Utah Golf Cart Accident Lawyer

Golf carts are practical and efficient until passengers find themselves in risky situations or suffer serious injuries. They might be a great way to get around, but they are very dangerous when one is involved in some kind of accident.

Working with the right legal team is the first step to working towards receiving compensation for your damages. Our legal experts at Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers in Utah are here to help. Let us represent you while seeking compensation for your damages caused by a golf cart accident. Give us a call today at (801) 810-9999 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation.

Speak to a Utah Golf Cart Accident Attorney

There is no law that requires one to work with an personal injury attorney in the event of an accident, especially one that involves a golf cart. But working with the right team can ensure that you include everything in your claim and that your case will be solid if it goes to court.

Working with a qualified golf cart attorney is the first step toward seeking compensation. Attorneys know Utah law and understand the nuances surrounding golf cart cases — including the evidence to look for to prove negligence. If you have been in a golf cart accident, reach out to us, and let us focus on getting you compensation while you focus on healing and getting back to normal.

Causes of Golf Cart Accidents

A golf cart is defined as a small, motorized vehicle dedicated to transporting golfers and their equipment throughout a golf course. However, since its launch in 1932, golf carts have evolved to serve more than just golf players. Today they serve families, tourists, employees, and more. They are often found in neighborhoods, resorts, retirement homes, and even in corporate parks.

While used on roads just like cars, golf carts are not treated equally when it comes to crash testing. This is because golf carts are meant to be driven in low-traffic areas and at low speeds — think of golf courses or gated neighborhoods.

Golf carts offer limited protection to their riders, especially on their sides. Most golf cart riders do not wear seat belts while they are operating the vehicle. Golf cart crashes are typically not as severe when in a controlled environment, like a retirement home or golf course, but in cases where they share the road with other cars, like in neighborhoods, the severity of damages and injuries sustained can be hard to imagine.

Like car accidents, golf cart accidents can appear out of nowhere and are usually caused by negligence from one or both parties. The most common causes of golf cart accidents include:

• Unsafe speed — Especially in residential or areas requiring lower speed limits. There are cases where drivers take sharp turns, flipping the vehicle.
• Driver distractions — Including looking at something else while still moving, using a cell phone, or zoning out.
• Driving while under the influence — Often, in such cases, drivers can tend to use the wrong side of the road or operate on hazardous terrain not equipped for golf cart use.
• Violation of the right-of-way rules — Like running red lights, stop signs, and failing to yield to other traffic.
• Overloading the vehicle — All golf carts have a limit to the weight that they can carry. Depending on the model, it might be able to handle just 400-800 pounds. When the golf cart is overloaded, there is a chance that the vehicle can topple over while passengers are onboard.
• Negligence — Any kind of improper use of the golf cart can fall under negligence, such as knowing that it has bald tires and taking it out in the rain.

[H3] Common Types of Injuries in Golf Cart Accidents

Golf cart accidents are not just a slight bump with another object. It can involve cars, pedestrians, being launched from the vehicle, rolling over, and more. The bottom line is that golf carts do not meet the same safety standards as a typical car or vehicle, so even a “minor” accident can lead to major medical harm.

According to the National Library of Medicine, golf cart injuries are an increasing problem across the United States for riders of all ages. From 1990 to 2006, there were an estimated 147,696 injuries related to non-fatal golf cart accidents alone. The highest rate of injuries was found in those between the ages of 10-19 and persons 80 years or older.

Victims of car accidents can experience severe injuries and even death depending on the injuries sustained in an accident. More commonly, they experience:

• Bone fractures or breaks
• Muscle strains
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
• Lacerations
• Neck injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries

In a study, it was determined that Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) that resulted from a golf cart accident are often underreported but were equally not necessarily insignificant. The most common head injury that leads to TBI is a skull fracture, which in some cases is followed by what is called an acute subdural hematoma (bleeding of the brain).

Soft Tissue Injuries

Soft tissue injuries can lead to long recoveries, even if they seem minor at first. Victims suffering from these injuries must attend multiple doctor’s appointments, physical therapy sessions, and lose working hours to attend to their medical needs.

Who Is Responsible for a Golf Cart Accident?

Similar to car accidents, there can be more than one negligent party at fault. Parties that are liable in a golf cart accident are often the driver or the operator of the other vehicle. In some cases, the manufacturer or the owner of the property where the accident happened can also be liable in some instances.

Other examples of at-fault scenarios include:

• Rollovers that eject passengers or pin them under the golf cart after a dangerous maneuver by the operator
• Defective or broken parts installed in the golf cart by the manufacturer
• Dangerous terrain or conditions, including poorly maintained roads or terrains, lack of maintenance of obstructions, and more that cause loss of control of the vehicle

Why Having Insurance is Important

In Utah, the state law treats golf carts like any other car. So when it comes to traffic laws and regulations, the rules are the same as when driving a car or truck. What changes is where golf carts can be driven. Different cities and other municipalities may limit where golf carts can be driven, like the expressway, depending on where you are located in the state.

There are exceptions to the state law that differ from the same requirements as driving a car. Golf cart owners and operators do not need to:

• Have a valid driver’s license
• Have the golf cart registered, and carry title, or license plate
• Pass a vehicle emission inspection and complete a maintenance program
• Pay the uniformed statewide fee
• Carry insurance covering the golf cart

While owners and operators do not need to carry insurance, it is always recommended to do so. If you are operating your golf cart on your property, and there is an accident, it should be covered under the liability insurance purchased to cover incidents on your property. If you are driving your cart outside of your home, it is recommended to carry liability insurance in the event of an injury to passengers, pedestrians, or others on the road.

What Should You Do if You Were in a Golf Cart Crash?

Golf cart crashes can be frightening and confusing. Knowing what to do when you experience one is important to start the process of treating your injuries and receiving compensation.

Always Call 911

Calling 911 does not only document the accident but also allows for EMT teams to treat and transport any injured parties to medical facilities.

The police will arrive at the scene and document the damages in Police Report. The police will investigate the entire scene, including damages to personal property and bodily injuries. They will also place an estimated value to repair the damage to all property involved in the incident, including golf carts.

Get a Copy of the Police Report

The police report will document what happened, list the parties involved, and provide additional information that supports any insurance claims.

When the police are at the scene, they are responsible for finding and speaking to witnesses and documenting what they saw, searching and finding relevant evidence supporting the witnesses’ claims and the claims of the parties involved, and providing official documents to all parties involved in the accident at the scene.

Work With an Experienced Golf Cart Lawyer

Working with the right team can get you compensation that you may not have known to add to your claim. A golf cart lawyer who understands State and local laws will know the strategies and tactics that insurance companies use to refuse payment — as well as the factors that increase the chances of a successful claim.

After experiencing an accident, most do not have the time, energy, or skillset to go head-to-head with insurance companies. Utah attorneys dedicated to working golf cart cases, like Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers, let you work instead towards recovering from your injuries rather than fighting insurance companies and in court.

Get Compensation With the Help of a Utah Golf Cart Accident Law Firm

Finding help for compensation for injuries and property damage after a golf cart accident can be challenging when you are not working with an expert golf cart accident lawyer. At Valley Law Accident and Injury Lawyers, our team is dedicated to providing the best service and expertise in handling your case.

Let us help you handle your golf cart accident case. Call (801) 810-9999 or contact us online to schedule a free case review with an experienced golf cart injury lawyer near you.