Fresno Golf Cart Accident Lawyer
Golf cart accidents can be just as serious as other traffic accidents. They sometimes lead to major injuries due to the cart being smaller, lighter, and lacking in the protection of another vehicle. Many golf carts can reach speeds of up to 25 miles an hour, which can result in a dangerous accident even while driving outside of public roadways.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a golf cart accident in Fresno, reach out to an experienced golf cart accident lawyer today. An attorney can help determine if your accident was caused by the fault or negligence of one or more parties. They can also help you determine the amount you should seek in damages from the responsible party(s).
Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law are here for you. Call us to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. During your consultation, we will listen to the details of your case and work to develop a personalized legal strategy. Our sole goal is to give you the best chance at recovering the compensation you need, so your life can return to normal as quickly as possible.
Schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today by Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online by filling out our contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!
Why Should You Contact a Fresno Golf Cart Accident Attorney?
Many golf carts are considered street legal in California, placing them in close proximity with much larger and heavier vehicles. Just as in pedestrian accidents, when a golf cart goes against a car, it doesn’t have much of a chance. This makes it likely that the driver and/or passengers of the golf cart are likely to sustain serious injuries in the event of an accident.
Sustaining serious injuries in any type of accident can be life-changing, but due to the way that golf carts are designed, major injuries can easily result. Severe injuries can require extensive medical treatment, meaning extensive hospital stays and expensive medical bills. Additionally, sustaining a serious injury can make it difficult or impossible to return to work and earn income, compounding an already stressful situation into a much worse one.
If you or a loved one is recovering from a golf cart accident, the last thing that you should be worried about is having to find the money to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and the fallout from any mental or emotional damages the accident may have caused. This should be a time for you to focus on rest and recuperation, not bills and stress.
If you find yourself in this unfortunate situation, calling an experienced golf cart accident attorney from Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law may be the best course of action you can follow. One of our experienced lawyers will meet with you to hear your case. If you decide to hire us, we will work for you tirelessly: building your case, gathering evidence, talking with witnesses, and performing everything else required to give you the best chance at recovering the compensation you need. Our services not only reduce the stress you experience, but they also can potentially increase the size of your eventual injury settlement or award.
What Are the Main Causes of Golf Cart Accidents?
Though some golf cart accidents can closely mirror other types of car accidents, some are fairly unique to golf carts. For instance, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commision (CPSC), almost 40% of golf cart accidents involve a person falling out of or being ejected from a golf cart. Golf carts are not usually equipped with seat belts, as occupants are generally entering and exiting the vehicle quite often.
Golf cart accidents can happen for many of the same reasons that other traffic accidents occur. If a driver is inebriated, distracted, or reckless while driving a golf cart, the likelihood of an accident happening increases. Accidents can happen due to circumstances beyond the control of the driver, as well, such as other vehicles not following safe driving practices or abnormal pedestrian behavior. Even the most experienced golf cart driver is only one dangerous situation away from being involved in an accident.
Some common causes of golf cart accidents include:
- Impacts from other vehicles or golf carts
- Inexperienced golf cart drivers
- Passengers holding limbs outside of the cart
- Overcrowding of the golf cart
- Slick driving surfaces
- Racing
- Improper driving maneuvers, such as fast turns or reversing too quickly
- Overloading or improperly loading the golf cart
- Driving the golf cart under the influence
- Manufacturer defect
- Braking too hard for the golf cart brakes
- Departure from roadway/path
In addition to the causes listed above, it is also possible for a golf cart accident to be caused by a preventable equipment failure. For instance, if a golf cart is not well-maintained by the owner, there is a higher possibility of a sudden mechanical malfunction, which could cause a dangerous accident.
A defective golf cart can also lead to an accident or a malfunction that causes the injuries in an accident to be more severe than they otherwise would have been. In these situations, injury victims can seek the services of a golf cart accident attorney in California to assist them with a defective golf cart claim.
What Should You Do After A Golf Cart Accident?
If you have been injured in a golf cart accident, you have the right to seek compensation from the responsible party. This compensation can cover costs due to medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering from the accident.
However, you are not guaranteed to receive this compensation, so it is important that you take important steps — as outlined below — to give yourself the best chance at securing financial coverage for your losses.
Safely Secure All Medical Records and Bills
After you have been in a golf cart accident — no matter how minor it may have seemed — it is important that you receive medical treatment. Even though it may not fit conventional wisdom, golf cart accidents can be just as, if not more, serious than other types of vehicle accidents. You will not only need to begin treatment to hasten your recovery time, but also to gather documentation connecting your injury to the crash.
Visiting a doctor after an accident ensures that any injuries sustained from the accident are treated as quickly as possible, which can help mitigate long-lasting complications. It is also important because your doctor can diagnose injuries that may not be immediately apparent. Your doctor will note any injuries sustained and record the medical treatment received and any longer-term treatment needs, such as physical therapy. This record also helps you to establish that your injuries were a direct result of the accident, and not due to a pre-existing condition or other injury.
Additionally, keep track of all your medical and hospital bills and other discharge papers. These will help you and your lawyer determine the monetary damages you have incurred from the accident, which will in turn guide how much compensation to seek.
File a Police Report
In addition to seeking medical care, you should also work to file a vehicle accident report as quickly as possible. A police report is a vital record for your case, as it proves the accident actually happened when and where it occurred.
If you are able, it is also a good idea to document the scene of the accident. Taking videos and/or pictures can help show the extent of the damage, as well as establish location and solidify important details about your case. It will be beneficial to have evidence of your injuries, any property damage, road markings, and other relevant details.
Stay Quiet
Getting in an accident is a major event, and it can be tempting to talk about it with family and friends or even on social media. However, it is wise to stay quiet about your accident, as you could inadvertently say something to someone that could potentially harm your case. When talking with the police, the insurance companies, or anyone else, it is important that you limit what you say to just the facts. Avoid taking or assigning blame, and get in touch with an experienced golf cart accident lawyer as soon as you can.
What Are The Most Common Golf Cart Accident Injuries?
As with many accidents, golf cart accidents can range in severity from minor cuts and scratches to broken bones, severe head injuries, or dismemberment. As golf carts are unlikely to have seat belts or other restraints, severe injuries are not uncommon.
Injuries can occur even when people are riding in the cart safely, but they can be even worse if the passengers are hanging their arms, feet, or head outside the cart. Though it may be fun, this behavior can ultimately contribute to the seriousness of the injuries received in the event of an accident.
Some of the most common golf cart accident injuries include:
- Cuts, scrapes, bruises and other skin injuries (can range from mild to serious)
- Strains and sprains
- Broken bones
- Whiplash
- Facial damage
- Crush injuries
- Concussions or other TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries)
- Spinal injuries
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commision (CPSC), there are about 15,000 golf cart accidents a year that are serious enough to warrant a visit to the emergency room. If you or your family is included in that statistic, reach out to an experienced golf cart accident attorney from Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law.
Determining Fault in a Golf Cart Accident
California uses comparative fault when determining liability in a traffic accident, including those involving golf carts. Comparative fault means that a victim still has the right to recover damages, even if most of the fault lies with them. This is in contrast to other states that have modified comparative fault laws, which only allows the plaintiff to recover damages if they are less than 50% at fault for the accident.
A comparative fault rule enables you to take action even if you hold some of the blame for the accident occurring. Under this system, your compensation will just be reduced according to your share of the responsibility for the accident. In golf cart accidents where multiple parties are involved, shared fault is common.
Additionally, there is an emergency doctrine law, which can potentially shield you from any blame for the accident. The emergency doctrine applies to situations where a person is confronted with a dangerous situation they didn’t create. For example, if a car driving recklessly causes you to swerve off the road and hit a parked car, you may be shielded from any liability in the case. An experienced California golf cart accident lawyer will help you determine whether this applies to your case or not.
It is possible that your golf cart accident case involves many factors that you didn’t even consider, such as whether a vehicle belongs to a commercial company. Your accident can even be affected by where it occurred; different laws and regulations may apply based on if it happened on public, private, or government-owned property.
Where Can Compensation Come From in California Golf Cart Accidents?
Talking to an experienced California golf cart accident attorney is the best way for you to learn about the option available for you to cover your losses from a golf cart accident. In golf cart accidents, it’s not uncommon to explore many different routes to secure compensation from insurance companies.
Possible sources of compensation can include:
- Homeowner’s insurance, either belonging to the driver or cart owner
- Car insurance of the driver or owner
- Renter’s insurance of the driver or owner
- Golf cart insurance
- Accident insurance carried by government agencies for public roadways
- Accident insurance carried by private facilities, such as country clubs or golf clubs
Homeowner’s insurance can be used if the property where the accident occurred has a policy in place that covers golf cart accidents. If this is the case, you may have a solid path to receive compensation. However, if the property does not have such a policy, you may have to pursue a different path.
Car insurance rarely covers golf cart accidents unless the golf cart is specifically listed on the policy. For this reason, you may want to ensure that your golf cart is added to your insurance policy. That way, in the event of an accident, you are covered.
Golf cart insurance is becoming more and more popular, especially among those who frequently use their golf carts. If golf cart insurance is involved, there is an excellent chance that your accident will be covered. Golf cart insurance may cover some degree of:
- Bodily injury to driver or passengers
- Medical costs for injured people
- Property damage due to the golf cart
- Collision-related repair costs
- Theft and/or vandalism
- Some weather-related damage
- Uninsured or underinsured insurance costs
Sorting through all of this can be frustrating, confusing, and time-consuming. Hire an experienced golf cart accident lawyer from Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law so we can take the burden off of your shoulders. We know the law, understand the nuances, and will fight for you every step of the way. You won’t have to worry about trying to figure everything out on your own — we’ll be by your side through the entire process.
Contact a California Golf Cart Accident Attorney Today!
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart accident in California, contact an experienced golf cart accident attorney today. At Singh Ahluwalia Attorneys at Law, one of our experienced attorneys will work closely with you, ensuring that no stone is left unturned and that you are given the best chance at receiving the compensation you need to recover from the accident and move on with your life.
Contact us today by Call (559) 878-4958 or Contact us online by using the form on our website. When you call us, we will schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with you. During your free appointment, we will listen to the details of the case and then get to work on outlining the best legal strategy for your case. We would love to help you! Get in touch with us today so we can get started fighting for you and your family!
