Golf cart crashes cause hundreds of injuries and dozens of deaths every year in the U.S. These accidents can happen in many ways. Riders can fall out of golf carts, strike pedestrians and cyclists, and collide with motor vehicles when operated on roads.
Jacksonville, FL, has tens of thousands of golf carts. When you get injured by one of these vehicles, you might wonder, “Should I hire a lawyer for a golf cart accident in Jacksonville?” The answer depends on many factors.
A Jacksonville golf cart accident lawyer from Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers can analyze your accident and help you understand your legal rights. We have decades of combined experience in personal injury law. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case, you can call us at (904) 396-1100.
How Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Golf Cart Accident in Jacksonville, FL
You deserve top representation after a golf cart accident in Jacksonville, Florida. Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered tens of millions of dollars in financial compensation for injured clients. We can help you seek full compensation for your injuries.
After a golf accident, our Jacksonville golf cart accident lawyers help by providing the following:
- Free consultation to evaluate your case and explain your legal options
- An investigation to gather evidence and identify all liable parties
- A calculation of your losses and damages
- Negotiations and communications with the other parties
- Skilled litigators who prepare every case as if it will reach trial
Despite their low speeds, golf cart crashes can cause significant injuries or even death. Contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your injuries and learn how we can help you pursue fair compensation for them.
How Many Golf Cart Accidents Happen in Florida?
Golf cart accidents are a serious and growing problem in Florida. As the population ages and more retirees move to the state, more golf-cart-friendly communities will pop up.
Florida defines golf carts as motor vehicles designed for recreational purposes that cannot travel faster than 20 miles per hour. This definition specifies neither whether carts need to have electric motors or small engines nor the number of wheels they need to have. The only criteria for identifying golf carts are their uses and maximum speeds.
The state has not released any statistics showing how many people suffered a golf cart accident in Florida in 2022. But several studies have examined the scope of the golf accident problem. One study reported 147,696 injuries from golf cart accidents over a 17-year period. That study was based on a review of emergency room records.
Another report looked at injuries to children from golf cart accidents. This study identified 63,501 children injured by golf carts during the 10 years between 2010 and 2019.
One other study looked specifically at the risk to seniors living in The Villages community in Florida. It found that the community saw 875 golf-cart-related accidents from 2011 to 2019. Over 48% of the crash victims required hospitalization or suffered severe injury or death.
Reasons to Hire a Lawyer for a Golf Cart Accident
Golf cart accidents present several issues that may require the assistance of a golf cart accident attorney.
Analyzing Liability
Several types of golf cart accidents can occur, including:
- Pedestrian accidents, in which the golf cart hits a pedestrian
- Golf cart accidents on cart paths or golf courses away from roads
- Car accidents, in which golf carts collide with vehicles on roads
- Rollovers
- Ejections
The liability in golf cart accidents can come from several sources, depending on what happened and who was involved. Some people and entities who might bear liability for a golf cart crash include:
- Golf cart drivers
- Vehicle drivers
- Pedestrians
- Golf course owners
- Golf cart manufacturers
A golf cart accident lawyer can analyze your case and determine who might bear the liability for your injuries.
Investigation and Gathering Evidence
A lawyer will investigate your accident and gather evidence that supports your version of events. Sometimes, the local police will prepare an accident report that helps your lawyer. But if your golf cart accident happens on private property, like a golf course or senior living community, the police might not investigate your accident at all.
A golf cart accident lawyer can hire investigators and issue subpoenas to gather evidence that might be difficult to obtain.
Pursuing Injury Claims
Unlike cars, motorcycles, and commercial trucks, you are not required to have insurance for golf carts in Florida. As a result, you might need a golf cart accident lawyer to help identify possible sources of compensation after you get injured in a golf cart crash. Some possible sources of compensation might include:
- The manufacturer’s product liability insurance if the golf cart is defective
- A driver’s auto insurance if your golf cart is hit by a vehicle
- The golf cart driver’s homeowner’s insurance if you are hit by a golf cart
- The at-fault party’s assets if no insurance policies cover the accident
Once your lawyer identifies liable parties and their resources for covering your injuries, they can pursue insurance claims and lawsuits against them.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Jacksonville Golf Cart Accident Lawyers
Golf cart crashes can cause severe injuries to the head, limbs, and spine. Contact Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your accident and the injury compensation you can seek.
