Golf carts continue to pose a serious safety threat to Villagers, according to new data from local law enforcement.
A total of 43 golf cart crashes occurred in the Sumter County portion of The Villages in the first quarter of the year, the county sheriff's office reportedly said in a recent community meeting. More than 20 golf cart citations were issued during the same three-month stretch.
The crashes include a late March accident that claimed the life of an 80-year-old Villager.
The man was riding a bicycle on Hillsborough Trail when a woman in a golf cart turned into his direct path, Florida Highway Patrol reportedly said. The man reportedly was thrown to the ground after the bike struck the golf cart.
The data covers only the Sumter County portion of The Villages, Villages-News points out. It does not include accidents in the Lady Lake, Marion County, Fruitland Park and Wildwood sections.
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.
Three Villagers were killed in golf cart collisions last year. They include a woman whose cart was struck by a van on Morse Boulevard, as well as a man ejected from his cart after striking a curb and a Villager who slammed his cart into a sign at the SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
Injured in a Golf Cart Accident? Know Your Rights
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. That includes golf cart and other vehicle drivers who may be to blame for the crash.
State law requires golf cart drivers to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner. They must abide by traffic laws, maintain safe speeds and refrain from dangerous activity like texting while behind the wheel or drinking and driving.
The monetary damages typically available to 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.
