Driving around Florida neighborhoods, public roads, and schools, you may find golf carts a common sight. As golf carts become increasingly popular as a form of short-distance transportation, golf cart accidents are also on the rise. It may seem insane, but around 15,000 people are injured by a golf cart in the U.S. every year.
Reasons Behind The Rise In Golf Cart Accidents
So why are golf cart accidents becoming so common in recent years? Let’s delve into the reasons driving this trend:
- People are using golf carts more often. In Florida especially, where it’s golf cart weather year round, these motor vehicles are being widely used outside the driving range for many different reasons such as festivals, events, and trips around the neighborhood. The more they are used, the more likely they are to cause an accident.
- People feel safe in golf carts. Since golf carts don’t go very fast and are quite small, people tend to think they can’t cause any harm. This belief in the safety of golf carts results in riskier driving behavior.
- Reckless driving is more common. Kids, teens, and untrained individuals can operate golf carts without a license, meaning that they’re also more likely to cause an accident and/or drive while intoxicated.
- Golf carts are inexpensive and widely available. How affordable and accessible electric golf carts are have led to a rise in purchasing without appropriate safety training.
These factors unfortunately contribute to the rise in serious injuries caused by golf cart accidents such as dislocations, fractures, and concussions.
In one largely publicized incident, former professional NFL quarterback John Elway’s business partner, Jeff Sperbeck, passed away due to injuries sustained in a golf cart accident. Just weeks after Sperbeck’s death, Patrick Mahomes was driving an overpacked golf cart in Miami – highlighting how little people take golf cart safety seriously. These recent incidents remind us that golf carts, while amusing and convenient, are not as harmless as people may think they are. Operating golf carts without proper safety procedures can result in severe injuries, or in the case of Sperbeck, even death.
Golf Cart Accident Statistics
Florida, with its abundance of retirement communities and golf courses, is a hotspot for golf cart accidents. Although the state doesn’t provide exact numbers, many areas report startling rises in golf cart accidents:
- 47 people suffered serious golf cart accident injuries in Palm Beach County, Florida
- 70% of those injured were teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15, highlighting the risk to inexperienced drivers
- The Villages, a retirement community in central Florida, reports an average of 135 golf cart crashes per year. Half of these crashes resulted in severe injuries, hospital stays, or death.
Why Are Golf Cart Accidents So Dangerous?
Golf carts may seem safe, but they can certainly be dangerous in the wrong hands. This is due to the following reasons:
- There are no safety features: Most golf carts don’t offer airbags, seatbelts, or strong frames to protect drivers and riders
- Open sides: It’s easy for passengers to fall out of golf carts since they don’t have doors, making sharp turns especially dangerous.
- Easy to tip over: Golf carts are built with a high center of gravity, making it easy for them to roll over on uneven ground
- Lack of regulations: Golf cart use isn’t widely regulated and those regulations tend to be not taken seriously.
Contact Us Today
With golf cart accidents on the rise, it’s more important than ever to follow safety protocol when operating any motorized vehicle and be aware of your surroundings. If you or a loved one was injured in a golf cart accident, call BCN Law Firm to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer today.