The Unknown Dangers of Golf Carts
Floridians and visitors from out of state love to utilize Florida’s hundreds of golf courses. Golf carts are an effective means of transportation across golf courses, especially for elderly and disabled golfers. Golf carts are also often utilized at retirement communities, airports, and hotel resorts. They do, however, pose significant risks that many people do not realize.
Golf carts are designed to be used off-road and limited to speeds of less than 15 miles per hour. Because of their low intended speed, they lack many of the safety features present in other vehicles, including windshield wipers, airbags, side doors, seatbelts (often), signal lights, and side and rearview mirrors. Without these safety features, the risks of accidents are much higher, as is the chance that a minor accident can turn into something much more severe. Moreover, many people employ golf carts outside of their intended use, driving along the side of public roadways or exceeding the expected speed. Nothing about a golf cart prevents such usage.
Golf carts are, for the most part, entirely unregulated. In addition to requiring only a few safety features, the lack of regulation also means that the numbers of injuries and deaths caused by golf carts are much harder to quantify. Florida government agencies do not generally track golf cart accidents and the consequences thereof. However, other organizations, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), have found that dozens of people are killed in golf cart accidents every year. One periodical, the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that more than 150,000 Americans had been injured in golf cart accidents between 1990 and 2006.
Recovering Damages After a Golf Cart Crash
If you have been injured in a golf car accident, either because of a negligent golf cart driver or because a golf cart was negligently manufactured or maintained, you might be able to seek compensation for your injuries. The experienced personal injury lawyers at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. are prepared to hear your case. We will investigate your claims, collect evidence, interview witnesses, and determine the true parties at fault for your injuries. We will fight to ensure that negligent parties, insurance providers, employers, and golf resort managers compensate you and your family for the damages you suffered.
Compassionate and Dedicated Help With Your Naples Golf Cart Injury Claim
If you or a loved one has been hurt or killed in a golf cart accident in Naples, Orlando, or throughout Collier and Orange Counties, reach out to a dedicated Naples golf cart accident lawyer for help. The passionate and talented Florida golf cart injury legal team at The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A., is ready and available to take your call. Call our Naples law office today at 239-900-3255 for a free consultation, and learn whether you may be entitled to compensation after your Florida golf cart accident.