Golf Cart Accidents in Pinellas County: Can Insurance Cover Your Losses?
Golf carts are a common sight in neighborhoods throughout Pinellas County. Unfortunately, golf cart accidents are also common and can cause severe injuries.
Florida golf cart insurance laws are complex, which could impact your rights in a claim. Our experienced Clearwater personal injury attorney explains what you need to know about insurance requirements and how to protect your rights to compensation.
How Florida Golf Cart Insurance Requirements Impact Your Rights To Compensation
Section 320.01 of the Florida Statutes defines a golf cart as a vehicle built for golf course use that cannot exceed 20 mph. Owners are not required to title, register, or insure their golf carts. However, if the golf car is modified to exceed 20 mph or registered with the state, it’s classified as a low-speed vehicle (LSV).
LSV owners must title, register, and insure these vehicles. As with a car, minimum coverage levels are set at $10,000 in personal injury protection (PIP) and $10,000 in property damage liability (PDL).
It’s confusing, isn’t it? This distinction matters when a golf cart accident occurs in Clearwater:
- A standard, unregistered golf cart often carries no insurance, meaning you may need to sue the driver for damages.
- An HOA or community association may require golf cart insurance, but it’s not required by law.
- Even with LSV minimum coverage, the amount may not cover total losses in a crash.
Golf cart accidents in Pinellas County can cause significant property damage and potentially life-threatening injuries. The confusing nature of golf cart insurance requirements in Florida means that victims could be left to pay heavy out-of-pocket costs.
How to Protect Yourself When a Pinellas County Golf Cart Accident Happens
Golf carts are popular in Pinellas County, so much so that the local government (at the request of HOAs and property owners) created “golf cart communities”, zones in unincorporated areas where golf carts are permitted to be on the road.
Despite their popularity, be aware of the risks and what to do when a golf cart accident happens:
- Report the accident to the police and clarify with responding officers whether the vehicle involved was a standard golf cart or a registered LSV.
- Get a copy of the accident report and make sure it includes the driver/golf cart owner’s insurance and contact information.
- Seek medical attention promptly, even if your injuries seem minor at first.
- Determine whether the driver, the vehicle owner, or a community association carries applicable insurance.
Review your auto policy, as well. Florida drivers must carry uninsured motorist coverage, which may help cover medical care and other costs.
Injured in a Pinellas County Golf Cart Accident? Contact Our Experienced Clearwater Personal Injury Attorney
Golf cart accidents in Pinellas County can cause severe injuries, but getting the compensation you need to recover is rarely easy. At The Reep Law Firm, our experienced Clearwater personal injury attorney protects you when dealing with insurers and fights to get the compensation you need to recover. Call or contact us online today to schedule a consultation.
Source:
leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0300-0399/0316/Sections/0316.212.html
