Mother of Child Injured in Delray Beach Golf Cart Accident Files Lawsuit, but Who Is Liable?
You might think that golf carts are the least dangerous, and therefore least thrilling, vehicle imaginable. You are probably imagining them being used for their intended purpose, however. An elderly man driving a golf cart on a golf course where the holes are too far apart for him to walk to the next one is not going to be the subject of an adventure, and neither is a security guard using a golf cart in order to patrol the grounds of an apartment complex more efficiently. If you are too young to have a driver’s license, though, and therefore too young to get your kicks in a conventional motor vehicle, though, a golf cart represents endless fun. It is like a bumper car that transforms an entire neighborhood into an amusement park. It is just as easy for an inexperienced driver to crash a golf cart as to get into an accident with a car, though, and the potential for serious injuries is even greater because golf carts do not have safety features like airbags; many of them do not even have seatbelts. If you have been injured in an accident involving a golf cart, contact a Palm Beach County car accident injury attorney.
Details of the Seven Bridges Golf Cart Accident Lawsuit
In August 2018, high school student Gabriella Jedlicki was driving a golf cart in the Seven Bridges community in Delray Beach; also riding in the golf cart were several friends younger than Gabriella, including Shawn Amoyal. The golf cart belonged to Gabriella’s mother Traci. The golf cart cut in front of a VW Beetle being driven by Eduardo Hiutin, who was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the golf cart. The crash caused the passengers to fall out of the golf cart and sustain injuries.
Shawn’s mother Lisa filed a lawsuit against Hiutin and his insurance company, requesting damages for Shawn’s medical treatment, as well as noneconomic damages for pain and suffering. The defendants filed a response citing Gabriella’s role in causing the accident. An issue in the lawsuit is whether Gabriella counts as an underinsured motorist; her mother’s insurance policy on the golf cart was for $100,000 of coverage, whereas it should have been $1,000,000.
Seven Bridges has not been named as a defendant, but there are questions regarding the measures it could have taken to prevent the accident. The Homeowners’ Associations of private communities like Seven Bridges have a great deal of flexibility in setting policies. The community required very little patrolling of the area; one could argue that, if there had been a greater security presence, Gabriella would not have had the opportunity to drive the golf cart recklessly.
Reach Out to an Attorney Today
A personal injury lawsuit might be the solution for recovering financially from a car accident, or an accident involving any other kind of vehicle. Contact Palm Beach Gardens car accident attorneys at Smith, Ball, Báez & Prather Injury Lawyers for a consultation.
