If you use a golf cart to get around your retirement community, you aren’t alone. Golf carts have been popular in retirement communities for decades, and they have become even more popular in recent years. If you’ve been injured in an accident while riding in a golf cart, you aren’t alone either—and you will most likely want to speak with a Florida personal injury lawyer about your legal rights.
Collisions Between Golf Carts and Cars Often Result in Serious Injuries
Collisions between golf carts and cars often result in serious injuries. Whether golf cart occupants remain in the vehicle or are thrown into the road, they can suffer injuries ranging from broken bones to brain trauma. While these injuries can have serious consequences for anyone, they can often be especially risky for aging retirement community residents.
Regardless of your age and health condition, getting the treatment you need should be your priority. This will help minimize your risk of facing long-term complications—and it will also help protect your legal rights. Injuries from golf cart accidents can prove incredibly expensive, and protecting your legal rights can be essential for ensuring that you and your family do not incur out-of-pocket costs unnecessarily.
5 Important Facts About Collisions Between Cars and Golf Carts in Florida
With this in mind, what do you need to know if you (or a loved one) has been injured in a golf cart accident in a retirement community? Here are five important facts about collisions between cars and golf carts in Florida:
1. The Costs of a Golf Cart Accident Can Add Up Quickly (and Continue Adding Up for a Long Time)
We already touched on the costs of treatment, but these are not the only costs you are likely to incur after a golf cart accident resulting in serious injuries. If you were working part-time, doing consulting work or making money from a hobby in your retirement, being unable to work will add to the financial costs of your injuries.
Suffering serious injuries in a golf cart accident can have significant non-financial costs as well. If you are unable to spend time with your friends or family, if you now find yourself dealing with chronic pain or a disability, or if your injuries have shortened your life expectancy, these are all very real costs that you should not ignore. If you have a claim for your golf cart accident, these are also costs for which financial compensation may be available to help support you and your family long-term.
2. You May Have an Insurance Claim
In many cases, individuals who suffer serious injuries in golf cart accidents will have an insurance claim. If the driver who hit you has liability coverage under his or her auto insurance policy, you should be able to file a claim. If you have uninsured/underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage under any of your policies, you may be able to file a claim with your insurance company as well.
3. You May Also Have a Claim Against a Manufacturer
Depending on how you got injured, you could also have a claim against the manufacturer of your golf cart or the vehicle that hit you. Some examples of potential grounds to file a claim against a manufacturer include:
- Faulty brakes
- Faulty tires
- Faulty mechanical or electrical components
- Faulty steering or accelerator controls
- Inadequate or ineffective safety equipment
If you hire a Florida personal injury lawyer, your lawyer will be able to conduct an investigation to determine if a manufacturer is liable for your injuries. If so, your lawyer will be able to file a product liability claim on your behalf to seek just compensation for your financial and non-financial losses.
4. All Types of Claims Require Proof of Liability
Regardless of the type of claim (or claims) you are eligible to file, seeking just compensation will require proof of liability. In other words, you need to be able to prove who (or what) is to blame for your golf cart accident. This involves conducting an investigation as noted above—and, ideally, you will want to hire a lawyer to investigate promptly before any evidence disappears.
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