While the term “golf cart” implies it is a vehicle used for golf, today golf carts are increasingly used in more settings off the golf course. According to the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, from 1990 until 2006, injury rates from golf cart use rose 130% and more than 150,000 golf cart-related injuries were recorded. Based on the study, golf cart-related injuries that occurred on the street more often resulted in concussions and were more likely to require hospitalization than injuries that occurred in other locations.

Injuries caused by falls from a golf cart were more than twice as likely to result in injury to the head or neck and six times more likely to result in concussions than injuries due to other causes. This study also found that children were at greater risk than adults for falls from a golf cart. Despite these statistics, with the rise is use of golf carts we are finding that children are more often being permitted to utilize golf carts by their parents or other adult golf cart owners. Under Florida law, a golf cart is considered a dangerous instrumentality. As such, the owner of a golf cart can be held fully responsible for the negligent use of a golf cart by any person whom they entrust to use that golf cart, including a child. Golf cart accidents can be very serious, particularly when it involves children with little or no experience using them.

In Florida, the law does not specifically state the age a minor can drive a golf cart, but it does state that “all minors must have a permit or driver’s license to legally drive a golf cart…” In Florida, a minor can be 15 to get a learner’s permit to driver and must be 16 to drive a motor vehicle independently. As such, parents should only allow their children to operate a golf cart upon receipt of their driver’s license.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a gold cart accident, I am here to help. I have successfully handled many golf cart accident cases over my 22 years of practicing law.