When Do I Need a Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Ocala?

Ocala city ordinance defines a golf cart as a slow-moving vehicle that does not move faster than 20 miles per hour. State law allows golf carts to navigate Florida roads from sunrise until sunset unless a customized golf cart is equipped with nighttime safety features such as headlights, brake lights, and a windshield. Florida law prohibits golf carts on state and federal highways, although you can cross a highway if it divides a subdivision, golf course, or trailer park. You do not have to register a golf cart in the Sunshine State, but you must follow the same rules of the road that apply to other types of motor vehicles.

Many of the same moving violations that apply to motor vehicles also apply to operators of golf carts.

Driving While Intoxicated

Florida Statutes § 316.003 defines a vehicle as a “device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except personal delivery devices and devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks.” This definition means an intoxicated operator of a golf cart can face criminal charges for driving under the influence. If a golf cart or another type of vehicle struck you while you operated a golf cart and the operator of the other vehicle tested above the minimum limit for intoxication, you might have a strong enough case to prove negligence.

Failure to Yield

Because they do not need a license to operate a golf cart, far too many golf cart owners do not believe the rules of the road apply to them. This is especially true for the failure to yield. Every golf cart operator must follow state law when it comes to yielding the right of way.

Running Stop Signs

Running stop signs represents a frequent traffic violation for golf cart owners that live in retirement communities. If you own a golf cart in Florida, you must stop at traffic lights and stop signs just like any other type of motor vehicle. Failure to stop properly at stop signs and traffic lights can lead to the issuance of a traffic ticket, which adds points to a golf cart operator’s motor vehicle license.

Not all golf cart accidents cause serious injuries, which begs the question, when should you contact an Ocala golf cart accident lawyer? There is not just one answer for the question, as several different circumstances should prompt a victim of a golf cart accident to seek legal counsel.

You Suffered Serious Injuries

Sustaining a few cuts and bruises that heal within a short period might not warrant contacting an Ocala golf cart accident lawyer. However, serious injuries require you to seek medical attention that can cost you thousands of dollars when it is all said and done. Diagnostic tests, treatment regimens, and physical therapy sessions are expensive types of medical care. Working with a personal injury attorney from Morgan & Morgan can help you recover most, if not all of the money you have lost because of a golf cart accident.

Did the Other Party Commit an Act of Negligence

Many golf cart accidents are just that: Accidents. Nonetheless, the other party might have committed an act of negligence that caused your injuries. Proving negligence is the job of one of the experienced personal injury lawyers at Morgan & Morgan. First, we demonstrate the other party had a duty of care to prevent you from getting hurt. Second, your Ocala golf cart accident lawyer must show the other party breached the duty of care. Third, the other party must have caused your injuries. Finally, you have to demonstrate the golf cart incident produced a financial loss.

Dealing With an Insurance Company

If the other party did not commit one or more acts of negligence and you sustained injuries because of no fault of any party, then you should work with a golf cart accident lawyer in Ocala, Florida to ensure you file the most persuasive insurance claim. Insurance companies are notorious for dragging their feet when it comes to reviewing personal injury claims. Some insurers have earned a reputation for fighting every claim they receive. Hiring a personal injury attorney shows an insurance company that you are serious about receiving just compensation for your injuries. Your legal counsel helps you submit compelling evidence, as well as monitors the progress of your claim.

Knowing when to hire a golf cart accident lawyer in Ocala is just the start of your search for the best legal counsel. You also have to know what factors to look for when the time comes to hire an attorney.

Experience Handling Golf Cart Accident Cases

Working with a personal injury attorney who specializes in handling golf cart accident cases is a huge plus when it comes to getting the right legal representation. At Morgan & Morgan, we can connect you to a personal injury attorney who understands state golf cart laws, as well as the unique statutes passed by municipalities such as Ocala.

Experience is much more than accumulating years of providing legal support. You want to work with a golf cart accident lawyer who has established an impressive record of getting clients the compensation they deserve. Whether you reach a settlement with an insurance company or file a civil lawsuit seeking monetary damages, you should hire a golf accident lawyer who has considerable experience successfully handling golf cart accident cases.

Responsive Communicator

Strong communication skills represent one of the most important professional attributes of a successful personal injury attorney. Your legal counsel must be able to communicate effectively in a courtroom or an insurance adjuster’s office. Responsive communication also is important when it comes to interacting with you. Your legal counsel must return emails, phone calls, and text messages shortly after receiving them. If your lawyer is not available to answer a question or address a concern, then someone at the attorney’s office should be available to help.

Handles Your Case From Start to Finish

Some personal injury lawyers meet with new clients during a free case evaluation, only to disappear for the rest of the legal process. The Ocala golf cart accident lawyer you hire should represent you from the day of the free case evaluation to the conclusion of the legal process. You do not want a paralegal or less experienced attorney handling your case because there is too much at stake. Ask any litigator on your shortlist about how involved the lawyer is when handling golf cart accident cases.

Operates on a Contingency Fee Basis

Hiring a lawyer who charges by the hour quickly racks up legal fees that run into thousands of dollars. For any type of personal injury case, you want to hire legal counsel that charges on a contingency fee basis. This means your Ocala golf cart accident lawyer gets paid when you get paid. Recovering from injuries suffered because of a golf cart accident includes paying medical bills on time. Not having to worry about paying an attorney frees up more financial resources to pay for medical care and the repairs done to a damaged golf cart.

Positive Online Reviews

Online review sites such as Yelp and Google can provide you with insight into the qualifications of a personal injury attorney. Reading reviews gives you insight into an attorney’s level of experience, as well as how a lawyer handles golf cart accident cases. One attribute of a golf cart accident lawyer in Ocala you should look for is the ability to negotiate settlements. Highly-rated personal injury lawyers try to keep a case from getting to the costly and time-consuming trial phase. Negotiating a favorable settlement gets you just compensation, without you having to miss work to attend a prolonged trial.

If you sustained one or more injuries that resulted from a golf cart accident, you have four years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Florida has established a statute of limitations for filing civil lawsuits that cover personal injury cases such as a golf cart accident. If you fail to file a civil lawsuit before the expiration of the statute of limitations, you can expect the court to dismiss your case.

Hiring a Florida-licensed personal injury lawyer to help you file a persuasive claim before the statute of limitations is just one reason to seek legal representation. A personal injury attorney from Morgan & Morgan who specializes in litigating golf cart accident cases can help you recover your financial losses. Your lawyer gathers and organizes evidence, as well as interviews every witness that supports your version of events.

Schedule a free case evaluation with one of the skilled litigators from Morgan & Morgan.