Do I Need a Golf Cart Accident Lawyer in Sarasota?

Seeking medical treatment should be a top priority even if you're unsure of your injuries because internal bleeding and soft tissue damage may not become apparent immediately after an accident. Only a doctor can give you a clean bill of health. 

After you've sought the care of a doctor, you should speak to one of our golf accident attorneys, especially if another person was responsible for the accident. The other person may be subject to compensating you for medical bills and any other expenses related to your accident. For example, say another motorist pulls out suddenly in front of your golf cart and causes a collision. The other driver may be responsible for the crash.

Another example of when you need an attorney after a golf cart collision is if you are a pedestrian and the golf cart driver disobeys a stop sign and hits you while in the crosswalk. In other circumstances, say you were injured because of some product defect on your golf cart, like not being able to release the seatbelt after a collision, and you sustained an injury to your abdomen as a result. In that case, it could be a matter of product liability. Product liability cases are typically complex and warrant the use of a golf cart product liability attorney.

We've learned after more than 30-years in personal injury law that victims of negligent driving often don't understand the full value of their claims. This is particularly important when severe injuries have occurred. You or the insurance representative may not understand the sheer magnitude of your current and future medical bills. 

An important thing to note here is that the insurance company is not your friend. Even if they offer you some form of compensation immediately, once you accept it, you have no recourse to go back later if you find out your long-term recovery needs are going to be way more costly than what you thought.

You need someone you can trust to represent your interests and who has the expertise to understand the full value of our claim and fight for it. 

A settlement or jury verdict for a Sarasota golf cart accident could include compensation for the following:

Medical expenses: Beyond the immediate medical bills, our attorneys will communicate with your doctor to learn the full scope of treatment needed to recover. Severe injuries often require long-term rehabilitation, which can be costly. We make sure to include current and future medical expenses during our negotiations.

Lost wages:  Even minor injuries may require taking some time off from work to recover, particularly if you're job is a physical one. If your injuries are serious, you may need extensive time off from work. It may even be that you will not return to work at all or have to take a cut in pay for a less physically demanding job. Whatever the case may be, our lawyers work diligently to ensure you receive the compensation, which is your right.

Pain and suffering: Nothing can make up for dealing with the inconvenience, discomfort, and mental anguish that comes along with being injured. However, pain and suffering is a form of compensation that tries to do just that. It's meant to recognize that you have been through something you should not have had to suffer, and we help to assign a dollar amount to ease the burden.

Punitive damages: Punitive damages are awarded when a defendant is found guilty of doing wrong and is required to pay above compensatory damages like medical bills. This kind of award is meant to punish the wrongdoer because their actions were considered grossly negligent or even intentional. For example, a road rage accident might warrant punitive damages.

Take over discussions with the other party's insurance company or your own: Since the other party has control of the purse strings, it's essential to have someone in close contact with them with good communication skills to ensure a favorable outcome is reached.

Research and obtain evidence related to the accident: If witnesses didn't observe the accident and the other party isn't accepting liability, we work to obtain evidence by investigating if there may be business CCTV footage or even private surveillance video available. Since this kind of footage may be frequently discarded, time is of the essence. 

Organize your medical bills and records: Gathering all your medical bills and documents can be a lengthy process. Some hospitals have specific procedures to follow, or they simply ignore the request. We take care of this for you, freeing up time so that you can focus on your recovery.

Communicate with your doctor to obtain missing information vital to your claim: Sometimes, doctor's notes do not contain all of the information needed to establish causation of your injuries. If records are incomplete, this gives the insurance company a huge advantage, and they may even deny your claim altogether.

Negotiate a full and favorable settlement with the insurance company or the defendant's lawyer: When you're represented by one of our golf cart accident lawyers, your chances of receiving a settlement are not only higher but also the amount of the payment is likely to go up versus going it alone without legal help. We push for the maximum amount possible and don't settle for anything less than what we feel you're entitled to receive.
 
Representing you in court should a trial become necessary: While most accident claims are settled out of court, you want to be represented by a lawyer who has actually seen the inside of a courtroom. At Morgan & Morgan, we have well over 1,000 trial-ready lawyers experienced in courtroom battles.

Passenger ejections from sharp left turn: Golf carts are considered to be relatively safe. However, suppose a golf cart driver is driving near the maximum speed and makes a sharp left turn. In that case, the centrifugal acceleration force can eject passengers on the right, which can lead to serious injuries such as head trauma. This is particularly true in golf carts that are used only on the golf course because they usually don't have seat belts.

Overloaded golf carts: Golf carts have a maximum weight capacity, and overloading the golf cart with people and equipment can cause the engine and brakes to become overworked and less reliable, resulting in collision and injury.

Distracted driving: Distracted driving occurs when anything takes a driver's attention away from the road. Since golfing is a social sport, it's not uncommon for drivers to be engaged in conversations with passengers. If the driver is not paying attention to where they are going, they could be responsible for causing an accident. Golf cart drivers may think it's safe to use their cell phones because of lowered speeds, but a rollover at 20 mph can be deadly.

DUI: Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal in Florida. That's because motor skills, reasoning, and reaction times are greatly diminished when under the influence. With many golfing communities and private golf clubs, some golfers may feel like they are entitled to indulge without fear of getting caught for a criminal offense. However, if a golf cart driver hurt you while under the influence, they should be held liable for their actions.

Perhaps we've made it clear how we help in the above article but haven't fully explained why we help people just like you. We understand that you may be up against powerful parties while trying to gain compensation for your injuries and losses. Those powerful forces are often insurance companies or businesses that have an army of lawyers on their side. That's where we come in because the founder of our law firm experienced the same thing as a young man when his brother was critically injured on the job.

He saw firsthand how big companies like to push little people around and vowed that he would make a difference in his career, and he has done just that. Morgan & Morgan has become one of the largest law firms in the country, with enough resources, staff, and legal experts to go toe to toe with the most prominent legal foes out there. When you need powerful friends on your side, we're here to help. And we also understand that you may be worried about the costs of a golf accident lawyer. Sarasota residents can rest easy with the knowledge that our law firm doesn't accept a dime unless we win your case or negotiate a favorable settlement. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to see what we can do for you.