Golf Cart Injuries, Deaths Can Lead to Lawsuits

A fatal fall from a golf cart ended a young Illinois man's life on Sunday, reminding us just how dangerous golf cart accidents can be.

Stephen Canfield, 20, was found by police around midnight after falling out of the back of a golf cart. Canfield suffered a broken neck which killed him, reports the Sun-Times Media Wire. The cart's driver and two other passengers were not injured, but police suspect alcohol may have been involved in the incident.

Not only can golf cart accidents lead to death and injuries, but they can also lead to litigation.

Injury, Wrongful Death Suits

Like the unfortunate case of Mr. Canfield, you don't even need to be in the driver's seat of a golf cart to be hurt or even killed in a golf cart accident. Once the investigation is complete, Canfield's family may choose to file a wrongful death suit against the negligent parties involved in his death.

For those who are injured in a golf cart incident, a lawsuit can seek the same damages you might receive for a car crash: namely, medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Potential Factors in a Golf Cart Injury Lawsuit

In either an injury or wrongful death suit resulting from a golf-cart incident, how to proceed in court will turn on many factors, such as:

• Who was driving? Similar to car accidents, the driver is more likely to be liable for any injuries involved in an accident than a passenger. This may be complicated if the golf cart driver is a teenager.
• Who owns the cart? The golf course, country club, or individual who owns the golf cart may be liable for failing to properly maintain it, or even for the negligent acts of a groundskeeper who regularly uses the cart.
• Who owns the property where the accident occurred? Canfield's death occurred on the open road, but there may be potential premises liability claims if a golf cart incident occurs on private land, like most golf courses.
• Were alcohol and/or drugs involved? As may be in Canfield's case, an intoxicated golf cart driver could potentially mean liability for whomever served him or her alcohol in some cases.

Of course these are just a few factors, and every golf cart injury case is unique. If you have more questions, an experienced personal injury attorney can help you turn this jumble of facts into an evaluation of your potential golf cart injury case.

Related Resources:

• Man Dies After Falling Off Golf Cart In McHenry County (Chicago's WBBM-TV)
• Golf Cart Brain Injury Victim Settles $5M Suit (FindLaw's Injured)
• Drunk Clown DWI: Golfer in Colorful Clothes Gets DWI in Golf Cart (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
• Intoxicated Woman Arrested in Golf Cart with Whiskey, Scarecrow (FindLaw's Legally Weird)