It’s no wonder golf carts are so popular. They’re convenient for navigating planned communities as they’re smaller and easier to maneuver. However, an increasing number of golf carts means an increasing number of golf cart accidents. Seniors tend to suffer more severe injuries as a result of these accidents.
Rising Accidents
There are roughly 15,000 golf cart accidents each year. In Florida, these disproportionately happen in retirement communities.
There are many reasons for the rising accident rate — more people retiring means more carts and more traffic on the roads. Many drivers consider driving a golf cart less dangerous and are more willing to indulge distractions.
Because golf carts are smaller and slower, drivers falsely assume there’s less risk in reckless driving or even drunk driving. However, golf cart drivers often fail to realize their vehicles are more dangerous than traditional cars, not less.
Risks for Seniors
It is a biological fact that people become frail with age, even with exercise and good nutrition. Bones lose mass, and skin becomes thin. As a result, injuries that might be minor for a healthy adult are much more serious for a senior.
Road rash is one of the most common golf cart injuries. Passengers thrown from the cart scrape their skin across the road at speeds as high as 15 MPH. For seniors, this can mean significant damage, including scarring, that may require extensive bandages or even stitches.
Likewise, head and neck injuries are very common in golf cart accidents and lower bone mass puts seniors at a greater risk of a severe injury.
Solving the Problem
Driving safely and slowly is the best way to avoid golf cart accidents. Everyone has a responsibility to share the road and engage in best practices.
Just keep in mind that golf carts don’t have the same safety features as cars. A sharp turn in a golf cart could mean a trip to the hospital.
If you or someone you love suffered serious injuries in a golf cart accident, you might have a case. If you’d like to schedule a free case consultation with an experienced The Villages personal injury attorney from Ayres, Cluster, & Collins, please send us an email or call (352) 329-8668.