January 26, 2016 | Personal Injury
Naturally, most people associate golf carts with a day spent on the golf course, as an easy form of transportation from one hole to another. However, the use of golf carts has expanded significantly in recent years, well outside of golf courses. The carts are commonly used to transport people through airports, sports arenas, and more. Furthermore, numerous residents of retirement communities use golf carts as their preferred method of travel around their neighborhoods. However, with this convenient, economical, and entertaining ride also comes the risk of accidents and serious injuries.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 15,000 people suffer injuries related to golf carts on an annual basis in the United States, and dozens die from their injuries. If a golf cart accident is caused by someone’s negligence, the injured victims likely have a right to recover by filing a personal injury claim.
Golf carts are motor vehicles just like cars or trucks. However, there are not nearly as many laws or regulations regarding golf carts as there are for traditional vehicles. For example, golf carts are not required to have airbags, seat belts, or other safety features like cars. Therefore, drivers and passengers have very little protection in the event of an accident. Common accidents include collisions with other objects and tip-overs from a driver trying to navigate the cart down an incline. As you can imagine, people can suffer serious injuries in these accidents without even a seat belt to hold them in the cart. Golf cart owners may purchase seat belts for a relatively low cost, but many choose not to do so.
The CPSC also reported that 40 percent of golf cart-related injuries occur due to a person falling out of a moving golf cart. Children are especially susceptible to falling out of golf carts since they may not be able to stabilize themselves by planting their feet on the floor. Falling out of a cart can cause serious head, brain, and spinal injuries, as well as broken bones, and more.
If you or your child has suffered injury in a golf cart due to someone else’s negligence, experienced Indianapolis accident attorney Merry Fountain can help you recover. Do not hesitate to call the Fountain Law Firm at (317) 917-7873 to discuss a possible case.