CCD Law has helped injury victims in Spokane since 1948. Our team of Spokane golf cart accident lawyers know that these vehicles may be convenient, but also dangerous. As a passenger, you could just as easily find yourself injured in an accident. If this has happened to you or someone you care about, contact us today to set up a free consultation to discuss your options.
Should You Hire Our Lawyers?
Nobody gets into a golf cart expecting to get hurt, particularly if you’re out for a round of golf or riding through your neighborhood. Worse yet, many times the passenger next to you is your child. These factors only add to the challenges that come from an accident. But if the accident you’re in is only minor or you weren’t badly hurt, you probably don’t need legal help.
However, in the event that you’ve been seriously hurt or your accident was more severe, working with our lawyers can be beneficial to your recovery. Here’s what we can do for you:
- Investigate what happened and put together a timeline of events
- Help you gather evidence and records to prove your claim
- Work with insurance companies and adjusters to get you a fair settlement
- Explain your legal options and process
- Make everything easier and more streamlined for you
While there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to any accident, working with our team of lawyers can help you and your family through this challenging time. However, it’s important to understand these accidents and how hurt you could potentially be.
What Do You Need to Do After One of These Accidents?
Obviously, after you get hurt as a passenger in a golf cart, your health and safety should be the first thing you think about. That said, any accident can be traumatic, and despite the lower speeds associated with golf carts, you can nonethelss experience a wide range of injuries as a passenger. Usually, this includes things like:
- Head and neck injuries after being ejected from the cart
- Broken bones or fractures from hitting the ground or the hard inside part of the cart
- Spinal injuries from ejections
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) or concussions
- Internal organ damage
- Sprains and strains
- Cuts and bruises
- Emotional and psychological damage
Regardless of the extent of your injuries, it’s clear that you’ll need to take certain steps to protect your potential claim. This is true despite the fact that in Washington, the law is on your side when it comes to being injured. So, when you’re invovled in one of theses accidents, make sure to do the following right after it happens:
- Get medical attention – This is always the first step. Make sure to cehck yourself for injuries, then get medical care as soon as possible. This can be done by going to an urgent care or emergency room, but they can take care of any immediate injuries.
- Gather information – If your phone still works, start taking pictures and videos of the accident scene and any damage. Also, get contact and insurance information from anyone else involved.
- Report the accident – If the accident happens at a golf course, make srue to tell management about it so they can respond. If it happens on someone’s property, tell the owner. Lastly, if it happens on a main road, call the police so they can take action to clear the scene.
- Plan your next moves – Once your health and safety are taken care of, you can start thinking about your next steps. This means looking at your insurance or legal options. We can help with this step.
Unfortunately, an accident is going to result in some level of injury. This means that, at the very least, you’ll have to get medical treatment and likely will have other issues to deal with. This makes the legal process very important to your overall recovery.
Do You Have the Same Rights as a Passenger?
The short answer here is yes, you have the same legal rights as a passenger when you get hurt in an accident. This is true regardless of the vehicle involved, so even if it’s a golf cart, you can file an injury claim.
Still, the legal process requires you to figure out who is liable, which isn’t always straightforward in these types of accidents. At the same time, negligence is going to be the determining factor here. This means showing:
- The responsible party had a duty of care to keep you safe
- They breached this duty
- The breach led to the accident in question
- The accident was the cause of your injuries
Most of the time, when you’re hurt as a passenger, the following parties will be responsible:
- The driver of the cart you’re riding in
- Another driver
- The golf course or property owner
- The golf cart manufacturer
- Government agencies
Clearly, the circumstances of your accident are going to determine who is ultimately responsible for covering your damages. There’s other factors, like insurance issues or how injured you are, but the overall point is that you can still file an injury claim–and recover certain “damages” from the responsible party.
Damages in a Golf Cart Accident
In any injury claim, you’re going to be able to recover certain financial support under the law. This includes a golf cart accident, even if you’re a passenger. However, what you’re ultimately able to recover depends on the extent of your injuries.
In these accidents, you can recover the following, whether through an insurance claim or lawsuit:
- Medical expenses
- Costs relating to surgeries or ongoing treatment
- Lost income or loss of earning potential
- Costs relating to permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of companionship or enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages, in rare cases. These are awarded on top of these other damages, and are designed as further punishment to the responsible parties.
Another hugely important factor in your damages is whether you file your claim on time. In legal terms, this is known as the “statute of limitations.” In Washington currently, you have:
- Three years from the date of the accident to file.
Missing this deadline usually means you can’t file a claim–and as a result, can’t recover these damages, no matter how strong your case is.
Experienced Spokane Golf Cart Accident Lawyers
At CCD Law, we have the experience and dedication you need after a golf cart accident in Spokane. We’ve helped clients navigate the challenges that come with these accidents, and can help you do the same. Regardless of your level of injury, contact us today to set up your free consultation. We’ll explain your options and give you the support you need.
