South Florida Injury Lawyer Blawg
Florida is a state full of sunshine and golf courses. With the numerous pristine golf courses throughout the state, Florida residents and visitors have experienced an increase in golf cart use. Unfortunately, the increased use of golf carts also means more golf cart accidents. There are a number of types of golf cart crashes in which unprotected occupants may suffer serious harm. If you’ve been in a golf cart accident, we can help. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami injury lawyers can assess the merits of your case and help seek the compensation you deserve.
Many people don’t realize how dangerous a golf cart can be. Golf carts do not always have seat belts, and yet they can reach speeds of up to 40 mph. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), approximately 15,000 golf cart-related injuries take place every year in the United States. There are a number of reasons that golf cart accidents may occur, including reckless driving, joyriding, inattentiveness, drinking and driving, distracted driving, and more.
In most instances, a person involved in a golf cart accident will be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party under the theory of negligence. In order to succeed on a negligence claim, an injured person must show that the at-fault party owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care that was breached and that the breach was the direct cause of the plaintiff’s injury and the resulting damages. The duty of reasonable care refers to the obligation to act as a prudent person would act in the same or similar circumstances. In Florida, a golf cart is considered a dangerous instrumentality, and the owner of a golf cart can be liable for a negligent driver.