Golf Cart Accident Attorney in Miami

In many communities throughout the state of Florida, residents rely primarily on golf carts to travel to nearby locations. Many roadways in Miami have designated areas where golf cart drivers are permitted to drive their vehicles. 

Because many Floridians use their carts off the golf course, these vehicles are often driven close to pedestrians, bicyclists, and passenger vehicles. This presents the possibility of severe accidents and serious injuries.  

Golf carts are less well-regulated than other types of motor vehicles in Florida. For this reason, many golf cart operators do not adhere to strict rules of the road. 

This lack of regulation can make it very difficult to determine who is responsible for an accident involving a golf cart. To determine legal liability in your case, make sure to consult with accomplished golf cart accident lawyers in Miami. 

Negligent motorists can cause serious damage to others, whether they are driving a golf cart or a standard vehicle. You should not be forced to pay the costs resulting from your golf cart accident. Speak with the friendly staff at Morgan & Morgan to pursue compensation in your case.

Golf cart accidents can happen wherever motorists operate these vehicles. However, some locations make golf cart collisions much more likely. Some common examples include:

Neighborhoods

Some Miami neighborhoods allow residents to use golf carts. When golf carts are a normal part of daily travel, accidents become likely. 

This is especially true if some residents still rely on cars and trucks to travel in the neighborhood. Speak to a lawyer if you have been injured in a golf cart accident in your Miami neighborhood.

Golf Courses

Obviously, the most common location for carts is on golf courses. Golfers use these carts to travel from one hole to the next, using the luggage area for hauling clubs and other game-related items. 

If a golfer operates their cart in a negligent or reckless manner, they may cause harm to others on the course. When this happens, victims have the legal right to file a civil claim to pursue financial recovery.

Public Roads

Driving a golf cart on or near a Florida public road can be highly dangerous. This is true even in areas where doing so is legally permitted. 

Cars and trucks travel much faster than golf carts. Traditional passenger vehicles are also much heavier than small recreational vehicles. 

A collision with a car or truck can be devastating for the driver of a golf cart. If you have been hurt in this type of crash, reach out to skilled golf cart accident lawyers in Miami to seek justice. The team at Morgan & Morgan is ready to fight effectively in your best interests.

While golf carts are slower and less weighty than typical passenger automobiles, collisions involving these recreational vehicles are still dangerous. Some of the most common causes of accidents involving golf carts are:

Reckless Driving

Just like driving cars and trucks, driving a golf cart in a reckless manner can result in collisions. When golf cart operators turn sharply or travel over unsuitable terrain, serious accidents can occur. 

While golf carts are mostly used for recreational travel, it is still important for drivers to avoid reckless behaviors. Reckless drivers may be held liable for the physical and financial damage that results from their negligence.

Driving While Intoxicated

Most golf carts have a top speed of around 15 to 20 miles per hour. Even though they travel at slower speeds than other vehicles, motorists should still never operate golf carts while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 

When intoxicated, motorists experience a decrease in cognitive functioning. Alcohol and other controlled substances may slow drivers’ reaction time as well. 

If you have been physically or financially harmed by an intoxicated driver, you deserve compensation. Speak with golf cart accident lawyers in Miami to pursue the financial recovery to which you are entitled.

Distracted Driving

When you are operating a golf cart, it is vital to pay full attention to driving the vehicle. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of all motor vehicle accidents. This includes golf cart collisions. 

Some typical distractions for motorists include:  

• Grooming—e.g., applying makeup
• Eating or drinking
• Watching videos
• Engaging with a GPS or map
• Adjusting the stereo in the vehicle
• Listening to loud music
• Talking with passengers
• Texting 
• Using a smartphone, tablet, or other digital device 

If a distracted driver has caused a collision in which you were injured, you may have a valid legal claim. Distracted drivers can be held accountable for the harm that their negligence causes. 

Overloaded Carts

Some golf cart operators put too many items in the cargo area. While these vehicles are intended to carry sets of golf clubs, putting too much weight on the cart can result in accidents. 

Overloaded golf carts may be difficult to control. Losing control of a vehicle can quickly result in an accident or serious injury.

Defective Golf Cart Components

Not every golf cart accident is the result of a driver’s negligence. Some collisions are caused by faulty or defective golf cart components. 

Golf cart manufacturers have a responsibility to ensure that their vehicles are reasonably safe and reliable. Companies can be held accountable for the harm resulting from a manufacturing or design defect in their golf cart or its component parts. 

These are only a few examples of common factors resulting in golf cart collisions. No matter the circumstances of your collision or injury, reach out to golf cart accident lawyers in Miami. The team at Morgan and Morgan will assess your civil claim and help you every step of the way.

Some people believe that golf cart accidents are never severe because they travel slower than standard vehicles. This is a dangerous misconception. 

Any type of motor vehicle accident can result in severe and life-changing injuries to drivers, passengers, or pedestrians. The lack of safety features in most golf carts leaves motorists and passengers vulnerable to hazards in their environments. 

Some of the typical injuries resulting from golf cart collisions include: 

• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions
• Broken bones and fractures
• Shoulder and neck damage
• Spinal and back injuries
• Joint sprains and strains
• Cuts, bruises, and lacerations 

Injuries from these accidents often result in mounting medical care costs for victims. If you have been harmed as the result of another party’s dangerous or reckless behavior, do not hesitate to contact Morgan & Morgan.  

Our Florida attorneys have plenty of experience handling all types of personal injury claims. We will negotiate forcefully on your behalf and work diligently to recover maximum compensation in your case.

Victims in golf cart accident claims can pursue repayment for all the costs and losses they experience. In most instances, plaintiffs can pursue two types of compensatory payments. These payments are known as “economic” and “non-economic” damages. 

Economic damages make up for the direct monetary losses that golf cart accident victims experience. Some of the common examples of these damages include payments to compensate for: 

• Current medical expenses
• Expected costs for future medical care
• In-home care costs
• Property damage—such as golf cart replacement
• Lost wages from missing workdays
• Loss of earning ability

One of our Morgan & Morgan Florida attorneys can review the documents related to your accident to determine the economic damages you can pursue. Most golf cart accident victims drastically underestimate their direct monetary losses. 

Non-economic damages compensate victims for their physical and emotional harm. Common examples of these compensatory payments in personal injury claims are: 

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Decrease in quality of life
• Depression and anxiety 

A skilled legal professional will ensure that you pursue the full amount of non-economic damages that you are owed. Do not let the opposing party in your case devalue the intangible losses you sustained.

A contingency fee approach is a method of payment in a civil legal context. Attorneys who are paid through contingency fees are compensated only after they secure money for their clients. 

Most reputable tort law firms operate on this type of payment approach. When you hire one of the compassionate Miami lawyers at Morgan and Morgan, we will agree to represent you for a specific percentage of the recovery in your case. 

After we successfully negotiate a settlement or win your case at trial, that portion of compensation will be used to cover attorneys’ fees. You will not pay a nickel in fees or legal costs unless our team successfully obtains financial recovery for you.

When you have been injured in a golf cart accident, reach out to the caring legal professionals at Morgan and Morgan. Our firm has successfully represented personal injury victims for more than three decades. 

We will fight diligently to hold the liable party accountable in your golf cart collision case. Schedule a free consultation today by completing the easy-to-use form on the Morgan and Morgan website. We are ready to fight to secure justice for you.