Georgia Family Awarded $7M After Golf Cart Accident
A jury has awarded a Georgia family $7 million after their daughter was hurt in a golf cart accident. In 2018, Libby Hall, 3, was riding in a golf cart with her father in their metro Atlanta neighborhood when her father suddenly braked after a passenger vehicle stopped in front of them. The golf cart flipped over and dragged Libby against the pavement, causing the child severe injuries, including a concussion, broken clavicle, and lacerated liver. Upon investigation, the family discovered a product defect wherein Yamaha, the golf cart’s manufacturer, had put brakes only on the rear wheels of the golf cart rather than all four wheels, which made it significantly more likely to flip. After a 10-day trial in Cobb County, the jury awarded Hall and her family $7 million in damages. Families who have suffered injuries similar to the Halls should consider speaking to a Tifton injury attorney to discuss their options for recovery.
Golf Carts Are Fun and Convenient, But Users Should Exercise Caution
Traditionally, golf carts were used almost exclusively for what their name implies and were not frequently spotted outside of golf courses. However, that has changed over the years. Many Americans now use golf carts for intra-neighborhood travel and other short trips as a convenient alternative to driving or biking. The proliferation of the use of golf carts for transportation has expanded their user base to children and teens, as they are lightly regulated and do not require a license to operate. But golf carts are not without risks. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, there are about 15,000 golf cart-related injuries requiring hospitalization each year. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that, from 2010 to 2019, there were over 63,000 golf cart accidents involving children.
Legal Avenues for Recovery After a Golf Cart Accident
Victims of golf cart accidents typically pursue claims under either a products liability theory or a simple negligence theory. With products liability claims, the plaintiff argues (like the plaintiffs in the Hall case did) that a product defect caused their injury. Product defects can include design defects (i.e., an inherent flaw in the product’s design that affects all products in the line), manufacturing defects (i.e., an error during the manufacturing process that affects only one or a small group of products), or failure to warn (i.e., the manufacturer should have disclosed potential risks of use). With simple negligence theories (such as those used in typical car accident cases), the plaintiff argues that a third party failed to exercise due care and caused their injuries as a result.
Speak to a Tifton Injury Attorney to Discuss Your Options
If you or a family member has suffered an injury in a golf cart accident, whether it was due to a product defect or simple negligence, you should consider speaking to an attorney to discuss your options for recovery. To get started, please contact a Tifton injury lawyer at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.