Are Children More Prone to Golf Cart Injuries?
A new study conducted by Vanderbilt University provides evidence that children may be more at risk for injuries in golf carts than adults. Often, parents and grandparents allow children to ride in or even drive golf carts assuming that they’re safer than traditional vehicles, however, the risk of injury in a collision is sobering. Here’s what you need to know and how to get help when a child becomes the victim of a golf cart accident.
1/3 of Golf Cart Accident Victims Are Minors
In an earlier study published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine in 2008, 150,000 golf cart injuries occurred between the years of 1990 and 2006. One-third of the injured victims were under the age of 16.
Are Younger Children More at Risk?
The Vanderbilt study examined 40 cases of golf cart injuries in the hospital’s pediatric trauma center between the years of 2008 and 2016. Of these 40 cases, 85% were children between the ages of 5 and 14, suggesting that younger children are more at risk for golf cart injuries than older children and teens. However, injuries were deemed to be worse in older children and were more likely to occur to the neck and head.
Most Common Causes of Golf Cart Injuries in Children
The study also indicated that the most common cause of golf cart injuries in young children was being ejected from the golf cart in the collision. However, older children were more likely to suffer injuries if the golf cart overturned. 50% of cases were moderate to severe, and about 1/4 of children had to spend time in intensive care before being released.
Was Your Child Injured in a Golf Cart Accident?
If you have a child who was harmed in a golf cart accident, it’s important that you get help determining the cause of the accident and if you may be eligible for compensation for damages that resulted from the collision. It’s a common misconception that if a child was allowed to ride or drive in a golf cart, or if the child wasn’t wearing their seat belt, that the parent or grandparent is responsible for the injuries to the child.
Often, the cause of the collision itself can be traced back to the negligence or carelessness of another party. An experienced golf cart accident attorney can help you find out if negligence was the cause of the incident and how best to pursue financial restitution for medical expenses and pain and suffering. Contact the Law Offices of Frank D. Butler, PA today at (727) 399-2222.
