Florida Golf Cart DUI Accident Attorney
For some, golfing is a serious sport. For others, it’s a leisurely recreational activity. For many in the latter category (and some in the former, if you’re John Daly), golfing and drinking go hand in hand. Even serious golfers take time out for fun and recreation, from an informal foursome to a scramble tournament with its ever-present hospitality attendant (aka Beer Cart). Fun as it may seem, it’s important to remember what the intoxicating effects of alcohol do to one’s judgment, reflexes, and motor control. This is especially critical if the driver of your golf cart or another golf cart is drinking. Yes, you can get a DUI on a golf cart, and yes, drunk golf cart drivers can cause serious accidents. An intoxicated or impaired golf cart operator who hits another golf cart, a biker, or a pedestrian is not just in trouble with the law but is also liable to the accident victims for the damages caused. If you have been injured in a golf cart DUI accident in Florida, call an experienced Florida golf cart DUI accident attorney at The Law Offices of Frank D. Butler, P.A. (GolfCartAttorney) today.
Was the Operator Driving a Golf Cart or a Golf Car?
Golf cart accidents involve many details and legal intricacies that most auto accident or personal injury lawyers are unfamiliar with, which is why it’s so important to have an experienced golf cart accident attorney handle your claim. One critical detail involves whether the vehicle was a golf cart or a golf car. Florida law differentiates between golf carts that top out at 20 miles per hour versus golf cars capable of traveling up to 25 mph (and many are capable of going much faster). These latter vehicles must be equipped with headlights and taillights and meet numerous other regulations regarding required equipment, titling, registration, licensing and insurance. Whether golf carts or golf cars can lawfully operate on city streets or within planned communities like The Villages depends on state and local laws and the top speed capability of the golf cart or golf car.
GolfCartAttorney will assess the facts particular to your case and know immediately how to proceed for the best result.
Punitive Damages Might Be on the Table After a Golf Cart DUI Accident in Florida
In a personal injury case, the money awarded to the injury victim (either through a jury verdict or an out-of-court settlement) is known as “damages.” Most damages are “compensatory,” meant to compensate the victim for their costs and the harm done to them, such as their medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. “Punitive” damages, on the other hand, are meant specifically to punish the defendant for especially bad behavior that caused the accident. Depending on how bad the conduct was and who the defendant is, punitive damages can be many times higher than compensatory damages.
In Florida, punitive damages are only available in cases of intentional misconduct or gross negligence. The plaintiff (the injury victim) must also prove the defendant’s negligence or misconduct by “clear and convincing” evidence to win punitive damages. This is a higher standard than what is needed to get compensatory damages. It’s a tough standard to meet, but DUI accidents typically can meet this standard with the help of a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer.
Auto insurance typically doesn’t cover punitive damages. For golf cart operators, that’s another good reason not to drive while intoxicated. For accident victims, it’s another good reason to make sure you have an experienced attorney on your side. GolfCartAttorney is skilled at developing the facts necessary to build a case for punitive damages and is dedicated to putting in the time and work necessary to attain them. We are also familiar with the legal tools available to uncover the defendant’s financial assets for an appropriate assessment of a proper punitive damages award.
Contact GolfCartAttorney Today
If you were injured in a Florida golf cart collision with a golf cart operated by a drunk driver, if you were struck as a pedestrian, or if you were hurt as a golf cart passenger with an intoxicated driver, GolfCartAttorney is the place to turn to have your case handled by a skilled and experienced Florida golf cart accident lawyer. Call today for a free consultation and immediate assistance with your claim.
