Hiring an Attorney for a Golf Cart Accident Injury
Hiring an Attorney for a Golf Cart Accident Injury
Golf carts are considered motorized vehicles. Just like any other motorized vehicles, golf carts are capable of causing accidents. Golf cart accidents can lead to serious and even life-threatening injuries. When these injuries occur, those who are hurt may recover for their damages.
Golf Cart Accidents Occur Frequently in Scottsdale
Scottsdale is a worldwide golfing destination. As a result, it is home to many golf carts. It is not uncommon to see individuals driving golf carts in more affluent suburban neighborhoods throughout the Valley. This includes Arcadia and North Scottsdale where individuals use golf carts recreationally to drive throughout their neighborhoods.
What Situations May Lead to A Golf Cart Accident Injury Claim
Someone may be able to recover for injuries sustained in a golf cart accident in a variety of situations. This may include:
- A passenger of a golf cart injured in a golf cart accident
- A driver of a golf cart injured in a golf cart accident
- A pedestrian struck by a golf cart
- A driver of a car or truck involved in a crash with a golf cart
- A bicycle rider struck by a golf cart
The Passenger of a Golf Cart May Recover for Injuries Sustained in a Golf Cart Accident
The passenger of a golf cart may recover for injuries sustained in a golf cart accident just as if they were a passenger in automobile. If a passenger is harmed because the driver of a golf cart was negligent, the passenger may recover from the driver of the golf cart. Likewise, if the passenger is harmed because another person or party (other than the golf cart driver) caused the crash, the passenger can seek to recover from the at-fault individual.
The Driver of a Golf Cart Can Recover from An At Fault Party Who Caused An Accident
A driver of a golf cart may recover from any person or party who caused the driver injury and damages. This can be under any number of circumstances. For example, a driver could recover from anyone who caused a crash whether that person is another vehicle operator or even a pedestrian.
A driver borrowing or renting a golf cart could recover from the owner if the golf cart failed due to the fault of the owner. For example, if the owner failed to adequately maintain the golf cart or made modifications to the cart that caused it to be dangerous. A driver could also recover from the manufacturer of the golf cart if a product defect in the golf cart was the cause of the accident.
…if you were injured in a golf cart accident, you should consult with an experienced golf cart accident attorney to evaluate your options.
A driver of a golf cart could even recover from a property owner if there was a dangerous condition on the property that caused the golf cart accident. In sum, there are multiple sources of potential recovery for someone injured in a golf cart accident. However, from where the recovery may come is very fact specific. As such, if you were injured in a golf cart accident, you should consult with an experienced golf cart accident attorney to evaluate your options.
A Pedestrian Struck By a Golf Cart May Recover Compensation
A pedestrian who is walking and is struck by a golf cart may recover for those injuries. Obviously, the pedestrian must show some fault by the golf cart driver. The pedestrian cannot be 100% at fault for causing the golf cart accident and still recover.
A Bicycle Rider Can Sue for Injuries Caused During a Golf Cart Accident
Somone operating a bicycle, who is struck by a golf cart, may recover for their injuries. However, like a pedestrian, the bicycle operator must prove that the golf cart driver was at fault. A bicycle rider cannot be entirely responsible for the crash and still obtain a recovery.
The Driver of a Car or Truck Who Crashes Into a Golf Cart Has An Injury Claim
A crash involving a golf cart is just like any other motorized vehicle crash. If the golf cart driver was at fault and caused injuries to those in a car or truck, the injured individuals may recover. This is true because operators of golf carts are still required to follow general traffic laws.
Serious Injury Claims Result from Golf Cart Accidents
Often times, individuals who are riding or driving golf carts sustain serious injuries when golf cart crashes occur. Golf carts do not have the same protections as automobiles. These vehicles are not equipped with sophisticated crumple zones or reinforced frames that have been rigorously tested. Golf carts are not equipped with airbags or other crash avoidance safety devices designed to minimize injury.
While some golf carts may have safety belts, others do not. Even those golf carts that do have safety belts, usually lack shoulder restraints and are limited to a lap belt only. Although safety belts may prevent an individual from being thrown from a golf cart, they cannot meaningfully reduce the forces involved in a crash when a significant impact occurs.
Individuals Thrown From Golf Carts May Sustain Serious Injuries
People that are thrown from golf carts during an accident may sustain serious injuries. Unlike riders of motorcycles and off-road vehicles like ATVs and UTVs, individuals who travel in a golf cart are typically not wearing helmets or other protective gear. As a result, those individuals may be seriously injured when they contact the pavement or ground following a golf cart crash.
City of Scottsdale Golf Cart Laws
According to the City of Scottsdale, a golf cart is a motor vehicle with four or more wheels, weighing less than 1800 pounds that is capable of a speed no greater than 25 MPH and carries no more than four people. This definition of a golf cart is found in Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-101(37). When operated on private property, no requirements are needed.
These vehicles must be emission free and shall not be operated on a roadway posted at more than 35 MPH except to cross such a road. If operated on a public roadway, the vehicle must be both registered and insured. However, if on private property, registration and insurance requirements do not apply, but collision, DUI and reckless driving laws do apply.
Golf Carts Taxis, Golf Carts for Hire and Golf Cart Livery Services
When a golf cart is available for transportation for hire, it is considered a transportation cart. Under City of Scottsdale rules, it is then classified as a commercial motor vehicle and the driver must then obey all traffic laws as a car would. This means that the cart must be equipped with seatbelts, proper tires, headlights and brake lights. This also means that the driver must possess a valid Drivers License.
The insurance must be commercial coverage providing the minimum of $250,000 per incident during any time the golf cart is transporting paying passengers.
Further, a person who transports passengers for pay must comply with stricter licensing and safety standards. Those individuals must have an Arizona Department of Transportation vehicle for hire permit pursuant to A.R.S. § 28-9503. The golf cart must have an ADOT/MVD approved license plate. The golf cart must have insurance and vehicle registration. The insurance must be commercial coverage providing the minimum of $250,000 per incident during any time the golf cart is transporting paying passengers.
Your Car Insurance May Cover You If You Are Injured in a Golf Cart Accident
If you are injured in a golf cart accident and there is not adequate insurance, you may be able to make a claim under your car insurance coverage. Some car insurance policies provide coverage for golf cart accidents under uninsured or underinsured motorist vehicle coverage. In fact, in a recent case we handled, our client was able to recover from her own auto insurance after she was thrown from a golf cart.
Our Golf Cart Accident Attorneys Have Handled Golf Cart Accident Claims
Our injury attorneys have experience handling golf cart accident claims. This includes claims where our clients were both passengers and drivers of golf carts. Our attorneys have successfully recovered high compensation for our clients injured in golf cart accidents.
Recovery for Client Who Was Thrown From a Golf Cart
One of our most recent golf cart accident cases involved a woman who was visiting Arizona from San Diego. While here, she went to Cave Creek to enjoy drinks with friends and went out to enjoy the nightlife. At the end of the night, she hired a golf cart taxi to take her and her friends back to her hotel.
As the golf cart taxi was driving, the driver took a turn too fast. This caused the client to fall from the golf cart. There were no safety restraints to secure her. She landed on the pavement and struck her head. She lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital by ambulance.
She sustained a laceration on her scalp that required staples. She suffered a concussion and developed residual symptoms including vertigo and migraines. She also sustained a shoulder injury that limited her ability to sleep comfortably and participate in yoga and other activities she enjoyed.
The driver and golf cart taxi company were both uninsured. Shortly after we asserted a claim, the business announced its closing. We were able to advance a claim for our client under her own automobile uninsured motorist coverage. We obtained a significant settlement for the client.
Injury Settlement for Client Struck By Car While Driving Golf Cart
In another case our golf cart accident attorneys handled, we were able to obtain a settlement for a driver of a golf cart taxi. Our client was driving a golf cart taxi for hire when he was struck by a driver who had fallen asleep at the wheel. The crash caused his golf cart to flip and the client suffered injuries.
The client was fortunate to survive the crash. The client was rushed to the emergency room and required months of medical treatment to recover. We settled his injury claim against the at-fault driver for a substantial amount.
Hire a Golf Cart Accident Attorney To Handle Your Golf Cart Accident Claim
If you or a loved one was injured in a golf cart accident, you should hire a law firm that has experience handling these claims. Our firm has attorneys that have handled multiple golf cart accident claims. A golf cart accident is not the same as a car accident. There are important differences that require experience. Contact Scottsdale Injury Lawyers for a free consultation today.
About the author: The content on this page was provided by Scottsdale personal injury attorney and civil rights lawyer Tony Piccuta. Piccuta graduated with honors from Indiana University-Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana (Previously Ranked Top 35 US News & World Report). Piccuta took and passed the State bars of Arizona, California, Illinois and Nevada (all on the first try). He actively practices throughout Arizona and California. He is a trial attorney that regularly handles serious personal injury cases and civil rights lawsuits. He has obtained six and seven figure verdicts in both state and federal court. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers for six years straight. He is a member of the Arizona Association of Justice, Maricopa County Bar Association, Scottsdale Bar Association, American Association for Justice, National Police Accountability Project and Consumer Attorneys of California, among other organizations.
Disclaimer: The information on this web site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page is attorney advertising. Reading and relying upon the content on this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, you should contact our law firm for a free consultation and to discuss your specific case and issues.
References:
[2] https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00101.htm
