Golf Cart Safety Blog

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin:

Recent reports (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJURIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement. (Note: we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details.)

Friday, August 17th – 11:00 am – V-1 is a golf cart and was traveling east on the golf cart path that travels on the south side of El Camino Real. The golf cart lane has a posted stop sign and underneath the stop sign is a sign stating Carts Yield to Vehicle Traffic. These signs are posted at the end of the golf cart path before it travels over Buenos Aires. V-2 is a Ford Pick-up which was traveling west on El Camino Real and was turning left onto Buenos Aires. V-1 failed to yield to V-2 who was already turning and the front right bumper of V-2 crashed into the left drivers side/fender area of V-1. V-2 driver stated he had the green arrow and was turning when V-1 failed to stop and pulled out in front of him. The driver of V-1 was found to be at fault and issued a citation. The driver of V-1 was injured and transported to The Villages Hospital.

Monday, August 20th – 9:00 am - two golf carts – One golf cart (V-1) was eastbound on Avenida Central and the other golf cart (V-2) was westbound. The operator of V-1 was making a left turn onto Oak Meadows Lane when the front of her golf cart struck the left side of the westbound V-2. The impact caused V-2 to overturn on its side, EJECTING the driver of V-2 onto the pavement, and he was airlifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville. The operator of V-1 who was charged with failing to yield, developed complications during the investigation of the crash and was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Both were reported to be in serious condition.

Monday, August 27th – 2:36 pm - An 82 year old male was backing his golf cart out of a parking space on the westbound side of Main Street. Lady Lake Police said he backed across the solid yellow center line to go eastbound on Main Street when his golf cart was struck by a 54 year old male Village resident who was eastbound at the time, caus-ing him to be thrown from his golf cart landing on the pavement. He was collared, blocked, boarded, strapped and transported to The Villages Hospital for treatment and evaluation. The driver was cited for improper backing.

Wednesday, September 5th – 1:35 pm – A 70 year old female golf cart driver was northbound on Bichara Boulevard and a 2008 Chevy was westbound on Avenida Boule-vard. The golf cart entered the intersection and struck the left side of the Chevy. The golf cart driver was thrown from her golf cart and taken to The Villages Hospital with minor injuries. She was also cited for failing to yield at an intersection.

Saturday, September 8th – 1 pm - A 66 year old male was driving his golf cart on Laurel Manor Drive in front of the Laurel Manor rec center when he realized that he was being bitten by ants (sounds like fire ants) on his leg. He went to bend down to brush away the ants, lost control of the cart, drove over the sidewalk and hit the light pole. He was thrown from the cart. EMS immobilized him and transported him to The Villages Hospital for evaluation.

Tuesday, September 18th – 1:46 am - A 38 year old male (as per the report) “fell off the back of the cart” while traveling on Champion Avenue in Marion County, strik-ing his head. Per friends, he had been out drinking. He was treated at the scene for a head injury and transported to The Villages Hospital.

Reprinted with permission from the Property Owners Association of The Villages monthly Bulletin:

Recent reports (ONLY THOSE THAT INVOLVED EJECTION, FALLING OUT OF THE GOLF CART, AND/OR INJURIES are provided) that we have received from Village residents, Public Safety, and area law enforcement. (Note: we cannot guarantee that the information we receive is completely accurate about all the details.)

Wednesday, July 18th – 5:00PM – A 74 year old female was operating her golf cart southbound on the Buena Vista cart path near the intersection of Odell Circle. She came around a curve in heavy rain and lost control. The cart slid on the slippery surface and tipped over. The operator fell out of the cart and struck her head receiving, minor lacerations. She was transported to The Villages Regional Hospital.

Sunday, July 22nd – 6:00 PM – A bicycle – golf cart crash on the golf cart path that runs parallel to Morse Boulevard just south of O’Dell. The golf cart was traveling east through the tunnel approaching the golf cart path. As the operator was exiting the tunnel he slowed down, but did not stop, and made a right hand turn onto the cart path after he did not see anyone coming. He traveled a short distance and was in the process of turning left when he first saw the bicyclist trying to pass him on the left and the two collided. The bicyclist had abrasions and shoulder soreness, but refused medical transport.

Tuesday, July 24th – 7:00 PM – Two vehicle collision involving a golf cart and a 2005 Hyundai. The Hyundai was northbound on Paige Place between Main Street and the Mira Mar bridge. The 78 year old male golf cart operator was southbound on Paige Place toward Main Street and suddenly veered left into the side of the Hyundai. Upon impact the golf cart operator was thrown or fell out of the cart and was seriously injured, including head trauma, and was flown to Orlando Regional Medical Trauma center.

Becoming a golf cart lawyer is not easy. It takes practice with all sorts of golf cart cases. As I look back, we have handled approximately fifty (50) or more golf cart cases. Most of the recurring scenarios include passenger ejections and crashes with other golf carts or automobiles. More rare is the golf cart v. bicycle case or the golf cart v. pedestrian type case, which we have handled. Under the “not as rare as you would think” category would be the golf cart v. rock pile cases which happen with some frequency when landscaping companies dump piles of rock without marking them with warning cones, tape or flags. Such rock piles become especially dangerous when the sun goes down and there is nothing reflective to illuminate them. Under the stunningly rare category, I would place the golf carts drag racing scenario, as well as the golf cart overturns after hitting an ice patch (in Florida!). So combine all of those cases, with a dozen or so litigated cases, a jury trial, a pinch of salt and pepper, simmer for a while and you get a golf cart lawyer.

HOW TO INSURE YOUR GOLF CART? Insuring a golf cart is easy, but it depends on what type of vehicle you are driving. Whether your golf cart needs to be registered and insured like a motor vehicle depends on if it is a golf cart, GEM cart or Low Speed Vehicle. Generally GEM carts, Low Speed Vehicles (LSVs) and so called “street legal” golf carts (any vehicle that goes 20-25 mph. FMVSS 571.500) must be registered and insured like an automobile. If you have a GEM cart, Low Speed Vehicle (LSV), or so called “street legal” golf cart, there are 4 things you need to do to insure your vehicle properly. 1. First, , find an insurance agent or company that writes full coverage insurance on golf carts. Full coverage insurance, in addition to property damage coverages for the golf cart, means Bodily Injury Liability coverage and Uninsured Motorist/Underinsured Motorist coverage, as well as PIP/No-Fault insurance and Medical Payments insurance coverage. 2. Next have your vehicle registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles. 3. Have your insurance agent specifically list your vehicle (GEM cart, LSV or “street legal” golf cart) on the policy Declarations Page. 4. Buy Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage, Uninsured Motorist coverage, PIP/No-Fault and Medical Payments coverage. Remember to buy enough coverage to protect you and your assets in the event of a crash. Insure your golf cart by: 1. Finding an insurance agent or company that writes full coverage insurance on golf carts. In our experience USAA and Foremost Insurance do so. 2. Have your agent or the insurance company specifically list your golf cart on the policy. 3. Purchase Bodily Injury Liability, Uninsured Motorist and Medical Payments coverage. It is a good practice to buy enough coverage to protect you and your assets in the event of a crash. Remember to practice the Babiarz Golden Rule of Insurance -- “Insure for yourself as you would have others insure for you!”

In the thirteen (13) plus years I have been handling golf cart injury related cases in and around Central Florida, they have come in many varieties and shapes and sizes. Just for fun, I wrote out the types of golf cart accident cases we have handled: 1. Golf carts drag racing, passenger ejected 2. Golf cart v. golf cart 3. Golf cart. v. automobile or other motor vehicle 4. Golf cart v. pedestrian 5. Golf cart v. rock pile 6. Golf cart turn ejects passenger 7. Golf cart v. bicycle 8. Golf cart v. ice patch, cart overturns 9. Golf cart avoiding car overturns 10. Golf cart vs. parade spectator