Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Naples

During a free case evaluation scheduled with one of the experienced golf cart accident lawyers in Naples, you can expect to discuss the cause of your collision. The personal injury attorney that you hire from Morgan and Morgan must determine the cause of the accident to demonstrate another party committed one or more acts of negligence. During our more than 30 years of representing clients during golf cart accident cases, we have discovered three causes that happen the most often.

Reckless Operation

Whether it is because of operating while under the influence or taking chances that include driving on roads meant only for automobiles, reckless operation of a golf cart represents one of the most common causes of golf cart accidents. Manufacturers design and construct golf carts to achieve a maximum speed that does exceed 20 miles an hour. However, operators of golf carts can approach the maximum speed, which places the operator and a passenger in harm’s way. Another type of reckless operation of a golf cart is performing risky maneuvers on golf courses that contain undulating terrain. Another operator of a golf cart can cause you harm by recklessly operating a golf cart on a golf course, as well as on a neighborhood path designed for both bicycles and golf carts.

Too Much Weight

The average amount of weight for a golf cart to carry safely is around six hundred pounds. This means two adults weighing a combined 400 pounds leave little room for error when packing gear and other items. Exceeding the maximum weight load for a golf cart turns a safe golf cart into one that can tip over while operating on hills and other types of rugged terrain. A golf cart that tips over because of excessive weight can cause serious and even life-threatening injuries such as brain trauma and spinal cord damage.

Defective Product

Manufacturers of golf carts owe operators and passengers a duty of care to design and build a recreational vehicle that performs according to the manufacturer’s specifications. When a defective golf cart is the primary cause of a collision, the manufacturer might be held legally liable for causing a victim or victims injuries. Golf cart defects include poor braking systems and steering mechanisms that fail to work properly when an operator tries to turn the vehicle a certain way. One of the golf accident lawyers in Naples from Morgan and Morgan who specializes in litigating product liability cases conducts an exhaustive investigation to decide whether the manufacturer should be held legally liable for designing and constructing a defective golf cart.

The increase in the popularity of operating golf carts in communities such as Naples, Florida has prompted state lawmakers to pass several laws that promote the safety of both users and pedestrians. One important Florida law states golf cart manufacturers cannot construct golf carts used for sporting and traveling purposes that exceed 20 miles per hour.

Florida prohibits the operation of a golf cart for traveling reasons between sunset and sunrise. Nonetheless, a growing number of communities in the Sunshine State have taken advantage of the opportunity to supersede state law by allowing golf cart owners to travel in their vehicles at night. For instance, the Villages allows golf carts to operate at night as long as they are equipped with several safety features, including headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and reflective safety tape that flashes under lights across both sides.

Florida also has adopted the legal principle of comparative negligence for determining fault for golf cart accident cases. The comparative negligence principle assigns blame to more than one party, which means that even if you sustained one or more injuries as a result of a golf car collision, the value of monetary damages might be reduced in accordance with your share of the legal liability for causing the crash. A legal judgment worth $20,000 declines in value to $16,000 if the judge hearing your case assigns you 20 percent of the fault for causing an accident.

You have several compelling reasons to hire one of the golf accident lawyers in Naples, Florida to handle your case, including retaining legal counsel that completes a thorough investigation. Another compelling reason to hire one of the experienced personal injury attorneys at Morgan and Morgan is to ensure you take legal action before the expiration of the statute of limitations for filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages.

Each state has enacted a law that defines the deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Most states have established a statute of limitations that runs between two and four years, while the remaining states go as long as six years and as short as one year for plaintiffs to take legal action. Florida has set a deadline for filing a personal injury lawsuit at four years. The clock starts ticking for filing a personal injury lawsuit on the date when a plaintiff sustained injuries as a result of a golf cart accident. However, state law allows exceptions for victims that experience the development of delayed symptoms.

Four years is plenty of time to build a persuasive case for filing a civil lawsuit that seeks monetary damages. Nonetheless, you should not procrastinate when taking legal action against another party that caused a golf cart accident for two primary reasons. First, you should act with a sense of urgency to initiate a process that might award you compensation to recover the financial losses associated with medical bills and other types of appropriate expenses. You are responsible for paying off debts connected with a golf cart accident, which means acting promptly speeds up the process for you to receive just compensation for your injuries. Second, your attorney needs to interview witnesses as soon as possible after a golf cart accident to receive the most accurate version of events.

If you fail to file a personal injury lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations, the court clerk in charge of processing your case has the legal power to dismiss it.

As a plaintiff filing a personal injury lawsuit, you have the opportunity to receive three primary types of compensation. One of the golf accident lawyers in Naples, Florida from Morgan and Morgan tries to recover financial losses by asking for economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.

Economic Damages

Economic damages represent the value of the tangible expenses generated by getting involved in a golf cart accident. Medical expenses by far are the most costly type of economic damage, with diagnostic tests, treatment programs, and physical therapy sessions potentially sending bills into the tens of thousands of dollars. You also have the right to sue for the costs associated with prescription medications and the use of an assistive device such as a walking boot.

The tangible expenses regarding a golf accident also include repairing property damage. You might have to repair the damage done to your golf cart, as well as personal property like an electronic device. If you sustained serious injuries as a result of a golf cart accident, the reception of economic damages also might include covering lost wages.

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, non-economic damages do not come with a price tag. Instead, golf cart accident lawyers in Naples calculate a value for noneconomic damages by referring to a formula that considers the value of economic damages. Non-economic damages include pain and suffering, which involves assessing the degree of mental and emotional distress issues such as fear, anxiety, and depression.

Punitive Damages

Punitive damages do not compensate a plaintiff for sustaining one or more injuries. Instead, this type of compensation penalizes the defendant for committing one or more acts of negligence.

Learn more about how to receive the compensation that you deserve by scheduling a free consultation today with one of the golf cart accident lawyers in Naples from Morgan and Morgan.