Tampa Golf Cart Accident Lawyer

Although golf carts are slow-moving vehicles most likely to be found in low-traffic areas like golf courses and suburban communities, they are still involved in thousands of accidents each year. Some of these result in severe injuries and even death. Due to a lack of external protection, passengers can be injured in rollover accidents, being thrown out of the vehicle, or colliding with a standard car or truck. There is no limit to the types of injuries that can be sustained, including head trauma, broken bones, muscle strains, cuts and lacerations, spinal cord injuries, and more.

If you or a loved one were injured in an accident involving a golf cart in Tampa, our lawyers can lead your case and file an insurance claim or lawsuit. The Tampa personal injury lawyers at Dismuke Law are ready to advocate for you and seek fair compensation. 

Types of Compensation a Tampa Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Can Pursue on Your Behalf

Golf car accidents can cause a variety of losses. The type, severity, and potential duration of your injuries largely dictate the extent of your losses and how much compensation you may be eligible for. The aim of a personal injury attorney is to prove which party is at fault and potentially liable for your injuries, identify all of your losses, and determine their value. They often negotiate settlements with insurance companies, and many of these cases are resolved out of court.

However, there are situations in which an agreement reflecting the compensation you are owed cannot be reached between you and the other party. At any time in this process, your legal counsel may advise you to file a lawsuit if they believe it may yield the most favorable outcome in your case.

Common recoverable damages for personal injuries include the following:

• Medical bills related to your injuries, including emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, doctor’s visits, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, etc.
• Loss of income due to missing work
• Reduced earning capacity if you are unable to work at the same job or make the same wages in the future
• Physical pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Scarring and disfigurement
• Long-term disability
• Loss of consortium
• Reduced quality or enjoyment of life

It is vital to consult with a Tampa golf cart accident lawyer as soon as possible so they can get started on your case. Florida imposes a time limit on filing personal injury claims known as a statute of limitations. Per Florida Statutes § 95.11(3)(a), you generally have two years from the date your injuries were suffered or discovered to file a lawsuit. 

Failure to file before this deadline may result in your inability to pursue compensation for your losses in the future.

How a Tampa Golf Cart Attorney Proves Negligence

In order to be eligible for compensation, your attorney must prove that the party potentially liable for your injuries was negligent, either through careless actions or inaction. This requires demonstrating that the party in question failed to act in a way expected of a reasonable person in a similar situation. 

For example, if you were a golf car passenger involved in an accident through no fault of your own, the responsible party would be considered negligent and, therefore, liable for your losses.

What Is a Wrongful Death Claim?

If you lost a loved one in a golf car accident in Tampa due to another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim. In Florida, certain family members are allowed to file, including spouses, children, and parents of minor children. Personal representatives of the decedent’s estate can also file a claim.

Common recoverable damages include the following:

• Reimbursement for medical bills already paid
• Loss of the decedent’s income and support
• Loss of the decedent’s love, companionship, guidance, and instruction
• Funeral, burial, or cremation expenses

As with personal injury, wrongful death claims are subject to a two-year statute of limitations in Florida. This deadline requires a lawsuit to be filed within two years of the decedent’s passing.

Common Places Where Tampa Golf Cart Accidents Occur

In addition to golf courses, there are several places where golf cart accidents tend to be most prevalent, including the following:

• Luxury golf communities are a type of residential housing development built around golf courses
• Other housing communities, which often allow residents to get around easily without having to use a car
• Smaller towns, especially where speed limits are low, and there is minimal traffic
• Major roads, such as on the shoulder of rural highways

It’s important to note that golf carts and similar low-speed vehicles driven in traffic areas require a license plate and must meet certain safety standards under Florida Statutes § 316.2122 to operate legally. Golf carts on courses are not subject to these restrictions.

Common Causes of Golf Cart Accidents in Tampa

There are several reasons why golf cart accidents occur. On golf courses, these are often the fault of the car driver, but they can also be due to a mechanical defect or someone’s outside interference with a moving cart. On the road, they can also result from the cart driver’s negligence, but the most serious collisions typically involve bigger cars and trucks.  

Common causes of golf cart accidents involving the driver include the following:

• Driving carelessly or recklessly
• Driving while distracted or intoxicated
• Overloading a golf cart with cargo or passengers
• Taking too sharp of a turn or an accelerated U-turn
• Driving too fast on hills and slopes
• Hanging arms, legs, or other objects outside of the cart
• Removing the speed regulator to achieve higher speeds
• Leaving the cart’s brake unlocked after parking
• Driving a golf cart in inclement weather
• Driving a car on muddy, slippery, wet, or uneven ground
• Reversing downhill
• Being struck by another golf cart
• Being struck by a standard car or truck, even if driving on a shoulder, marked lane, or path
• Swerving to avoid being struck by another vehicle, causing a rollover, or passengers being thrown from the cart

In some instances, a few different factors are involved in accidents, and it may not be readily apparent which party or parties are at fault. Accidents can also occur due to poor maintenance or a faulty cart component, for which a manufacturer or the golf course itself may be liable.

Contact a Tampa Golf Cart Accident Lawyer at Dismuke Law Today

If you’ve suffered injuries or lost a loved one due to a golf cart accident caused by another party’s negligence, you should be compensated to help you recover physically, financially, and emotionally. 

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation, and we can explain more about your legal rights and options. At Dismuke Law, we are dedicated to our clients and will fight tirelessly to pursue the compensation you deserve for your losses.