California is home to more than 900 golf courses, ranking second behind only Florida in U.S. states with the most golf courses. Riding in a golf cart usually means fun in the sun with friends, playing 18 holes at a beautiful golf course. But a relaxing day can turn dangerous in an instant when a golf cart collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, or stationary object, or if a person falls off the cart.
Golf cart accidents typically occur at sports facilities, on public streets or public property, and at a home or farm. With injuries ranging from a broken bone to catastrophic injuries and even death, an accident can have life-changing ramifications.
When that happens, you may need to get a lawyer involved to cover your resulting medical expenses.
Potential Defendants in a Golf Cart Accident Case
If you’ve been hurt in a golf cart crash or fall, there could be one or multiple parties responsible for causing the accident that led to your injuries. Defendants in these cases can include:
- The golf cart owner
- The golf cart driver
- An insurance company
- The golf course where the accident occurred
- A city agency
- A homeowner
- A private country club
- The golf cart manufacturer (defective product)
- A golf cart rental/leasing company
A skilled personal injury lawyer can assess the facts in your case and determine which entities to name as defendants in your legal claim for compensation.
Examples of Golf Cart Accidents in California
Because golf carts don’t travel as fast as cars and trucks, it can be easy to think that golf carts aren’t as dangerous as other vehicles. This isn’t strictly true. Countless people have been injured, sometimes fatally, in California golf cart accidents.
- Jeff Sperbeck, business partner and close friend of NFL legend John Elway, suffered a fatal head injury after falling from a golf cart at the Madison Club in La Quinta, California. Elway was driving when Sperbeck fell off the back of the golf cart and hit his head. Sperbeck later died at an area hospital. The golf-cart incident was a tragedy that drew national attention because Elway is an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback and two-time Super Bowl-champion, winning both as a player and as a top football executive of the Denver Broncos.
- A runaway golf cart injured five people near the 16th hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links in the 2nd round of the 119th U.S. Open. A vendor drove the golf cart, loaded with boxes, to a concession stand near the 16th hole and parked it. When the vendor climbed out, a box fell on the golf cart’s accelerator, causing the cart to roll forward. Several people ran after the cart in an attempt to stop it. One person suffered a broken arm, and another sustained a spinal injury.
- A 75-year-old man was injured when the golf cart he was driving collided with a truck. A nearby Good Samaritan applied a tourniquet to the man’s leg for several minutes until emergency crews arrived. The man was then airlifted to an area hospital. His leg, pelvis, and ribs were fractured, and his femoral artery was damaged, requiring at least four surgeries after the crash.
U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) statistics show there have been multiple fatal golf cart accidents in recent years. A report by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine (AJPM) estimates there were 147,696 injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms for golf cart-related accidents during a 17-year study period.
Types of Injuries in Golf Cart Accidents
Our personal injury lawyers can fight for the compensation you deserve if you’ve been injured in a golf cart accident. Typical injuries include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Back and neck injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Bone fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Burn injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death (when a golf cart accident results in a fatality)
Injuries sustained when a golf cart crashes, flips over, or is hit by another vehicle can cause severe and even life-threatening harm. Our skilled attorneys can assess the facts in your case and advise you about what your case might be worth.
Trauma Centers Where Severe Golf Cart Injuries Can Be Treated in CA
California is fortunate to have multiple Level 1 trauma centers throughout the state, with some specializing in pediatrics as well as adult care. For the most severe golf cart accidents, injured persons can be rushed to a trauma center. Some of these include:
- UC Davis Medical Center
- Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- Stanford University Medical Center
- Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla
- UC San Diego Health
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
California follows a “pure comparative negligence” approach in personal injury cases that allows injured parties to recover damages even if they are partially at fault for a golf cart accident. Under this rule, a plaintiff’s compensation amount is reduced by their percentage of fault for the injury accident. California’s pure comparative fault rule is codified at California Code, Civil Code – CIV § 1714.
Iconic Golf Courses in California
Whether along the coastline, in the desert, or somewhere in between, California is home to several iconic golf courses known the world over by golf enthusiasts.
- Pebble Beach Golf Links: A bucket-list course that is known for dramatic oceanfront holes and decades of U.S. Open history.
- Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course): A public course perched on cliffs with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean.
- Cypress Point Club: A private, highly exclusive course often ranked among the world’s best.
- The Quarry at La Quinta: A gorgeous course carved from an old rock quarry.
- Indian Wells Golf Resort: Includes two championship courses (Celebrity & Players) in the Coachella Valley.
- San Francisco Golf Club: A historic, private club in the city.
- Spyglass Hill Golf Course: A popular course in the famed Monterey Peninsula area.
Statute of Limitations for Filing a Personal Injury Claim in California
In California, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the date of the injury. This deadline applies to golf cart accident cases.
There are a few exceptions to the two-year deadline, such as a six-month deadline to file a claim against a government agency (such as the municipality that owns a public golf course). In some limited circumstances, the deadline can be extended if an injured party is a minor, is mentally incapacitated, or if discovery of the injury was delayed because symptoms did not immediately present themselves when the accident occurred. However, exceptions are rare, and you should always speak to a lawyer first to learn if one applies to your case.
It is critical that you do not miss the deadline for filing your legal claim. If you do, a court can dismiss your case, barring recovery of damages. That’s why it’s important to contact a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney right away.
Berg Injury Lawyers Wants to Fight for Your Rights When You’ve Been Injured in a Golf Cart Accident
Berg Injury Lawyers is a law firm that cares deeply about our clients. Golf cart accident injuries can have life-altering consequences, and the stress can be overwhelming to you and your family. You won’t be a number on a file jacket with our law firm because we know you’re a unique individual going through a very difficult experience. We treat every client and their family with compassion, respect, and care, and that’s why we receive outstanding client testimonials. Our legal staff are highly professional and experienced. To find out more about how we can help, contact us for a free initial consultation about your case.
