Golf Cart Accidents Are Rising—And They’re More Serious Than People Think
They’re slow, small, and associated with leisurely rounds of golf or quiet rides through a retirement community. But golf carts are sending thousands of Ohioans and other Americans to emergency rooms every year—and the numbers are getting worse.
Over the last decade, golf cart incidents have risen by 64%, with a peak in 2020 when incidents more than doubled compared to the year prior. That surge coincided with a pandemic-era boom in golf participation and broader cart use in neighborhoods and recreational areas. Today, an estimated 15,000 people are injured annually in golf cart accidents across the United States.
These aren’t minor fender-benders, either. Golf cart accidents that occur on public roads result in an average of 40% more severe injuries than those on golf courses—including life-changing traumatic brain injuries.
Why Golf Carts Are More Dangerous Than They Look
Most people dramatically underestimate the risk because golf carts look nothing like a car. But that’s precisely the problem—they also lack a car’s safety features. Most golf carts have no seatbelts, no airbags, no doors, and no structural framework to protect occupants in a crash.
The majority of golf cart injuries are caused by overturning accidents, accounting for about 35% of incidents, and the risk increases significantly when carts are used on uneven or poorly maintained terrain. Common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
- Spinal fractures and cord damage
- Broken bones and dislocations
- Severe lacerations from ejection onto pavement
Children Are Especially at Risk
Youth between 12 and 16 years old make up 17% of all golf cart injuries—the single highest age group. Children are often unsecured passengers with no understanding of the risks, and children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk of severe injury when involved in golf cart accidents.
Who is Liable When a Golf Cart Accident Happens?
Golf cart accidents can involve a range of liable parties—a negligent operator, a property owner who allowed unsafe use, a golf course or resort that failed to maintain safe conditions, or even a manufacturer whose product was defective. Don’t assume that because it wasn’t a “real” car accident, you don’t have a case. You do.
The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your golf cart accident claim. When negligence turns a leisurely ride into a life-changing injury, I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my office at (877) 944-4373 so I can evaluate your case right away.
