In what could only be called an unusual accident, a woman in California succumbed to injuries after falling from a golf cart. The cart did not roll onto the woman, nor was she thrown from a speeding cart. Instead, she fell from the cart and landed on two wine glasses. Her injuries were caused by the broken pieces of those glasses.

Even though the accident was unusual, it brings to light the importance of golf cart safety. The driver in this incident was intoxicated, and the accident occurred on private property. People need to be aware of golf cart safety whether they are driving through town, on the golf course or even over their own property.

1. Inspection

Inspect the golf cart before it is driven — every time. Use the operator’s checklist and go over your vehicle before you or anyone else climbs aboard. Make sure your tires are properly inflated, ensure that the steering wheel is functioning properly, and make sure the brakes are working as they should.

2. Watch Your Speed

Golf carts don’t normally travel at high rates of speed, but you can drive one too fast for ground conditions. For example, you will want to drive slower over loose gravel than you would on a smooth, paved surface. Knowing the limitations of your cart can help you judge the proper speed if one is not posted.

3. Buckle Up

Each person in the golf cart should be wearing a seat belt. Seat belts should be buckled before the cart starts moving and stay buckled until the cart has been parked. Additionally, each person in the cart should keep all of their limbs inside the vehicle while it is moving.

4. Pedestrians

Remember that pedestrians always have the right of way when it comes to encounters with golf carts. If you are operating where pedestrians are commonly seen, stay aware of them. Taking your eyes off of the path ahead can result in disaster. Be especially vigilant in areas where children may be present, as they don’t always look before they run onto paths or roadways.

5. Intoxicated Operation

It’s not unusual for people to have a few drinks on the golf course or while tooling about town. It is illegal to operate a golf cart under the influence of alcohol and dangerous as well. If you have been drinking, find someone in your party who is sober and ask them to drive. You can easily end up with a DUI charge or, at worst, cause an accident that results in injury if you choose to drive drunk.

Golf cart accidents can range from minor to incredibly serious. If you have been involved in a golf cart accident and need legal assistance, reach out to our team. We will review your case at no cost to you and advise you of your options. Call now to schedule your free case evaluation.

Whether you will be playing a round of golf or tooling around town, you may find yourself in a golf cart this year. The warm weather brings lots of people, including many tourists out to the beautiful golf courses in our communities. Knowing how to safely operate a golf cart can help prevent injury to yourself and others.

1. Be Courteous

Don’t drive recklessly. If you are driving on a course, be sure to obey the rules set forth for golf carts. If you are driving on the road, remember that you are in a vehicle and must abide by the same laws as any other driver.

2. Drive Sober

Do not drink and drive. It applies to vehicles, boats and even golf carts. If you will be the one in charge of driving, stay away from alcohol. In addition, you should stay away from any type of substance that could impair your ability to drive safely, including some prescription medications.

3. Distracted Driving

Avoid distractions when you are driving. If you are behind the wheel, your full concentration should be on the road or trail ahead.

4. Stay Inside

Make sure that you and any passenger in your cart keeps all body parts inside of the cart at all times. Hands and feet should stay where they belong.

5. Use Hand Signals

The turn signals on golf carts can be small and difficult to see. Use hand signals to tell other drivers and pedestrians when you intend to turn.

6. Turn Your Head

Don’t rely on not having seen anything around you just before you decide to change direction. Turn your head and check both sides of the cart as well as its rear. Only when you have looked to make sure that the way is clear should you change your direction of travel.

7. Slow Down

If you are turning sharply, be sure to slow down. Golf carts tip over easily. Taking a turn too quickly can cause your cart to tip onto its side.

8. Watch Your Speed

Golf carts move slowly when compared to traditional vehicles, making drivers less likely to slow down for varying road and trail conditions. Remember to slow your speed on hills and in areas where pedestrians are likely to be present.

9. Take the Keys

If you stop and exit your cart, take the keys with you. This will make it more difficult for anyone to take the cart.

10. Pay Attention to the Weather

A golf cart with a top will protect you from the rain, but it won’t protect you from lightning. If the weather takes a turn for the worse, take the cart back to where it came from and park it.

Golf cart accidents can be serious. If you are involved in a golf cart accident, reach out to our experienced personal injury attorneys for a free case evaluation. We will review the details of your accident and advise you of your legal options. Call today to schedule your free consultation.

Golf carts are one of the best ways to get around Charlotte, especially in the suburbs. They are usually electric, requiring zero gas. And gas-powered models are pretty fuel-efficient, making them a cheap form of transportation. They don’t require the same maintenance of a car, and they are often safer. However, there are many dangers associated with golf carts, and these risks should not be overlooked.

Golf cart accidents occur in Charlotte and the rest of the state nearly every day, especially during the warm months. More often than not, negligence and recklessness lead to these wrecks, and children are the most common victim. At high speeds, golf carts can tip, and riders can fall out. Both on and off the links, golf carts can be highly dangerous. Sharp turns and other factors can lead to disaster. Learn more about golf cart accidents in Charlotte, and how you can easily prevent them:

Imagine finally being able to take a dream vacation with your family. You anticipate your trip for weeks ahead of time, looking forward to the opportunity to spend much needed time together. Chances are that is what Julie Mall was looking forward to, right up until a situation during her vacation spiraled out of control. Mall tells one story and officers tell another.

According to Mall, she and her family were vacationing on Bald Head Island where golf carts replace vehicles at every turn. She and her husband decided to permit their 11-year-old son to drive a golf cart, despite knowing that the legal age to drive one is 16.

It was soon that police in their own golf cart pulled up behind them with flashing lights. Shortly after the initial stop, two more police vehicles arrived. Having been told to wait, Mall asked her husband to return to their cottage for bug repellent. One of the officers told her to move her golf cart because it was blocking the road, even though the cart was no longer there. The officer then lunged at her, twisting her arm behind her back.

The police have declined to make any statements regarding the incident, but their version is clearly detailed in an official report. Officer James Hunter wrote that as he approached the golf cart, he observed both adults to be intoxicated. He also wrote that Mall was obstinate and agitated. Hunter wrote that Mall repeatedly stated, “Well, just cite me.”

Regardless of which version is true, Mall was arrested and transported to the mainland via ferry. She was charged with resisting a public officer, intoxicated and disruptive, and misdemeanor child abuse. She was bonded out of jail by her husband. Mall’s charges were eventually dismissed as Officer Hunter failed to appear in court to testify.

While this story is not that of a typical situation, do remember that you must be 16-years old with a valid driver’s license to operate a golf cart in North Carolina. If you have been involved in a golf cart accident in Charlotte, you need an experienced attorney like Auger & Auger Law on your side. Call today for a free case evaluation.

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When it comes to golfing, North Carolina has a rich history. From Jack Nicklaus to Payne Stewart, dozens of the biggest names in professional golf have played on our state’s fairways. While many people across the country, golf enthusiasts or not, have heard of Pinehurst and “the Sandhills” region, there are dozens of other terrific courses in the state. If you are looking for an amazing round of golf on a new-to-you green, here are some of the best of the best in the state.

1. Pinehurst

It may be well known, but that doesn’t mean we can leave it off of our list. Pinehurst is ranked 15th in the world by Golf Magazine. The course was privy to a major restoration in 2011. Wider fairways, sandy waste areas and natural bunker edges make this course a must-play.

2. Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club

Golf Magazine has ranked this course as number two on its list of Best Public Courses in North Carolina. When you visit Pine Needles, it’s easy to see why. Amazing landscapes and obstacles that make play a challenge without being too tough have made this course a favorite among locals and traveling enthusiasts alike.

3. Linville Golf Club

It can be difficult to find a mountain course that is open to the public. That is part of what draws crowds to this popular course in the Western Carolina mountains. Rolling fairways, natural contours and a babbling creek are just some of the amenities found at Linville Golf Club.

4. Tobacco Road

You can find Tobacco Road in Sanford. It is a one-of-a-kind course created by the late Mike Strantz. Critics of the course often complain of many blind spots and some odd greens, but players appreciate the artistry of the architecture. It may not be the course for you, but you’ve got to play it at least once.

5. The Others

There are dozens of course in the state, not all of which make Top 10 lists, but each that has its own unique reasons for drawing players. Some of the best of the rest include Leopard’s Chase, Mid Pines, Duke University Golf Club and Sequoyah National Golf Club.

If you decide to visit any of these courses, we know that you will have a fantastic day on the fairway. While you are playing, be sure to keep your wits about you. Golf injuries can be problematic.

Golf cart injuries in North Carolina can be very serious. If you are injured in a golf car accident, call our office. We will provide you with a free case evaluation and advise you of your options. Call now.

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Golf and danger. Those two words rarely go together in the minds of players or spectators. Golf is widely seen as one of the safest sports people can play. After all, what can be dangerous about walking thousands of feet chasing after a ball for an afternoon?

Truth be told, you may not be at high risk of a fracture or concussion during a round of golf, but there are risks involved with the game. Read on to find out how to protect yourself on the green, no matter your age.

Stretch

Like any prolonged physical activity, a good stretch should precede a game of golf. You will be using muscles in your neck, arms, core and legs that you may not be used to using frequently. Stretch your limbs, bend at the waist a few times, and take a couple of practice swings.

Sunscreen

Few people want to wear long sleeves and pants on a beautiful day, but if you don’t, you are at risk for a fairly serious sunburn. Be sure to slather on the sunscreen and reapply it every two hours. Wear a hat that covers the top of your head. A visor will shield your face, but it won’t protect your head from the sun’s rays.

Pay Attention

Don’t get so caught up in your game that you lose track of your surroundings. Many injuries have occurred because someone wandered through someone else’s game or didn’t pay attention when someone yelled out “Fore”. When you aren’t aware of what is going on around you, you are at risk of being struck by a ball or, worse yet, an errant nine iron.

Weather

The weather can do more than ruin your afternoon. Lightning is a very real danger to anyone holding a metal rod in the air. Think about this when the storms begin and you want to get in just one more hole. If you are in the middle of the course, look for the nearest bathroom or designated lightning shelter. Do not stand under the trees.

Golf Carts

Golf carts should only be driven by a licensed driver. Before you get behind the wheel, make sure you know how to operate the cart and what safety features are available to you. Take it slow…you aren’t competing in a Nascar tourney.

Staying safe on the golf course is not a complicated task. A bit of common sense is all that you really need. Follow the tips above and your afternoon will turn out as pleasant as you hope.

If you were injured in a golf car accident, call our offices today. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help you. Call now.

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Golf carts aren’t just for the links any longer. Drive through any major city in North Carolina or any tourist town, and you just may find yourself sharing the road with these four-wheeled vehicles. Better yet, you may choose to drive one yourself. The ease of getting around town makes them quite attractive.

Unfortunately, golf carts are not required to pass the same safety standards as traditional motorized vehicles. This can put you and your passengers at very real risk of injury. A lack of regulations has caused these vehicles to be built with little adherence to safety standards. For example:

Tip Overs are Common

Due to their small tires and light weight, golf carts easily tip over when driven carelessly. Even when you drive with purpose, rough, uneven terrain can jostle the vehicles just enough so that they end up on their sides.

Lack of Seatbelts

Very few manufacturers put restraints in their golf carts because, quite simply, they are not required to do so. This leads to one of the main causes of injury and death: falling out of the vehicle.

Open Sides

Golf carts are meant to be entered and exited quickly. Because of this, they have open sides that allow for easy access to the interior of the vehicle. These open sides make it easier for passengers to fall out.

Lack of Maintenance

If you are going to rent a golf cart, ask about maintenance checks. Some facilities have maintenance plans in place and others do not. When maintenance isn’t performed, brakes can fail, seats wear out, and steering can become sticky.

Injuries caused by golf carts or their operation are more common than you may think. The most common injuries are:

Lacerations and Bruises

Cuts and bruises to the lower body are common. Soft tissue injuries occur for a variety of reasons.

Fractures

Fractures typically occur as a result of a person being thrown from or falling out of a golf cart.

Brain Injury

Concussion and hemorrhages are the most common neck and head injuries. Again, these are often caused when riders fall out of the cart.

Fatality

People die in golf cart accidents every year. These deaths result from collisions or ejection.

If you choose to drive or ride in a golf cart, it is important that you respect the vehicle. Safety is up to you. Know how to drive the cart and know how to ride correctly. You do not have the luxury of relying on safety features built into the cart.

If you have been injured in a golf cart accident, call our offices now. Our personal injury attorneys are here to help you today.

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A teenage girl in Florida found her life changed in April after becoming the victim of a terrible golf cart accident. While the story is not a local one, it does serve as a reminder that golf carts need to be taken seriously. While these small vehicles are looked at as a means of easy transportation, they are rarely looked upon as being as dangerous as cars and trucks. If you ask Lexy Eukitis, 17, that is exactly how they should be looked at.

This past April, Eukitis was along for the ride as her boyfriend tested a golf cart on the streets of his neighborhood. The throttle became stuck, ultimately causing the golf cart to crash. Eukitis was thrown from the cart and suffered a spine injury. The accident left the teen paralyzed from the waist down.

Eukitis is determined to walk again, and she has showed signs that muscle activity may be returning to her legs. For now, however, she uses a wheelchair. “I’m going to walk again, so I’m not taking no for an answer,” said the teen. “This can happen to you. It could happen to anybody.”

Along with the mother of her boyfriend, Eukitis wants to reach out to others and get them to understand that golf carts can be as dangerous as traditional motorized vehicles. “They are not as benign as people think they are,” said Leslie Morrison, the boyfriend’s mother.

Technology Associates, a research company that is on the leading edge of golf cart safety, says that there are 150,000 golf cart accidents each year. These accidents end with someone visiting the emergency room. Why? In part, the open-air design of the carts and what could be called poor braking capability.

As golf carts become more popular in major hubs around North Carolina, people are urged to consider that what they are operating or riding in should be considered motor vehicles. The same respect that one would show to a gas-powered, traditional vehicle should be shown to one of these carts. That means safe operations and zero horseplay.

If you have been injured in a golf cart accident, we are here for you. Our attorneys will work closely with you and your family and fight to get you the compensation you may be entitled to. Call us today for a free initial consultation. We want to help you. Call now.

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