The beautiful weather and landscape of North Carolina make it an ideal setting for golf courses throughout our state. Many of the larger courses provide golf carts for their golfers to make their activities more enjoyable.

Golf Cart Accident Lawyer

Some residential communities have made accommodations for their residents to use golf carts around their community, and some businesses, such as resorts and apartment complexes, make use of the convenient small vehicles as well. They became popular because of how easy they are to operate and how well they transport people around, especially people with difficulty walking long distances.

Unfortunately, people sometimes end up getting injured by the use of a golf cart. These carts are often seen rolling over, flying over hilltops, or sinking into water as comedic situations in movies, but when these things happen in real life, people get seriously hurt.

What Can a North Carolina Golf Cart Accident Attorney Do For Me?

If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident involving a golf cart, you may be able to get compensation for your damages. The North Carolina golf cart accident attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson will help you understand your rights and discuss your options with you.

By hiring us to help you get the best possible outcome, we will:

• Thoroughly investigate your case
• Find out who was responsible for causing the accident
• File the claim for damages
• Handle all negotiations on your behalf
• Advise you about the fairness of all settlement offers
• Strengthen your case and represent you in court, if necessary

What Are Some Common Injuries From Golf Cart Accidents?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, over 6,500 children are hurt in golf cart accidents every year. There are approximately 15,000 accidents involving golf carts each year, and 13,000 of these require visits to the emergency room.

Smaller children are more likely to suffer serious injuries because they have a higher chance of falling out of the vehicle.

The Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration does not govern golf carts, so these vehicles do not have to have safety features such as airbags or seat belts. Without basic safety equipment, people are at risk for serious injuries from golf cart accidents.

Injuries commonly seen as a result of golf cart accidents include the following:

• Broken Bones
• Crush Injuries
• Burns
• Head Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Organ Damage
• Lacerations
• Road Rash
• Puncture Wounds
• Impalements
• Eye Damage

Golf cart accident injuries are often life-changing and require extensive medical attention. The North Carolina golf cart accident attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson will help make sure that you receive full compensation to cover all your expenses, including those you may need in the future, depending on your circumstances.

Contact us right away to get the best possible outcome for your case.

Why Are Golf Cart Accidents So Common in North Carolina?

Most accidents involving golf carts have inexperienced or underage operators, and intoxication and negligent driving are also to blame. Many of the accidents we see involve:

• Flipping or rolling the golf cart over
• Colliding with other golf carts
• Collisions with other motor vehicles
• Accidents from driving drunk
• Golf cart and pedestrian collisions

There are many causes of golf cart accidents. Some of the more common causes include the following:

• Driving a golf cart while under the influence of alcohol or drugs: Driving a golf cart while intoxicated is just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, than driving a car while drunk. Consumption of alcohol lowers your ability to operate any vehicle. Alcohol slows your reaction times and reduces your decision-making abilities.
• Negligence: Disregarding safety while operating any vehicle is dangerous enough to turn deadly. These vehicles should be handled with the same amount of diligence that is given to driving a car or a truck, perhaps even more due to the lack of safety features. As fun and convenient as golf carts are, playing around can cause deadly accidents to you, your passengers, and any bystanders.
• Underage Drivers: Children under 16 years old should not drive a golf cart. This young age group is at the highest risk for severe injuries and death from an accident, and they are also the most likely to cause an accident.
• Driving on the Road: It is illegal to ride golf carts on the roads in North Carolina unless the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. Golf carts are not capable of high speeds, so they should not attempt to share the road with high-speed vehicles.
• Using Excessive Speed: Speeding can cause golf carts to flip over while going around a turn. It also gives drivers less time to react to any obstacles they may come across.
• Driving With Too Many Passengers: Golf carts are designed to carry a certain number of passengers. Too many passengers can cause the vehicle to be more likely to flip over because they cause a change in the center of gravity for the vehicle.
• Rollovers: Having a golf cart rollover on top of you can quickly cause severe injuries and death. This type of accident is very common, especially with uneven terrain, hills, high speeds, young or inexperienced drivers, or negligent driving.
• Collisions With Other Vehicles: Golf carts should avoid roads to prevent collisions with cars and trucks. They should be equipped with headlights and taillights for higher visibility and use extra caution when rounding a corner or going over a hill and are unable to see the path ahead.

What Are Common Injuries Suffered by Golf Cart Accident Survivors?

Depending on the factors surrounding the accident, injuries can range from very mild to death. The type of golf cart involved, where it was driven, and how it was driven all affect the outcome of an accident.

Without the protection of actually being inside a vehicle surrounded by a strong structure and held back by seatbelts and airbags, common injuries from golf cart accidents include:

• Broken Bones
• Crush Injuries
• Burns
• Head Injuries
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Organ Damage
• Lacerations
• Road Rash
• Puncture Wounds
• Impalements
• Eye Damage

Some of these injuries are life-changing, and some lead to death. If you or your loved one have been injured in a golf cart accident, consult with a North Carolina golf cart accident attorney to learn how you may be able to seek compensation for your damages.

What Compensation Can I Seek for My Damages?

The compensation awarded to the plaintiff is meant to cover any damages that were suffered as a result of the accident caused by the defendant. The plaintiff should be returned to the same financial status as before the accident and their injuries.

The plaintiff is also entitled to receive compensation for non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Common examples of economic damages include:

• Medical Expenses
• Lost Wages
• Lost Earning Capacity
• Property Damage

Medical Expenses

Emergency transportation to trauma emergency care centers, such as Atrium Health, WakeMed, or UNC Hospitals, generates significant medical expenses. The claim for compensation includes compensation for emergency care, medical procedures, physiotherapy treatments, medications, and any mobility apparatus during the healing period.  

Lost Wages

Taking time off from work to recover impacts your household income. Regardless of whether paid time off (PTO) was used or was forced onto lower-paying light-duty work, documenting these income gaps is critical to recovering your full financial losses. 

Lost Earning Capacity

In case of catastrophic trauma, one may be deprived of the ability to resume previous work or to be forced to take a position with a lower salary; expected future earnings should be calculated. For example, if severe joint damage prevents a skilled laborer from performing physical work, it’s important to calculate the long-term potential difference. 

Property Damage

Golf cart crashes, in addition to causing severe injuries to the victim, also cause damage to the golf cart itself, its valuable golfing equipment, electronics, and personal belongings. Damage to property claims reimburse the amount paid for the repair or purchase of these goods at a predetermined market price after a golf cart accident happens in North Carolina.

What Non-Economic Damages Can I Claim in a Personal Injury Case?

According to Forbes Advisor, non-economic damages compensate you for intangible losses due to your injuries from your golf cart accident. These losses may include the following:

• Pain and Suffering
• Emotional Distress
• Diminished Quality of Life or Loss of Enjoyment of Life
• Loss of Companionship or Consortium
• Permanent Disabilities, Impairments, or Disfigurements

Pain and Suffering

The acute pain caused by fractures or internal injuries will eventually turn into a long-term condition. Compensation will include the immediate injury, as well as any subsequent pain conditions that may last for months or even years after the golf cart accident in North Carolina. 

Emotional Distress

Getting thrown from a cart and hit by another vehicle is traumatic. Survivors often suffer from anxiety, difficulty sleeping, depression, or phobias after the collision. Professional psychological care and chronic emotional distress are recognized as part of the compensation that may be claimed after an accident. 

Diminished Quality of Life

Being afflicted with long-lasting physical limitations may stop you from taking part in activities you enjoyed earlier in life. The victim is no longer free to enjoy living their life independently or to partake in local activities or play golf, severely impacting their daily comfort and personal independence. 

Loss of Companionship or Consortium

A serious accident drastically alters family dynamics. If one person suffers from various physical disabilities or chronic pain, it affects their communication with their spouse and children. North Carolina law permits recovery for loss of companionship, intimacy, affection, and day-to-day marital support that is needed after an accident. 

Permanent Disabilities, Impairments, or Disfigurements

People suffering from permanent disabilities or disfigurements participate in the world around them in a different way. The court considers the fact that living with permanent physical changes is mentally hard on individuals, therefore considering their cases to be worthy of compensation. 

Call a North Carolina Golf Cart Accident Law Firm Today

Taking proper steps to present a successful injury claim means acting fast before vital evidence is lost. The North Carolina golf cart accident lawyers at Tatum & Atkinson will step in immediately and gather all of the evidence, review the accident scene, meet with witnesses, and talk to the medical experts in the field, so you have proof of how your accident impacted your life in North Carolina.

North Carolina has a pure contributory negligence rule in place. In these cases, insurance companies are going to be looking for any way they can pin the blame on you to deny you coverage. In addition, under N.C.G.S. § 1-52, the law requires you to file a personal injury lawsuit within three years.

For more information about getting started, call Tatum & Atkinson, also known as “The Heavy Hitters,” for your free consultation at (800) LAW-0804.