Arizona Golf Cart Accident Attorney

Few things are better than hitting the links on the weekend, and few things make the day more relaxing than cruising to the next hole in a golf cart. That said, golf carts are still powered vehicles that can be dangerous when operated incorrectly or negligently.

Gerber Injury Law is ready to take the case if you or a family member has been injured in a golf cart accident. We have considerable experience dealing with these unique types of accidents and will fight to get you the justice you deserve.

Why Hire Gerber Injury Law?

When you file a golf cart accident claim, you want a personal injury attorney in Arizona to help you with the process. Gerber Injury Law is a law firm that cares about you and your family. We focus on helping with the legal side of your case so that you can focus on healing after your accident. Gerber Injury Law is unique in that:

• We have proven results. We’ve recovered over $100 million in compensation for our previous clients.
• We treat you and your case with care. We appreciate our clients, and we’ll work hard to resolve your claim and seek the compensation you’re entitled to.
• We have the necessary experience. With over 20 years of experience, we’re a firm you can count on.

Reach out to us with your questions. Gerber Injury Law is ready to take your call and discuss your golf cart accident claim today.

How Common Are Golf Cart Accidents in Arizona?

Many places have seen golf cart accidents on the rise in recent years. In the last few years, about 15,000 golf cart accidents across the United States have occurred annually. That breaks down to 41 people a day injured by golf carts.

Golf cart accidents may especially happen if children not used to driving are at the wheel; however, they can also occur even if more experienced drivers are in charge and not paying attention.

Keeping People Safe: Golf Cart Accidents and Children

Since operating a golf cart does not require a license, almost anyone can drive one. Golf courses often have age limits for who can operate a cart, but children can still find their way behind the wheel.

Every year, over 6,000 children are injured in golf cart accidents. Children should always be supervised when driving a golf cart, meaning a sober adult should always be present to help and guide the child as needed. Children should not be allowed to use golf carts as toys and should be instructed to use them properly.

Golf Cart Accidents and Their Causes

Golf cart accidents are caused by improper driving to overload the vehicle. It’s important to remember that, despite its small size, a golf cart is still a motor vehicle with enough power and weight behind them to be dangerous.

• Golf carts may flip or turn over from sharp turns or tight corners, which can lead to the passengers being thrown out of the golf cart.
• Golf cart accidents may happen because the driver has been drinking or is under the influence of drugs. A golf cart should be treated like any other vehicle, and the drivers should remain sober while operating them.
• Starting and stopping suddenly in golf carts has been known to lead to situations where the cart turns over, or passengers are tossed or fall from the golf cart.
• Collisions between golf carts can be very dangerous because most golf carts do not have seat belts, and passengers can be tossed from the carts.
• Other motor vehicles that collide with golf carts can cause substantial damage. Golf carts are not meant for public roadways, and there are extra regulations for drivers who intend to use them on roadways. Because they are much smaller than the average car, golf cart accidents with other vehicles can prove especially dangerous.
• Driving while distracted, like when the driver is on the phone, can be extremely dangerous, just like in a larger vehicle. It’s important for golf cart drivers to be cautious on the road, as roadblocks like branches, rocks, or potholes can be more dangerous to them than to larger vehicles.
• Driving with too many people in the golf cart can lead to dangerous situations. Too many passengers can throw off the vehicle’s weight balance and make the golf cart more likely to turn over. Only ride with the appropriate number of passengers.
• Reckless or careless driving such as racing can quickly turn dangerous, leading to crashes or rollovers.
• Dangerous road conditions, or driving too fast when it’s wet or slick on the roads, can cause accidents even with careful driving.
• Defective golf carts or parts, such as the battery, can cause fire hazards or explosions in some situations.
• Improper maintenance of golf carts, such as improper charging, can lead to risky driving situations.

Arizona’s golf cart accident attorneys are here to help you with your claim. While many things can be done to minimize golf cart accidents, the lawyers at Gerber Injury will help you work through the steps needed to receive compensation for your golf cart injury.

What Types of Injuries Occur After a Golf Cart Accident?

Golf cart injuries can appear minor, but they can also run the range of injuries up to severe and life-changing events. In some cases, golf cart injuries can result in death.

Bruises, Scrapes, and Abrasions

Bruises, scrapes, and abrasions can be minor damages from a bumpy ride, but depending on the accident’s severity, they can be damaging and include lots of medical treatment to heal. This can include road rash, where the skin is removed by being rubbed off from scraping along something, usually the pavement. This can happen anywhere on the injured party’s body, including the legs, torso, or face. For some skin injuries, victims may need skin grafts to help heal fully.

Joint Injuries

Golf cart accidents have a high probability of throwing passengers from the cart. In such cases, the victim might try to catch themselves against the ground with their arms. Such a high-powered jolt might damage wrists and elbows as the victims try to prevent further injury to themselves. Joint injuries can prevent victims from returning to work easily.

Crushing Injuries

If a golf cart turns over or flips, passengers might be caught underneath part of the golf cart. The resulting injuries may lead to crushed rib cages or other bones. Crushing injuries may also damage internal organs or even internal bleeding, which may cause death if not taken care of by a doctor.

Whiplash

Whiplash occurs when the head and neck are jolted harshly, and the neck is affected. Although whiplash is often associated with car crashes, golf cart accidents can cause whiplash, even at the low speeds golf carts usually travel. While the most common symptoms of whiplash are stiffness and soreness in the neck, whiplash can lead to pinched nerves and long-term mobility issues.

Broken Bones

Broken bones can take a long time to heal and may occur when:

• Someone is thrown from the golf cart during dangerous driving
• Someone is caught under a cart if it overturns
• When pedestrians are involved in golf cart accidents
• When larger vehicles are involved in golf cart accidents

Broken bones are extremely painful in the short term, and can lead to further complications later in life if they are improperly cared for.

Compound Fractures

Compound fractures refer to broken bones that break through the skin, causing increased damage. They take much more time, pain, and effort to set and heal. Recovery might require surgery and extensive physical therapy.

Eye Injuries

The victims of a golf cart accident may find that shards of glass, gravel, or dirt injure their eyes during a golf cart accident. Eye injuries can be temporary or lead to partial or permanent vision loss.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are common with golf cart injuries and can happen in several ways. If a hard piece of debris pierces the skull and enters the brain, that would be considered a penetrating brain injury. Penetrating brain injuries are difficult to recover from and may lead to lasting damage.

Other brain injuries may happen from concussive forces or blows to the head when a person is tossed to the ground or hits their head against the vehicle. Concussions can injure the blood vessels or bruise the brain. Head injuries take a while to heal, up to weeks, months, and sometimes years, and make it difficult to walk, move, or perform usual tasks while healing.

While some traumatic brain injuries can be healed with rest, others can last and affect daily life functions. They might alter senses like taste, smell, and sight. They might also have an impact on movement. Speech patterns and mood can also be affected during traumatic brain injuries.

Burns

Fires or explosions might occur if a golf cart collides with another golf cart or motor vehicle. Burns also might occur from fires that happen from faulty or damaged batteries. However these accidents occur, the resulting fire can cause severe burns to those involved.

Nerve Damage

Nerve damage can happen because of many different injuries. Nerve damage might occur during broken bone injuries, or it could occur if burns are severe enough. Nerve damage might mean increased pain; for example, a herniated disc, or an injury to the back or spinal cord, may put pressure on the nerves, causing pain. In other instances, damaged nerves might lose their feeling or sensitivity.

Internal Injuries

Not all injuries are immediately apparent. Internal injuries to organs may include ruptured organs or penetrating injuries that affect internal organs. Internal injuries and internal bleeding are serious injuries that need medical attention immediately.

Mental Health Issues

After a golf cart accident, people might experience a higher degree of mental health issues. Traumatic accidents and the accompanying injuries can be difficult for those who experienced them. Depression or anxiety might increase or appear in victims who have suffered through these ordeals. At Gerber Injury Law, our team considers both the physical and emotional damages when laying out your case.

Who Is at Fault for a Golf Cart Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a golf cart accident, you may have grounds to file for a personal injury claim. The personal injury attorneys of Arizona will fight for your compensation and file the claim with the parties responsible.

• If you were a golf cart passenger who was injured because of reckless driving, you might be able to file a claim against the driver.
• If you were a pedestrian hit by a golf cart and the driver was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, Gerber Injury Law can hold them responsible.
• If the golf cart you were driving or riding in was hit by another vehicle and that driver was negligent, they may be held responsible.
• If the golf cart owner did not perform adequate maintenance on the golf cart, they might be held responsible for your injuries.
• In certain situations, the golf cart component manufacturers could be held responsible for the accident. For instance, in the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of recalls in batteries for golf carts that are not up to safety standards.
• Golf courses that do not maintain their lawns or driving paths may be responsible for the accident if there are unknown or unmarked hazards for golf carts.

An Arizona personal injury lawyer will be able to study your case and let you know who is responsible for your injuries. Our team at Gerber Injury Law can help you file your claim against the right people or company.

What Do I Do After A Golf Cart Accident in Arizona?

First, you’ll want to take care of your injuries after a golf cart accident. Make sure you call the proper authorities to have a police report on file. Then, get to a hospital. You should visit your doctor or a hospital, even if you don’t seem severely injured. There are two main reasons for this.

First, you’ll want to ensure you aren’t suffering from internal bleeding or some other delayed-onset injury. Second, you’ll want medical documentation of your injuries. This helps create concrete proof of the damages you suffered as a direct result of your accident.

After seeing a doctor, call Gerber Injury Law to help you file a claim. Make sure to act quickly, though, as the statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Arizona can invalidate your case.

The Statute of Limitations for Golf Cart Accidents

Like most personal injury cases in Arizona, golf cart accidents have a statute of limitations. The statute of limitations for golf cart accidents in Arizona is two years.

This means you only have 24 months to file your claim; otherwise, it will most likely not be accepted. That’s why you’ll want to contact a golf cart accident lawyer in Arizona as soon as possible to file your claim within the two-year deadline. Gerber Injury Law can help keep the process on track.

What Damages Can I Recover After a Golf Cart Accident in Arizona?

Compensation for golf cart accidents can cover the accident’s damages and work to recover what you lost. You might see:

• Compensation for hospital bills, surgeries, medicine, or other medical care in relation to the injuries from the accident
• Payment is calculated for the time you needed to take off of work and the subsequent wages you lost from not being able to work
• Compensation for property damages, including damages to your golf cart or other personal property that was damaged at the time of the accident
• Compensation for continuing or future medical care, including physical therapy
• Compensation for future lost wages
• Pain, suffering, and mental health effects taken into account during the settlement

You’ll want to speak to a personal injury attorney in Arizona to go over the specifics of your case and how your accident affects the claims you can make and the compensation you’re entitled to.

What Can Gerber Injury Law Do For My Golf Cart Accident Claim?

All accident cases are unique, and all of them are complex. Having an experienced lawyer on your side is important as you navigate this process. The Gerber Injury Law team will help you with the following:

• Collect evidence for your case, such as medical records, police statements, witness testimonies, and any other evidence like photos or videos
• File your claim and negotiate with insurance companies to ensure you receive fair compensation for your injuries
• If we cannot reach a settlement with the insurance companies, we will take your case to court

With over 20 years of experience, Gerber Injury Law can be your legal team to help you recover your losses. We have experience with golf cart cases, including one that recovered $300,000 from a collision between two golf carts and another that recovered $375,000 from a collision between a golf cart and a bicycle. Regardless of the complexity of the case, Gerber Injury Law can help.

Contact Gerber Injury Law About Your Golf Cart Accident Claim

We know that golf cart injuries may take some time to heal from, so let us help you prepare the legal documents for your claim. You’ll want an Arizona personal injury lawyer on your side to help you deal with the paperwork. At Gerber Injury Law, we take every claim seriously and work hard for your compensation.

Reach out online or call Gerber Injury Law at 623-486-8300. We’re here to support you during this time and help you with your accident. We don’t accept payment unless we secure compensation, and your first consultation is free. We have a 99% success rate and a record of recovering millions for our clients. Let us want to help you, too. Contact us today with your questions about your golf cart accident case.