Golf carts are a common way to get around many of Florida’s gated neighborhoods and private communities. Unfortunately, while they can be a simple and effective mode of transport either on or off the golf course, they can also be a menace if a driver of a golf cart is not exercising reasonable care or following the rules of the road.
When a driver causes a collision while operating a golf cart or hits a pedestrian or bicyclist, this can result in serious and sometimes even fatal injuries. Those who have been harmed will need to get the right legal help to hold the golf cart driver accountable.
Diaco Law can help. Our personal injury lawyers in Tampa have decades of experience with claims involving crashes with this type of vehicle, and we can fight for victims to get full and fair compensation for losses. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation to get an evaluation of your case and learn how we can help.
How Can a Tampa Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Help You?
Golf cart accident cases can be complex because, while golf carts are common around Florida, they are not always subject to the same requirements as cars. Since there are different rules related to registration, licensing, and insurance coverage for golf carts in Florida, crash victims need an attorney who has experience with these kinds of claims.
It can also sometimes be difficult to prove the specific cause of golf cart accidents, and these types of crashes may cause more serious injury due to the lack of safety equipment. Having the right legal advocate ensures you can build the strongest possible damage claim and maximize your chances of justice.
A Tampa golf cart accident lawyer can help you to:
- Identify defendants who can be held responsible for your accident and determine what kinds of insurance coverage are in effect
- Gather evidence, including witness testimony and expert testimony, to demonstrate how the golf cart accident happened so you can make a strong claim
- Negotiate with the insurance company to provide full compensation for damages, so you can try to avoid having to go to court to resolve your claim
- Represent you in court when no settlement can be reached so you can be made whole for all of the losses the golf cart crash caused
Diaco Law has successfully represented many clients after accidents with golf carts, and we’ve won large verdicts and helped clients get large settlement offers.
Common Causes of Tampa Golf Cart Accidents
Identifying the cause of a golf cart crash is essential because you can pursue legal action only if you can show the driver of the golf cart was responsible for the accident. Some of the most common causes of crashes involving golf carts include:
- Drivers who are operating under the influence: Although golf carts are not cars, it is still illegal to drive them when drunk or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Unfortunately, sometimes people assume it is safer to drive these vehicles while impaired, and they make choices that have dire and even deadly consequences.
- Distracted driving: When drivers don’t pay attention while operating their golf cart, they can strike other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists. While motor vehicles often have warning systems and automatic braking, golf carts are not typically equipped with this technology, so distraction can be especially dangerous.
- Speeding: Sometimes, drivers go too fast on golf carts, causing them to lose control or become unable to avoid other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists.
- Failing to obey the rules of the road: Golf cart operators sometimes believe the standard road safety rules don’t apply to them, and they engage in reckless behavior that harms others.
- Mechanical failures: Golf cart brakes or other equipment can fail, resulting in a crash occurring because of a mechanical failure with the vehicle itself.
- Poor maintenance: If golf cart owners don’t maintain their golf carts appropriately, this can lead to equipment failure that causes accidents.
- Unsafe roads or paths: If golf cart paths are not properly maintained or are designed poorly in a way that impacts visibility or creates safety risks, this can lead to a golf cart crash
In these and many other situations, golf cart crashes happen because of preventable negligence. When a driver or golf cart owner should have behaved more carefully and failed to do so, they can be held liable for the damages that result from their negligence.
Who is Responsible for Golf Cart Accidents in Florida?
In most cases, a careless driver who operates a golf cart unsafely will be the one responsible for covering damages that occur because of their negligence. However, there are sometimes multiple defendants to blame. This could include:
- Those who were responsible for maintaining the golf cart
- The manufacturer of a defective golf cart or defective equipment
- The owner of a rental golf cart who rented out an unsafe vehicle
- Those who designed unsafe roads or golf cart paths
- Those who were responsible for maintaining roads or golf cart paths and who failed to maintain them safely
Compensation for Golf Cart Accidents
Victims of golf cart accidents should be fully compensated for any losses that occur because of the negligence or wrongdoing of others. The compensation a crash victim should receive can include payment for:
- Medical bills, including future bills for ongoing injuries
- Lost wages, including any future reduction in wages because of injuries that affect work abilities
- Pain and suffering resulting from the accident or injuries
- Emotional distress, including depression, anxiety, or PTSD a victim experiences because of the accident or resulting injuries
Diaco Law will help you prove how badly you were damaged so you can maximize the compensation you receive. We can help you to get compensation through an out-of-court settlement or through a trial in which we present a compelling claim.
Get Help From a Tampa Golf Cart Lawyer Attorney
A Tampa golf cart accident attorney at Diaco Law can help you to fight for full and fair compensation. We have decades of legal experience and we will put our extensive knowledge of golf cart accident claims to work on your case. Contact us today at (813) 945-6110 to schedule a free consultation to learn more about how we can help.