
Common Issues with Golf Carts
In Texas, it is common to see golf carts traveling on public roadways.
Under state law, people are allowed to operate golf carts on public roads in the following areas and situations:
- For travel in master-planned communities
- Within a two-mile radius of where the golf carts are normally parked
- To travel to and from golf courses
- To cross roads at intersections that have speed limits of more than 35 mph
Golf carts do not have to be registered or titled, and they may be operated on roads if they have a slow-moving vehicle emblem. Cities within the state can pass ordinances allowing golf carts to be operated on public roads that have speeds of 35 mph or less.
If they do, the golf carts must have insurance and the following minimum equipment:
- Headlamps and taillamps
- Reflectors
- Mirrors
- Parking brakes
One notable piece of safety equipment that is not required for golf carts in Texas is seatbelts. A study that was reported in the journal American Surgeon found that 40 percent of golf cart injuries happen when people are ejected from vehicles. Among the accidents that were included in the study, 76 percent occurred on public streets. While you might view golf carts as a safe way to travel, riding in a golf cart leaves you as exposed to potential injuries as riding on a bicycle or walking because the carts afford little protection to you when they are involved in accidents. Like motorcycle accidents, golf cart accidents leave the motorist exposed to high-impact crashes from outside forces.
Common Types of Golf Cart Accidents
Golf cart accidents may be caused by operator error or by the actual design of the cart. They may also result from the negligence of motorists who are sharing the roads with a golf cart.
Some of the common types of accidents that may be due to design problems include the following:
- Tip-over accidents
- Falling out or being ejected because of a lack of restraints
- Open sides can lead to occupants being thrown from the carts
- Poor maintenance by companies that own golf carts for people to use
Contact our Houston Golf Cart Accident Attorneys
Suffering a serious injury in a golf cart accident can leave you with mounting expenses and income losses while you recover. If your accident was caused by design problems or the negligence of a motorist, you need a personal injury lawyer to help you recover fair compensation under the law.
Contact a Houston golf cart accident attorney at our firm today to schedule a free consultation: (281) 801-5617.