Though golf carts aren’t high-speed vehicles, you can still suffer significant injuries from an accident in one. If you or a loved one has a golf cart collision due to someone else’s carelessness, you may deserve compensation. A golf cart accident lawyer from Florida Ticket Firm can help you navigate the legal process. Learn more here.
Defendants in personal injury cases and their insurers typically take every avenue possible to reduce a payout for negligence, including hiring a strong legal team. With assistance from our attorneys at Florida Ticket Firm, you can confidently fight for every penny of compensation.
Furthermore, serious golf cart injuries require recovery time, which limits what you can do to investigate your case and gather evidence. Also, these civil cases have a time limit for submitting your claim. Fortunately, your lawyer can handle these details so you can focus on recuperating.
The Florida Statutes Title XXIII Chapter 316 explains the rules for operating golf carts and similar vehicles. The state allows you to drive a golf cart on roads in residential neighborhoods, but you can only cross over main roads at designated areas between trailer parks and golf courses. Operators under 18 must have a driver’s license or learner’s permit, while adults only require valid state-recognized identification.
Carts that exceed 20 miles per hour but go less than 25 come under the classification of “low-speed vehicles,” which must have a title, registration, insurance, and specific safety features. Review the current regulations to ensure you follow the proper rules for your cart.
You can take all precautions while riding in a golf cart and still suffer an injury due to someone else’s carelessness. Causes for accidents include:
Multiple parties can have liability in golf cart accidents. Discuss the details with Florida Ticket Firm’s golf cart accident lawyers to determine who owes you damages.
Golf cart injuries can be physical or psychological. Common physical wounds include burns, bruises, cuts, scrapes and scars. However, a tumble out of a golf cart can also break broken bones or lead to organ damage. Even lasting harm from spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries can occur.
These sudden accidents can also trigger emotional trauma. You could develop intense fear or discomfort near the accident location or similar areas. Additionally, if wounds cause disfigurement or affect your physical abilities, your sense of self-worth could decrease, leading to depression.
Courts assign fault by first determining if the accused party had a duty of care toward others. In these cases, that could be a driver’s safe operation of a motor vehicle or a manufacturer’s safe production of a golf cart.
Next, the court decides if that party breached the duty of care, either intentionally or unintentionally. When you can prove that the negligence directly caused specific damages, you often have a strong personal injury case.
After an accident, you should stay at the scene but move to a safe spot and help others to do so if possible. Report the incident to the appropriate authorities, especially if there is property damage, injuries, or any suspicion of illegal activities.
Seek medical assistance promptly, even if you’re not sure that you need help, because untreated injuries might not display for days or even weeks. Also, gather whatever evidence you can to support your case. Then, call our law firm for a free consultation to understand your options for pursuing justice.
When reporting a claim with an insurer, remember that these companies make profits by paying out the least they can. Stick to the facts and never admit any fault, which can lower your potential compensation.
Remain cautious during discussions, even with your own insurance company. An agent might use your responses against you later, so feel free to have your attorney communicate on your behalf. Our golf cart accident attorneys understand how to speak to insurers and protect your case.
You shouldn’t necessarily accept an insurer’s first offer, but that doesn’t mean you have to take your case to court. Trials involve extra expenses and more time, which can increase with appeals.
Your attorney will represent you before insurers to negotiate a fair out-of-court settlement. However, if the defendant or insurer refuses to pay what is appropriate, your lawyer will take your case to trial when it makes sense to do so.
After your accident, you can get compensation for economic and noneconomic damages. Economic losses include anything for which you have a specific expense directly from the accident. These include medical bills, lost income and property repair or replacement.
You can also receive damages for the emotional pain and suffering you experienced. A family who loses a loved one in a golf cart accident can file a wrongful death claim for such grief. These noneconomic damages are harder to calculate, but your lawyer helps you fight for them all.
Florida caps personal injury lawyer fees at 33 ⅓% for a settlement and 40% for a trial. However, you don’t have to worry about paying anything out of pocket for our help. Our team works on a contingency basis, meaning we don’t get paid unless you do, so you have nothing to lose by calling us.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a golf cart accident, don’t fight your case alone. A golf cart accident lawyer at Florida Ticket Firm is ready to help.
Talk to us today so we can start working on your case and help you get the justice you deserve.
