A Villages woman was thrown from a golf cart in a recent accident that police say her husband caused by driving dangerously.
The 74-year-old Village of Hadley woman was not wearing a seatbelt when the golf cart her 79-year-old husband was driving reportedly collided with another golf cart. She was ejected from the vehicle and later taken by ambulance to the Ocala Regional Medical Center.
The accident occurred on Colony Boulevard near the Colony Cottage Recreation Center, Villages-News reports. The man was making a left turn from the multi-modal path at the intersection with Colony Boulevard, through a green light. The left wheel of his cart clipped the left front of the other cart, which was stopped at the red light on Colony Boulevard.
Neither of the two golf cart drivers - the man driving the second cart is a 69-year-old Villages resident - were injured in the crash. The Hadley man was ticketed for failure to drive in a single lane, according to Florida Highway Patrol.
Golf Cart Safety 101: Wear a Seatbelt
Accidents like that involving the Hadley couple are far too common in the Villages, where golf carts are a popular way to travel locally. Although crashes can happen in a number of different ways, many are preventable. Or at least the injuries that come with them can be limited.
Golf cart safety starts with buckling up. Seatbelts protect drivers and passengers from being ejected from their golf carts when crashes happen. Ejections can cause painful, debilitating and even fatal injuries when people are thrown from a vehicle to the ground below with little or no advance warning and nothing to soften the blow.
Many golf carts do not come standard equipped with seatbelts. That is because they are designed to accommodate golfers frequently getting in and out of their vehicles. For golf carters who use the vehicles outside of the links, seat belts are a vital safety protection that can be easily added at a minimal charge.
Speak With a Villages Golf Cart Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one has been injured in a golf cart or other type of accident, it is important to understand your rights and options. A personal injury attorney can evaluate your case and guide you through the legal process with experience and personal attention to help you maximize your money damages.
Villages golf cart accident attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people injured in golf cart collisions and a wide range of other crashes for more than two decades. He has a strong track record of helping clients get 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 attorney.
