Florida Golf Cart Accident Lawyers

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At Chubb Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, our Florida auto accident attorneys stand ready to investigate your circumstances and determine who is to blame. We offer free consultations to answer your questions and give you the knowledge to move forward with your claim. Contact us to speak with our Florida golf car accident lawyers today.

What You Need to Know About Florida Golf Cart Accidents

Golf cart sales are reaching peak levels and are expected to rise through 2032, according to Global Market Insight. Despite more safety equipment, such as seatbelts, turn signals, and mirrors, people are hurt every day when they are thrown from the cart, crushed when it rolls over, or run over by the wheels. Parents often hold children in their laps or let them ride on the back seat, putting those kids at even higher risk of harm if the driver has to stop suddenly.

Understanding Golf Cart Accidents in Seminole County

The Journal of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) reported over 15,000 golf cart accidents per year, resulting in nearly 36,000 orthopedic injuries. In Florida,  a recent study in the National Library of Medicine noted that golf carts are almost as dangerous as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), with almost 180 traumatic injuries occurring to patients under the age of 16 during a recent period.

Golf Cart Injury Statistics

The Villages, a well-known golf cart community in Florida, averages 136 accidents annually, as found in the Taylor and Francis Analysis of Death and Disability report. Over 48% of those crashes left victims dead or disabled, and 63% of drivers were male, with a median age of 71. Most incidents involved a person being thrown from the vehicle onto the road or another stationary object.

Key Legal Concepts in Florida Golf Cart Accidents

Under Florida Statute 320.01(22), golf carts are intended for use on golf courses and other areas for recreation, as long as they do not exceed 20 mph. They can operate on private roads, golf courses, and any public road with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less. 

Golf cart drivers must be at least 15 years old, and drivers between 15 and 17 years old must have a valid driver’s license to travel on public streets, under House Bill 949, which was signed into law in 2023. Unfortunately, many cart owners allow children younger than 15 to drive their vehicles, putting them at risk of liability if the underage operator causes a crash. These children may also suffer serious injuries if they are unable to handle the cart safely.

Legal Rights of Florida Golf Cart Accident Victims

Those harmed by another’s actions in a golf cart accident have the right to seek compensation for their losses with the help of a golf cart accident attorney. Current law does not require golf cart owners to buy and maintain insurance policies, so you have to take more aggressive legal action after a cart crash.

In 1984, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in Meister v. Fisher that golf carts can be designated as “dangerous instrumentalities.” The owners are responsible through the concept of “vicarious liability” for any injury or property damage, even if they were not driving the cart at the time of an accident. A key concern is whether the owner had knowledge and gave permission for the operator to use the vehicle.

Damages You Can Recover in Florida Golf Cart Accidents

As with a car or other vehicle accident, you have the right to recover damages after a golf cart crash. Your Florida golf cart accident lawyer can help you identify your economic and non-economic losses, which may include items such as:

• Medical costs and ongoing care
• Physical and mental therapy
• Medications, mobility aids, and medical devices
• Lost income and benefits
• Repair or replacement costs for damaged property
• Mental anguish, anxiety, or depression
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering

Insurance Coverage for Florida Golf Cart Accidents

If a golf cart cannot exceed 20 mph, Florida does not require owners to provide insurance coverage. However, when a vehicle qualifies as a Low Speed Vehicle (with a top speed of 25 mph), the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Department mandates that owners must purchase personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and property damage liability coverage. They must also title and license the vehicle.

If the golf car does not have insurance, you may be able to file a claim against the owner’s home insurance policy. Speak to a Florida golf cart injury lawyer at Chubb Law to determine if this is a viable option for your case. 

Common Types of Golf Cart Accidents We Handle in Seminole County

Because they operate in close proximity to both pedestrians and other vehicles, golf carts can get into a wide variety of accidents. These may happen in neighborhoods, on private property, or on public streets around Seminole County. Our Florida golf car accident attorneys can assist with accidents involving:

• Other golf carts
• Cars, trucks, or motorcycles
• Bicycles
• Stationary objects, such as guardrails, lamp posts, or mailboxes
• Animals, such as pets, wild animals, or livestock
• Pedestrians, including children playing in yards, driveways, or streets
• Defective products or components on the cart
• Road debris or items falling from other vehicles

As your top choice for a Florida golf cart injury law firm, the team at Chubb Law will conduct a careful investigation to uncover the details of your accident. We then craft a case demonstrating who is at fault and hold them accountable for the full value of your damages. 

Common Causes of Florida Golf Cart Accidents

Golf cart operators are often less careful than when driving a larger, faster vehicle. It is easy for them to assume a level of safety that does not exist, leading to accidents that leave you or your loved ones severely injured. Common causes that our golf cart injury lawyers have seen include:

• Failing to obey traffic laws
• Not coming to a complete stop at stop signs
• Driving after drinking alcohol or using substances that affect driving ability
• Not wearing seatbelts
• Improperly installed or defective seatbelts
• Faulty repairs that affect the cart’s brakes, acceleration, or turning
• Debris or liquids on the roadway that cause the cart to skid or roll over
• Driving while distracted by conversations, sightseeing, or using a cell phone
• Overloading the cart with too many passengers or too much equipment
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Driving recklessly or aggressively

As many golf cart owners in Florida are older, it is important to recognize the risk of operating a cart while taking certain prescription medications. Even if their medicine is legally approved for their use, it can affect their judgment, reflexes, and decision-making ability, leading to a crash. Your Florida golf cart accident attorney will research every aspect of your case to find all factors that led to your injuries. 

What To Do After a Florida Golf Cart Accident

Our Florida golf car injury lawyers recommend that your first step should be to check yourself and others for injuries. Next, call 911 for medical and law enforcement assistance. Under Florida law, you must exchange insurance and contact information with the other parties if anyone is hurt or killed. You should remain at the scene and tell the police what happened.

It is also vital that first responders conduct a medical examination on everyone involved. You may think you are fine, but you could have serious injuries. This is especially true for children, older individuals, or those with pre-existing conditions, such as cardiac disease. Establishing a link between the accident and your injuries will be important in your case.

Next, speak with a Florida golf cart injury attorney at Chubb Law. We can help you negotiate with insurance companies or prepare a lawsuit against those at fault. While you focus your attention on getting better, we will manage the details of your case and seek full compensation on your behalf. 

The Cost of Florida Golf Cart Accidents

An accident injuring you or your loved one can have more than just a financial impact. Along with medical treatment and repair costs, you could become disabled from work, reducing your ability to support yourself. You may also face substantial healthcare bills that you struggle to repay. A parent’s death could leave children without a home or caregivers. 

If you cause a crash, you also pay a hefty price. A recent case involving a family member who allowed their nephew to drive a car resulted in a $50 million jury award against the at-fault owner, according to the Florida Bar Association. 

The Florida Golf Cart Accident Process in Seminole County

As your golf cart injury law firm, we will explain what to expect during the Florida golf cart accident process. Although we do the work for you, we believe our clients feel more confident when they understand what is happening.

Building a Strong Case for Florida Golf Cart Accidents

Your golf cart accident lawyer will begin with a free case review to hear your side of the story and answer your questions. Once we accept your claim, we investigate the who, what, when, where, and why of the crash, looking for all relevant evidence to support your case. We consult with experts in different fields, prepare exhibits, and conduct negotiations with other parties to reach a settlement.

Statute of Limitations

It is essential that you contact our golf cart injury attorneys as soon as possible, since the Florida statute of limitations allows just 2 years for you to seek justice through the courts. Your insurance negotiations may take some time, so the sooner you speak with a Florida golf cart accident law firm, the longer they have to prepare your case.

Establishing Negligence 

All personal injury cases depend on showing precisely how the other party is at fault through negligence. This means your golf cart accident law firm must present a preponderance of the evidence demonstrating that the other party owed you a duty of care, but failed to uphold it. You must also establish a direct link between their carelessness and your injuries to allow you to claim compensation.

Comparative Fault in Florida Golf Cart Accident Claims

Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you can still seek damages from another party as long as you are less than 50% to blame for the crash. Florida golf cart accident lawyers often find these cases very challenging, since multiple parties and factors can affect who is at fault. 

If the court assigns fault to you, the amount will reduce your settlement by the same percentage. A 20% fault finding will mean a $10,000 award results in only $8,000 in compensation.

Liability in Florida Golf Cart Accidents

Your golf cart injury lawyer will attempt to find all liable parties to maximize your settlement amount. The list can include various individuals and companies, such as other drivers, pedestrians, homeowners, government agencies, manufacturers, repair shops, and animal owners.

Why You Should Choose Chubb Law Firm

When you hire the Florida golf car injury attorneys at Chubb Law, we put our years of experience and dedication to work for you, tailoring your case to your unique situation. We treat every client with respect, honesty, and compassion. You are not just another case number to us.

Attorney Mitch Chubb offers each client these 8 promises:

1. A free consultation with no obligation, so we can learn how to help you
2. We give you 110% when we select your case
3. You pay $0 in out-of-pocket fees or upfront costs
4. You get unlimited communication with your Florida golf cart injury attorneys
5. We are proactive and keep you updated regularly
6. You are always in charge of the decisions for your case
7. We strive to increase any insurance company’s offer
8. We offer the “why you should hire us” guarantee that we will put more money in your pocket

We believe in helping you make well-informed and wise choices for your case, guided by our experience and skill. You do not pay anything until we settle your claim because our golf cart injury law firm understands the financial demands you are facing after a crash.

Choose Chubb Law to Be Your Golf Cart Injury Law Firm

Florida fun in the sun can end in disaster when you are hurt in a golf car crash. Instead of facing confusing paperwork and physical consequences alone, put your case in the qualified hands of our team at Chubb Law. We seek to secure the most compensation available based on your circumstances. Arrange a free consultation with a Florida golf cart injury attorney today.