In Leesburg County, golf carts are allowed on some city streets 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset, per Leesburg Ordinance No. 13-42. And if the cart has headlights or turn signals, it can be used after dark. Motor vehicle drivers must be on the lookout for carts.
You may have been involved in an accident where you were legally operating the cart in a designated area during legal times. If a distracted or drunk driver in an automobile was not paying attention and struck your golf cart, you deserve compensation for your injuries. You did nothing wrong, and you should not have to pay your own medical bills.
Consider hiring a Leesburg golf cart accident lawyer to defend your right to receive damages. At Bogin, Munns & Munns, we work hard for our clients who are victims of someone else’s negligence. We want to help you receive the award you may be entitled to. For a free consultation, call us today at (352) 728-3773.
Proving Negligence in Golf Cart Accidents
Although it may be possible that a motor vehicle operator hit your legally operated golf cart intentionally to cause injuries, it is far more common for golf cart related injuries to occur because the operator of the cart makes a mistake that leads to injuries for passengers or bystanders.
According to a study that spanned more than a decade and published in NIH, there were over 9,000 golf cart related injuries that required emergency care annually in the United States. Many of these injuries occurred because of the negligence of the golf cart driver.
Not Following Local Laws
The local authorities in Leesburg have passed golf cart ordinances that designate certain areas where the carts are allowed. If a cart operator caused an accident in which you were injured, and the operator was not using the cart in a designated area, this can show negligence on his or her part.
Additionally, Leesburg has rules that specify the minimum condition of the golf cart and any safety features that it must have to be legal to operate on local roads and streets. Some of these include:
- Working brake system
- Working steering mechanism
- Good quality tires
- Rear view mirror
- Reflecting material on the front and back
- Brake lights
- Windshield
If no turn signals are available, before turning or changing lanes, the driver must use the appropriate hand signals, which are similar to what bicycle riders are required to use, when traveling on city streets. Failure to follow any of these laws could show negligence on the part of the operator, which is a key piece of evidence in your personal injury lawsuit.
Finding Legal Representation
At Bogin, Munns & Munns, our team will work tirelessly to help you receive the compensation you deserve. A Leesburg golf cart accident lawyer knows the tactics insurance companies use when trying to reduce the settlement amount they offer to victims in personal injury cases.
We can use that knowledge to counteract the insurance adjuster’s attempts. For a free consultation regarding your golf cart accident case and to learn about legal options that may be available to you, call us at (352) 728-3773 today.
To consult with an experienced golf cart accident lawyer serving Leesburg, call 855-780-9986
Common Golf Cart Accident Injuries
When you have been involved in a golf cart accident where you believe you suffered an injury, it is important for you to see a doctor after the crash, so you can have documentation of your injuries, as well as a plan for a recovery timeline.
If you need rehabilitation, therapy, or surgeries, starting the recovery process as quickly as possible after the golf cart accident will give you the best chance at a complete recovery.
Most Dangerous Injuries That Can Occur in a Golf Cart Crash
Unfortunately, some people never fully recover from the injuries they suffer in a golf cart accident. Some of the most serious golf cart accident injuries that can occur include:
- Brain injury: where the golf cart passenger is ejected from the open cab of the cart after the crash, landing on pavement or hitting a stationary object like a tree, which can cause a concussion or a traumatic brain injury, creating a lingering condition.
- Facial trauma: where the victim hits his or her face on the hard plastic dashboard of the front of the cart after an accident, as the cart may not have seat belts that hold passengers in place during a crash.
- Broken bones: where passengers could suffer crushing injuries that lead to broken bones when the open cab of the golf cart strikes a tree or building, or where the passenger could break bones after being ejected from the golf cart in the accident.
- Neck or spine injuries: where the sudden jolt from a crash can lead to a straining of the neck or back, leading to significant pain or weakness for the victim going forward.
- Paralysis: where, if the passenger flies out of the cart because of a sharp turn at high speed, he or she could make contact with the pavement and suffer a significant spinal cord injury that leads to partial or complete paralysis.
Leesburg Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Near Me 855-780-9986
Contact the Office of a Golf Cart Accident Attorney in Leesburg for Help Today
When you have suffered injuries after a golf cart accident where you did nothing wrong, you should not have to pay your medical bills on your own. The party who caused the injuries should pay you a fair settlement for your bills and for your pain and suffering too.
Cases involving injuries after a golf cart accident can be complex, which is why many people choose to hire a Leesburg golf cart accident lawyer to represent them. Golf cart operators do not have liability insurance on the cart, as they would for a motor vehicle, so the liability claim usually is made against the negligent party’s homeowners’ insurance.
The legal team at Bogin, Munns & Munns understands the severity of personal injuries that are possible after a golf cart crash. Even though these are low speed vehicles, the lack of safety and protective equipment on them can create some very hazardous situations for passengers. Call us at (352) 728-3773 today for a free case review.
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