Were you injured in a golf cart accident in North Myrtle Beach, SC? Was someone else responsible? Call an experienced North Myrtle Beach golf cart accident lawyer at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers at (843) 390-9111 for help. The at-fault party may owe you compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Our North Myrtle Beach personal injury attorneys have over 58 years of combined experience. We’ve used a dedicated approach and commitment to success to recover tens of millions of dollars on behalf of injury victims and their families.
If you were hurt, don’t hesitate to call our law offices in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to schedule a free consultation today.
Why Choose Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Golf Cart Accident in North Myrtle Beach, SC?
When you file a claim for compensation, you can expect an uphill battle. Insurance companies are trained to downplay your injuries. They routinely blame victims for causing their own injuries.
When you hire the award-winning team at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers, the other side will think twice before using these and other scare tactics. When it comes to personal injury law firms, we’ve been rated in the top one percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Our North Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers have also made The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100” list for our success.
Most importantly, we’ve been recognized by our satisfied clients with over 500 five-star Google reviews.
We’re here to provide the legal support you need at every stage of the process. Call us today to learn more about how an experienced North Myrtle Beach golf cart accident attorney can fight for the compensation you deserve.
What is My North Myrtle Beach Golf Cart Accident Case Worth?
The value of your personal injury case depends on a range of factors:
- The overall severity of your injuries
- The strength of the evidence to prove liability
- Available insurance coverage
- Your medical treatment costs
- The amount of income you’ve lost during recovery
- Whether you’ll suffer any long-term disability
- Anticipated future costs and financial impacts
- Damage to your quality of life and ability to enjoy life
- Whether you’re being blamed for your accident
Every case has its own set of facts and complications. As the victim, you have the burden of proving how much compensation you deserve—and you don’t have to accept the other side’s initial settlement offer.
Instead of taking a lowball settlement deal, turn to our experienced North Myrtle Beach personal injury lawyers for help. We have experience handling golf cart injury cases like yours. With our experience and resources in your corner, you set yourself up for recovering the maximum compensation possible.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Golf Cart Accident Victims in North Myrtle Beach, SC?
The damages you recover will depend on the losses you suffered. Generally, both economic damages and non-economic damages are available.
Economic damages include financial losses, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages for work you missed during recovery
- Lost future earning potential in long-term disability cases
- Rehabilitation and specialized care
- Property damage
- Any out-of-pocket expenses associated with the accident and injury
Non-economic damages compensate for more intangible losses, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
If the defendant’s acts were willful or shockingly reckless, punitive damages may also be on the table. Punitive damages are meant to punish a defendant for their acts. While rare, they could be available, for example, if a drunk driver caused your crash.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer in South Carolina?
Most personal injury law firms in South Carolina use the contingency fee model. Rather than paying initial fees, you pay once your case is resolved and only if you win. Our attorneys’ fees are based on how much we recover in your case.
In the end, you’ll pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict, so you never risk racking up attorneys’ fees if your attorney doesn’t deliver results.
Can I Recover Damages if I’m Being Blamed for Causing My Golf Cart Accident in South Carolina?
Potentially, but usually only if your share of fault is less than 51%. Under South Carolina’s modified comparative negligence laws, you may lose your right to damages once your share of blame reaches 51%.
If you were injured while operating a golf cart, expect the insurance company to blame you. Also, understand that accusations aren’t always backed by evidence. A North Myrtle Beach golf cart accident attorney can help you fight against unfair allegations of fault.
We’ll Fight to Recover Compensation for All of Your Golf Cart Accident Injuries in North Myrtle Beach, SC
Riding in a golf cart puts you at risk for sustaining a variety of injuries in a crash, including:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Dislocations
- Knee and leg injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head and neck injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Burns and road rash
- Amputations
- Paralysis
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Although children must now wear seat belts when riding in a golf cart, the law doesn’t apply to other riders. Without seat belts, you’re always at risk of being thrown from the golf cart if you’re hit by a car.
Similarly, helmets aren’t required for golf cart riders. The overall lack of protective safety equipment greatly increases the risk of serious injuries.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Golf Cart Accident in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, you’ll typically have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. After this three-year “statute of limitations” expires, you may lose your right to seek damages.
Overview of South Carolina’s Golf Cart Regulations
Golf cart use is regulated under South Carolina law, and owners must obey the following regulations:
- The driver must register the golf cart with the SCDMV and obtain a permit.
- The golf cart must be insured.
- The driver must be at least 16 with a valid driver’s license.
- The cart can only be operated on secondary streets where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
- The golf cart may only be operated within four miles of the registered owner’s address.
Under a new law, children under age 12 must now wear a seatbelt when riding on the golf cart. Local governments are also permitted to impose their own requirements and limitations.
Statistics on Golf Cart Accident Injuries
Golf is extremely popular in the state of South Carolina. In fact, South Carolina is home to over 450 golf courses. There are 51 courses within a 15-mile radius of North Myrtle Beach itself.
Golf cart use was historically confined to the course. Today, many drivers in North Myrtle Beach use their golf carts as their primary mode of transportation for short distances, operating the carts on roads and sidewalks.
As golf carts become more popular, the rate of accidents will only keep increasing. As it stands, every year, over 15,000 victims visit emergency rooms with golf cart accident injuries. Hundreds of major orthopedic injuries related to golf cart accidents happen every year.
What Are the Leading Causes of Golf Cart Accidents in North Myrtle Beach?
Golf cart accidents can occur for many different reasons; among the most common are:
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Distracted drivers who aren’t watching for golf carts
- Failure to yield the right-of-way
- Lane departures
- Aggressive driving
- Sharp turns
- Illegal turns
- Running a red light or stop sign
- Leaving the brakes unlocked when stopping the golf cart
- Operating the golf cart at night without proper headlights
- Drunk driving or drug use
- Fatigued drivers
- Poor lighting and hazardous road conditions
- Overcrowding the golf cart
Golf cart injury cases can be complicated by many different factors. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident, call our North Myrtle Beach golf cart accident attorneys today. We can help you determine why your accident occurred and who was responsible.
How Do I Prove Negligence After a Golf Cart Accident in South Carolina?
Careless and reckless behaviors are the most common causes of golf cart accidents. If you were hurt because someone was careless or reckless, “negligence” is the legal theory that most likely will apply in your case.
To prove negligence, you must prove the at-fault party did not exercise the level of care that a reasonable person would use under the circumstances.
The four elements of a negligence claim are:
- A legal duty of care existed
- The defendant breached that duty
- The breach caused the accident
- You suffered damages, meaning identifiable losses
After an accident, our lawyers are prepared to start investigating immediately. The sooner we can start our investigation, the stronger the evidence is likely to be.
Contact a Skilled North Myrtle Beach Golf Cart Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
You deserve the highest possible quality legal representation if you were injured due to someone else’s negligence. Our team at Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to fight for the money you deserve.
Call us today to learn more about how an experienced North Myrtle Beach golf cart accident lawyer can help.
Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in North Myrtle Beach, SC
Stanley Personal Injury Lawyers North Myrtle Beach
1016 2nd Ave N, Suite F, 2nd Floor, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582, United States
(843) 390-9111
(843) 983-2670