Is Your Golf Cart Safety Up To Par?

Golf carts aren’t just for the course anymore which may be why golf cart accidents have been on the rise in recent years. Although they rarely cause serious injuries of death, two recent fatalities have raised questions whether seat belts should be required in golf carts.

On June 4, a Tennessee woman riding in a cart which her boyfriend was driving fell out suffering fatal injuries. Another woman died in Sun City Hilton Head prompting law enforcement officials, cart dealers, and customers to rethink more safety measures.

Golf carts are not being used just for golfing anymore. Cars can be found during hunting season, around the campground, and in neighborhoods. Golf carts are not intended to be driven on roads; they flip easily, lack seatbelts, and are difficult for others to see.

Minimizing golf cart accidents is easy with these simple reminders:

• Keep to designated paths and roadways
• Remember pedestrians have the right-of-way
• Do not carry more passengers than there are seats. Exceeding passenger capacity will put unnecessary weight on the cart.
• Keep hands, feet, and other body parts inside the vehicle
• Look, Listen, and Drive for driving signs and warnings – speed limits, dips, speed bumps, and other driving warnings.
• Maintain your golf cart will help reduce the risk of injury from tire blowouts, battery leaks, and other preventable accidents.
• Observe traffic laws. Golf carts have a maximum speed, but learn the speed limits in the areas where you are driving and use your best judgment. Reduce speed when making sharp turns or when carrying a heavy load.
• Adjust to adverse conditions. Reducing your speed will give you better control and handling of the golf cart.

Golf carts are safe if operators and passengers follow safety rules. Be aware of your surroundings, and most importantly don’t consume alcohol, put your feet up on the dash, or drive late at night. Although not mandated, some golf cart manufacturers recommend installing seat belts. Costs start at $25 per belt, depending on the cart model; a small price to pay for your safety and that of others.

Mark Bello has thirty-three years experience as a trial lawyer and twelve years as an underwriter and situational analyst in the lawsuit funding industry. He is the owner and founder of Lawsuit Financial Corporation which helps provide legal finance cash flow solutions and consulting when necessities of life litigation funding is needed by a plaintiff involved in pending, personal injury, litigation. Bello is a Justice Pac member of the American Association for Justice, Sustaining and Justice Pac member of the Michigan Association for Justice, Business Associate of the Florida, Tennessee, and Colorado Associations for Justice, a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan and the Injury Board.