If you are like most in Ocala or Marion County, then the thought of a day out on the golf course conjures up images of rest and relaxation rather than the potential for death. Yet have you ever stopped to think about the dangers that you or a family member could face on the golf course, particularly from golf carts? If someone you loved were to crash or overturn a golf cart, his or her potential to sustain serious injuries or even death is still very high. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that every year, golf-cart related accidents send over 13,000 people to the emergency room.
So who is responsible in a golf cart accident if one of your family members is killed? That may depend upon the exact circumstances of the incident. The easy answer to “who is responsible in a golf cart accident” may seem to be that the owner of the golf cart is liable. If the golf cart was leased through the golf course or country club, then they may be who you would seek compensation from. Insurance policies will often offer coverage for golf carts, yet since they are not considered motor vehicles, they law does not require owners to carry insurance on them.
While the golf course may be held responsible for accidents involving a single golf cart, golf cart collisions may call into question personal liability. Drivers who strike golfers or cause collisions with other carts could themselves be held liable, particularly of added elements such as alcohol were involved.
While none of this information is meant to substitute for legal advice, knowing guidelines for who is responsible in a gold cart accident may prove beneficial should you choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit following a golf cart accident.
