Golf carts are common on Sullivan’s Island, but a short ride can turn serious when a driver, property owner, rental company, or another party fails to use reasonable care.
At Auger & Auger Accident and Injury Lawyers, our Sullivan’s Island golf cart accident lawyers help injured victims pursue claims throughout South Carolina. Founded in 1995, our local, family-owned law firm has served injured people across the Carolinas for decades.
Our lawyers average 19 years of personal injury experience each, and our firm has recovered more than $100 million for clients. Contact Auger & Auger today for a free consultation with a Sullivan’s Island personal injury lawyer
How a Sullivan’s Island Golf Cart Accident Lawyer Can Help
After a golf cart accident, one of the first questions we try to answer is who is legally responsible.
Surprisingly, it is not always the person driving the cart who is responsible. The cart may have been poorly maintained, overloaded, or rented without proper instructions. The property where the crash happened may also have had hazards that should have been corrected.
Our role is to sort through those facts and determine who may be held responsible under South Carolina law. We review how the crash happened, where it happened, who owned or controlled the cart, whether the cart was properly maintained, and what insurance coverage may apply.
How South Carolina Fault Rules Can Affect Your Case
South Carolina allows an insurance company to argue that you share responsibility for the accident. If you are assigned a percentage of fault, your compensation may be reduced. If you are found more than 50% at fault, you may not be able to recover compensation.
That is why we are careful about the evidence we collect. We look for photographs, witness statements, incident reports, medical records, maintenance records, rental documents, and other proof that can help show what caused the crash.
We also handle communication with the insurance company so your case is presented clearly and your words are not used unfairly against you.
We work to prevent unfair blame from shaping the case. That means gathering photos, witness accounts, incident reports, medical records, maintenance information, insurance documents, and other proof that shows what happened and how your injuries have affected your life.
Common Causes of Golf Cart Accidents in Sullivan’s Island
Golf cart accidents often happen because someone failed to use reasonable care. Some of the most common causes we see include:
- Driving too fast for the area.
- Turning too sharply or unevenly.
- Carrying too many passengers.
- Failing to watch for pedestrians, bicycles, or vehicles.
- Allowing an underage or inexperienced driver to operate the cart.
- Driving after drinking.
- Using a poorly maintained cart.
- Brake, tire, steering, or lighting failures.
- Unsafe traffic flow on private property.
- Poor lighting, uneven pavement, or missing warnings.
Who Can Be Held Liable for Your Injuries?
The person driving the golf cart may be responsible, but they may not be the only liable party. Golf cart claims often require a closer look at who owned the cart, who maintained it, who allowed it to be used, and where the crash happened.
Depending on the facts, your claim can involve and of the following parties:
- A golf cart driver
- A golf cart owner
- A rental company
- A business or event host
- A private property owner
- A maintenance provider
- A homeowners association or community operator
- A manufacturer of defective parts
- Another driver who contributed to the crash
Compensation Available After a Golf Cart Crash
The value of a golf cart accident claim depends on how the injury has changed your life. A serious injury can affect your work, your ability to drive, your household responsibilities, and the activities you were able to enjoy before the crash.
In a personal injury claim, we may seek compensation for losses such as:
- Ambulance and emergency treatment.
- Hospital care.
- Follow-up visits with doctors or specialists.
- Surgery or physical therapy.
- Prescription medication.
- Future medical treatment.
- Time missed from work.
- Reduced ability to earn income.
- Pain, discomfort, and physical limitations.
- Emotional distress.
- Scarring or permanent injury.
- Out-of-pocket costs related to the crash.
We also look at how the injury may affect you going forward. If your recovery is slow, if you need ongoing treatment, or if you cannot return to the same work or daily routine, those future losses should be included in the claim.
If a golf cart accident causes a fatal injury, the family may have a wrongful death claim under South Carolina law. We can explain who may bring that claim and what damages may be available for funeral costs, lost financial support, and the loss of the person’s care and companionship.
How Auger & Auger Helps With Your Case
Our Sullivan’s Island golf cart accident attorneys start by getting a clear picture of the accident. This can mean reviewing the crash location, speaking with witnesses, looking at photos or video, checking rental and maintenance records, and determining whether the cart, the driver, the property, or a business played a role.
We also handle the parts of the claim that can quickly become frustrating, including:
- Insurance calls and claim correspondence.
- Requests for medical records and bills.
- Documentation of missed work and income loss.
- Review of available insurance policies.
- Settlement negotiations.
- Discussions about filing a lawsuit if the insurer will not make a fair offer.
Because Auger & Auger is a local, family-owned firm, clients work with a team that is accessible and familiar with injury claims across the Carolinas.
We try to make the process as manageable as possible while you are recovering. If your injuries keep you in the hospital, we can meet you there. If travel is difficult, online document signing can help move the case forward without adding another errand to your list.
We can also help you understand options for getting medical care. And because our personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, you do not pay upfront attorney’s fees for our representation.
Talk to Our Sullivan’s Island Golf Cart Accident Attorneys Today
At Auger & Auger, our firm has been helping injured people across the Carolinas since 1995, and we understand how to move a claim forward when the insurance process is unclear or frustrating.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a golf cart accident attorney in Sullivan’s Island.
