in some instances and are not as carefully regulated by state laws, they are often involved in – and sometimes cause – very serious accidents that lead to severe injuries. The recreational aspect of golf carts can lend a carefree air that makes accidents seem remote, but the hard truth is that golf cart accidents are all too common!

Responsibility Behind the Wheel

Anyone who gets behind the wheel of a golf cart takes on the same immense responsibility to safety that you do when you are behind the wheel of your car.

This duty of care includes avoiding common forms of driver negligence, such as the following:

• Failing to follow posted rules – including the rules of the road when operating on roadways – or otherwise driving recklessly
• Driving too fast for the driving conditions at hand
• Driving while distracted
• Drunk driving
• Drowsy driving
• Driving aggressively

The fact that golf carts can’t reach high speeds does not alter the reality that they are heavy pieces of machinery that can cause serious damage.

Golf Cart Accident Injuries

Whether you’ve been injured as a pedestrian by a golf cart or another vehicle struck your golf cart, there could be financial and emotional hardship ahead as you deal with injuries.

You may be left with:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Internal injuries, including internal bleeding
• Spinal cord injuries
• Serious cuts and burns
• Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash

If someone else’s negligence causes you to suffer a golf cart injury, don’t wait to seek the medical attention you need. Then, reach out for the professional legal guidance of a trusted golf cart accident lawyer in Florida.

Your Physical, Financial, and Emotional Losses

The losses you experience as a result of being injured in a golf cart accident can include all of the following:

• Property damage to your golf cart
• Medical expenses that may extend into your future
• Decreased earnings that may need to address lost earning potential
• Physical and emotional pain and suffering

Contact an Experienced Florida Golf Cart Accident Lawyer

At Eltringham Law Group, we take great pride in helping clients like you with all types of Florida motor vehicle accident cases. We can guide you toward obtaining a favorable claim resolution that fairly compensates you for your full range of losses. Contact us online or call us at 561-944-6746 today.