A Villages resident reportedly was sent to a local hospital’s trauma unit with serious injuries after wrecking his golf cart.
The 68-year-old Village of Fenney man was speeding and not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, Villages-News reports, citing a police report. He was cited by police for careless driving and failing to wear a seatbelt.
The man reportedly was “traveling at a high rate of speed” near Hendry Drive and Pinellas Place in the Village of Pinellas at the time of the collision. His silver Yamaha golf cart struck a curb as he attempted to make a right turn onto Hendry Drive from Pinellas Place.
The vehicle reportedly rolled over on its side, pinning the driver underneath.
Golf Cart Drivers: Slow Down, Buckle Up
The golf cart accident is an unfortunate reminder of the risks that come with hitting the road in a golf cart, both in The Villages and across Florida. Fortunately, there are some steps that anyone traveling by golf cart can take to reduce safety hazards.
The vehicle's lightweight and open design makes it enjoyable to get from Point A to Point B. However, those same features also make drivers and passengers susceptible to serious injuries and even death when accidents happen.
Speeding and traveling without a seatbelt only make those risks more severe.
In August 2001, for example, a 57-year-old Villager died in a golf cart crash near Brownwood Bridge. The single-vehicle collision came as the driver was traveling at a speed four times faster than that recommended for the bridge, police said at the time.
Late last year, an 89-year-old Villages man was seriously injured when his golf cart collided with a car. The man, who was said to be attempting to turn off of a path adjacent to Woodridge Drive in the Village of Summerhill, was not buckled up at the time.
More than 130 golf cart accidents happen in The Villages every year, according to a recent study by the Taylor & Francis Group. The crashes, on average, leave 65 people with injuries serious enough to send them to the hospital and another nine dead or disabled annually.
About 27% of crashes that cause death or injury involve a person being ejected from a golf cart, the Taylor & Francis Group found.
Ejection is the “most preventable” cause of golf cart injuries, according to the group, which said seatbelts are the logical way to prevent ejections.
Speak with a Villages Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Today
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.
