Since 1948, CCD Law has helped injury victims in Spokane. Throughout our years of practice, we’ve seen all different types of accidents, even those involving golf carts. As anyone who has been hurt in one of these accidents will tell you, there’s a wide range of potential injuries. If this has happened to you, contact us today for a free consultation. We’ll explain your options and what you need to do to recover.
Do You Need Our Lawyers?
No matter what level of injury you have from a golf cart accident, you have the legal right to file an injury claim in Spokane. That said, you don’t always need to do that. In fact, if the accident was minor or you were only slightly injured, you can probably just go through your insurance or pay out of pocket to get medical care.
However, any accident carries with it uncertainty. So, if your injuries are more extensive, you’ll likely have more medical bills and other damage to deal with. It’s here that working with our team can help you. We can:
- Explain your legal options – In our first meeting with you (which is free), we’ll look at the details of your case and give you an assessment of your options. From there, you can decide what you want to do.
- Help you with documentation – The relative strength of your case is going to rest on the evidence. We’ll help you gather medical records, accident reports, communications, and visual evidence to put together a strong case for you.
- Talk to insurance companies – One way or the other, an insurance company is going to be involved in your claim. We can use our experience and resources to handle these talks, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
- Making things easier – More than anything else, our goal is to make this process easier for you. Getting hurt in a golf cart accident is bad enough on its own, but when you try to also handle the legal process, it can quickly overwhelm you. We take this burden off you.
Common injuries
Every accident is unique, but a golf cart accident may be even more so. This is because, despite being classified as a low-speed vehicle (LSV), you still see them throughout Spokane–and not just on golf courses:
- Hotels and resorts
- College campuses (Gonzaga, Spokane Community College, etc.)
- Hospital campuses
- Private neighborhoods
So, not only are these vehicles common, you very likely could end up injured when you’re driving one. Generally speaking, your injuries will depend on the circumstances. However, here’s some of the common injuries we’ve seen:
- Cuts and bruises from impact with the cart or surrounding objects.
- Whiplash or neck injuries due to sudden stops or collisions.
- Back injuries from jolts or impacts.
- Fractures or broken bones, especially in the arms, legs, or wrists.
- Head injuries, including concussions, from being thrown from the cart or hitting objects.
- Soft tissue injuries such as sprains or strains, often from sudden movements or awkward positioning during an accident.
- Internal injuries from blunt force trauma, particularly if the accident involves a rollover or being ejected from the cart.
What any accident brings is uncertainty. As such, you may suffer partial injuries, or multiple of the above. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s important to know what the legal process looks like.
Legal Process in an Accident Claim
After a golf cart accident in Spokane, there’s two major facets of the claims process: figuring out liability and establishing your damages. These two things, while not directly related, are extremely important for how your claim plays out because:
- The liable party or parties are legally responsible (liable) for covering your damages.
So, when there’s an accident, a number of different parties could be liable:
- Golf cart driver – If the driver was careless, like driving recklessly or while drunk, they could be blamed for the accident.
- Golf cart owner – If the golf cart belongs to someone else, like a golf course or rental company, and they didn’t take care of it properly, they might be responsible for the accident.
- Property owner or operator – If the accident happened on someone’s property, like a golf course, and the property was dangerous, the owner could be held responsible if they knew about the danger but didn’t fix it.
- Manufacturers or distributors – If there was something wrong with how the golf cart was made, the company that made it might be responsible for the accident.
Damages
Legally speaking, you have two options for getting damages from the responsible party: filing an insurance claim or filing a personal injury lawsuit. Usually, the process involves first filing the insurance claim, then depending on the company’s settlement offer, going for a lawsuit.
Both options are similar in that it involves you presenting your case for damages, then the other side defending their insured against it. While every accident is unique, there are some general damages that are available in all of these types of claims:
- Medical expenses – These include the costs of medical treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing healthcare needs resulting from the accident.
- Lost wages and income – This refers to any wages you’ve lost due to injuries, if you were unable to work during your recovery period.
- Property damage – These are meant to cover the expenses associated with repairing or replacing your personal property that was damaged in the accident.
- Pain and suffering – These are non-economic damages that account for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by the accident.
- Disability and future medical expenses – If your injuries result in a permanent disability or require ongoing medical care, these damages cover future medical expenses and loss of earning capacity.
- Loss of companionship – This provides financial support if your injuries lead to a loss of companionship with your spouse or a reduced ability to enjoy the same level of companionship.
- Loss of quality of life – These damages are for the impact of your injuries on your ability to enjoy activities, hobbies, or other aspects of your life.
- Punitive damages – In rare cases involving intentional harm or gross negligence, punitive damages may be awarded to penalize the at-fault party and deter similar behavior.
Remember, the damages you’re ultimately able to recover is going to depend on how strong your claim is. This not only refers to the extent of your injuries, but also in what you do after the accident happens.
Steps to Take After These Accidents
Unfortunately, it’s not just your injuries that you’ll have to worry about after a golf cart accident. You’re also going to need to contend with how the circumstances line up with the evidence. An insurance company is going to use anything they can to devalue your damages. So, when you’re in one of these accidents, it’s important to:
- Report the accident to local authorities and the property owner.
- Exchange contact and insurance information with the involved parties and witnesses.
- Document the scene with photos or videos of vehicle positions, damage, and injuries.
- Seek prompt medical attention for any injuries, no matter how minor.
- Preserve evidence by keeping the accident scene intact.
- Inform your insurance company about the accident.
- Keep thorough records of injuries, medical treatment, and expenses for your claim.
By doing this, you can strengthen your claim and protect it against the tactics of the insurance company.
Contact CCD Law After a Spokane Golf Cart Accident
At CCD Law, our Spokane golf cart accident lawyers are dedicated to helping you get the treatment you deserve for your injuries. We’ll handle everything from gathering evidence to dealing with insurance, and we’ll even take legal action if necessary. Don’t wait, contact us now for a free consultation to start your case.
