Two violent crashes in three days on Morse Boulevard highlight the increasing danger that the roadway poses to golf carters, car drivers, passengers, pedestrians and everyone else on the thoroughfare.
A 70-year-old Villages woman was severely injured when her golf cart was struck by a van, according to Villages-News. The woman was ejected from the cart and later taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
Two days later, a motorist reportedly slammed a car into a street light. Police were still investigating the single-vehicle accident at the time of the Villages-News report.
Both collisions happened north of Country Road 466. Local residents have long complained that Sumter County officials are not taking seriously a rash of accidents in the area. They are pushing for a new study of Morse Boulevard crashes and a fresh look at what can be done to improve safety. That includes rethinking how golf carts and other traffic mixes.
The injured golf cart driver turned into oncoming traffic, Florida Highway Patrol officers who arrived on the scene concluded. The driver was “inattentive” and made an “improper turn,” according to an FHP accident report.
Compensation for Injuries in Car and Golf Cart Crashes
Accidents can and do happen, whether it is on Morse Boulevard, throughout the Villages or across Florida. When crashes occur, they can come with serious and even life-changing injuries for everyone involved.
More than 3,700 people die in auto accidents in Florida every year, while another 250,000 are injured, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
The good news is that anyone injured in these crashes has the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the accident. That includes money for medical bills and property damage, as well as other financial impacts of the accident. In the tragic event that a person dies in an accident, some family members can sue for wrongful death to obtain similar compensation.
To get that compensation, you generally have to be able to prove fault.
Cart, golf cart and other vehicle drivers owe others on the road a “duty of care” under Florida law. They are required to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. That means complying with traffic laws and avoiding dangerous behavior like aggressive driving, speeding, driving while distracted, drinking and driving, or texting behind the wheel. A driver who does not live up to this responsibility is likely to be found negligent. He or she is also responsible for any injuries that happen as a result of a crash.
Injured in an Accident? We Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart or other accident, Villages accident lawyer Tim Babiarz can help you get the full compensation available under the law.
Our firm is pleased to represent clients in the Villages and throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield, and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.
