A grisly year-end list highlights the risk that can come with getting in a golf cart in the Villages.
Two people died in golf cart crashes last year, Villages-News reports. Although both accidents involved golf cart drivers being ejected from their vehicles, the crashes happened in very different ways.
A 74-year-old man was killed in February when his cart collided with a Mercedes two-seater driven by a 62-year-old Villager, according to the news outlet. The man was reportedly leaving the post office on Morse Boulevard north of County Road 466 when his cart entered the path of the car, traveling southbound on Morse Boulevard.
The second fatal accident occurred nearly six months later, near Brownwood Bridge. A 57-year-old Villages man was killed when his golf cart struck a curb, according to Villages News.
The man was reportedly traveling southbound at the bridge, located at State Road 44 and Meggison Road, when he hit the curb located on the left side of the bridge. The vehicle then struck a guardrail. The Wildwood Police Department said in a report that the cart was going about 20 miles per hour at the time, four times the recommended speed for the bridge.
Both golf cart drivers were thrown from their vehicles in the crashes. It is not clear whether either was wearing a seatbelt at the time.
The second accident shows just how harmful golf cart ejection crashes often can be. After the man was thrown from his vehicle, the golf cart tipped over and crashed down on his neck.
Injured in a Golf Cart Accident? We Can Help
Nearly 140 golf cart accidents happen in the Villages every year, according to a recent study. Those crashes result in an average of 65 hospitalizations and nine people disabled or killed annually.
Anyone who has been injured in a golf cart accident in Florida has the right to seek compensation from those responsible, whether it is a negligent driver, a shoddy cart manufacturer or a local entity that fails to keep driving areas in safe condition. The compensation available in these cases includes money for medical bills, golf cart and other property damage and any impact of the injuries on a person’s ability to earn an income.
In the tragic event that a person dies in a golf cart accident, his or her loved ones have the right to seek similar compensation for wrongful death. No amount of money can bring back a loved one, but it can help ease the financial burden that often comes with fatal accidents.
Speak with a Villages Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart crash, Villages golf cart accident lawyer Tim Babiarz can help you get back on your feet with the full compensation available under the law.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients 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 with a Villages golf cart accident lawyer.
