A Villages man recently suffered serious injuries when his golf cart collided with a car in an early morning accident.
The 89-year-old man was behind the wheel of a golf cart on a path adjacent to Woodridge Drive in the Village of Summerhill, Villages-News reports. She reportedly turned left near Davenport Drive when the cart collided with a Hyundai sedan.
The golf cart struck the side of the car, according to a Florida Highway Patrol accident report. The man was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, FHP said.
A 69-year-old Lady Lake man driving the Hyundai and a passenger in the vehicle were not injured in the collision.
Golf Cart Drivers: Buckling Up Can Save Your Life
The accident is simply the latest reminder of the importance of buckling up.
A 78-year-old Villages man was killed in a golf cart accident last year when the vehicle struck a sign at SeaBreeze Recreation Center, for example. The cart was not equipped with seat belts, according to police officers who arrived at the scene of the crash.
Months later, a Villages woman was ejected from her golf cart after it collided with a sport utility vehicle in a Publix parking lot. The woman, who reportedly was not wearing a seat belt at the time, was taken by ambulance to UF Health-The Villages Hospital, where she was treated for unidentified injuries.
Wearing a seat belt is clearly proven to significantly reduce the risk of serious and even life-threatening injuries when accidents happen.
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.
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 seat belts are the logical way to prevent ejections.
Legal Rights for People Injured in Golf Cart Accidents
Anyone who is injured in a golf cart accident in The Villages or elsewhere across Florida has the right to seek compensation from those responsible.
The money damages typically available for people injured in golf cart accidents include compensation for medical bills and property damage. Additional compensation may also be available for pain and suffering.
In the tragic event that a person dies in a golf cart accident, his or her loved ones can seek similar damages for wrongful death.
Speak With a Villages Golf Cart Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart or other crash, it is vital to seek the advice of an experienced injury attorney. Villages golf cart accident lawyer Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people and families across the community for more than two decades.
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 attorney.
