Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Golf Cart Accidents – What You Need to Know
Golf carts are often considered fun, recreational vehicles, but they can also be the cause of serious injuries. Golf cart accidents can happen, and when they do, the occupants could sustain more severe injuries because of the unprotected nature of the vehicle. Golf cart accidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, back, neck, and spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and contusions. If you were hurt in a golf cart accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be owed money for your injuries.
Operating Golf Carts on the Street
Generally, golf carts are limited to use at golf courses and in golf course neighborhoods. However, a golf cart may be driven on the street under some circumstances. North Carolina law categorizes golf carts as low-speed vehicles (LSV). Generally, you may drive a golf cart on the street as long as you have the proper registration, license, and insurance. Individual jurisdictions may have laws that pertain to golf carts. A golf cart must be properly outfitted with the proper equipment, such as lights and signals, to drive it on the street. The driver must have vehicle insurance if driving a golf cart on a road.
Golf Cart Accidents
Golf cart accidents may happen at resorts, golf courses, or even on the street. The location where an accident happens is important in determining liability. After an accident, the authorities or insurance provider may need to conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. This may include a review of a police report, video surveillance, driver and witness statements, and investigating the scene along with the damage to the vehicle.
Sometimes, golf cart drivers are less careful than they would be when driving a car or SUV. Some of the common causes of golf cart accidents include driver impairment, speeding, inexperienced drivers, driving outside of designated areas, driving on a steep incline, and making improper turns. Poor weather conditions or inadequate cart maintenance may also lead to accidents. An investigation will help to determine the cause of the crash.
Does My Insurance Cover Golf Cart Accidents?
Before you drive a golf cart, you need to know whether you are properly covered for an accident by your insurance policy. If you are going to drive your personal golf cart on the street, you must have insurance just as you would for your car or truck. Keep in mind that your insurance will typically only cover you if your cart has the proper safety features and is licensed. You will want to make certain that you have full coverage for both property damage and bodily injury in the case of a crash.
If a golf cart accident happens at a golf course, the golf course may cover your damages. However, it is important to note that there are often exceptions to this coverage. For example, the driver must not have been operating the cart in a dangerous manner, and the crash may not be covered if misconduct caused the accident.
Golf cart accidents can be extremely complex. If you were hurt in a golf cart accident, report the accident to the police. Seek medical attention as soon as possible. Contact an attorney to help guide you through the process. Remember that you must file an injury lawsuit within 3 years of the date it happens. To learn more, call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 3370-2828 to discuss your injuries.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to maximizing the financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life, and that the effects so often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC are dedicated to helping clients determine the strength of their claims, and to aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncleg.net/enactedlegislation/statutes/html/bysection/chapter_20/gs_20-4.01.html
https://www.cdc.gov/impaired-driving/about/index.html
Image Credit:
https://www.freeimages.com/photo/man-riding-in-golf-cart-2378743
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