If you live around a golf course in California, it’s likely you’ve seen a golf cart zipping around the area. California is known the world over for many of its golf courses, each offering a distinct opportunity to enjoy the game. But many of these courses also offer lots and residences situated around the course and club area.
What this means, if you live in one of these areas of California, is that it’s very likely that you’ll encounter a golf cart as you commute to work or your house. And in these scenarios, it’s possible you could be involved in an accident. So, are there safety laws in place that say whether a golf cart can be driven on the road in California?
California Law and Golf Carts
There’s no denying that there are numerous types of motor vehicles on roads throughout California. This includes everything from big rig trucks to “low-speed vehicles” (LSVs) like golf carts. Although golf carts are designed for the purpose of carrying golfers around the course with their clubs and other equipment, they’re still used in areas that surround golf courses. Further, there are a number of different types of carts on the market that are used for other purposes:
- High-end resorts and big hotels use them for transporting guests.
- Some big universities use them on large campuses.
- In gated communities, they help people get around easily.
- Park staff use them to patrol and assist visitors.
- Security teams use them to watch over areas.
- Airports use them to carry people and luggage.
- Retirees like them in their communities.
- They are used around tourist attractions
- Hospitals use them to move people and equipment.
- They help out behind the scenes at events.
While they’re versatile, California law has specific regulations when it comes to golf carts and where they can–and can’t–be used. Specifically, Section 21115 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC) outlines when a golf cart can be driven on a main road in California, saying that golf carts and other LSVs:
- Can be driven on roads with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour.
Furthermore, golf carts are allowed to be used on roads that are on a golf course or within a mile of the course if it’s in a residential area. Usually, only people who are 16 and older with a driver’s license can drive golf carts and LSVs on California roads.
Who is Responsible For an Accident Involving a Golf Cart in California?
Ultimately, when a golf cart is being driven on a main road in California, it’s like any other vehicle in terms of being at risk of being involved in an accident. The good news, at least from the perspective of being an accident victim, is that the law also views a golf cart or LSV like any other vehicle when determining who is responsible for covering any injuries and damages.
In legal terms, this is known as liability. Thus, when there’s an accident between a vehicle and a golf cart where the driver of the cart was negligent, they are responsible for covering any injuries or damages.
Still, every case is different. Determining liability depends on the circumstances of the accident and can be spread among a number of potential parties, like:
- Golf cart driver – If the driver of the golf cart acted negligently, such as by driving recklessly, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or violating traffic rules, they could be held liable for the accident.
- Golf cart owner – If the golf cart was owned by someone other than the driver (such as a golf course, a rental company, or an individual), and the owner’s negligence, such as improper maintenance, contributed to the accident, they might be held liable.
- Property owner or operator – If the accident occurred on a property, such as a golf course or private property, and unsafe conditions on that property contributed to the accident, the property owner or operator could be held liable if it can be shown that they were aware of the unsafe conditions and failed to address them.
- Manufacturers or distributors – If a defect in the design or manufacturing of the golf cart played a role in the accident, the manufacturer or distributor of the cart could be held liable for producing a defective product.
If you get hurt in a golf cart accident, figuring out how much you’re owed for the harm can be really hard. This can be even harder if you’re badly hurt and might have long-lasting problems. This is when our team of skilled and knowledgeable lawyers for injuries in California can be super helpful. We’re committed to gathering the right documents and making sure all the ways you’ve been harmed are counted when we ask for financial support from the responsible parties.
Support from Experienced California Personal Injury Lawyers
At Maison Law, our team of California personal injury lawyers understands the negative impact any accident can have on your life, especially ones involving a golf cart. This is why we take pride in our ability to offer dedicated legal support to each of our clients, making sure they have the necessary resources to pursue their claims while focusing on their recovery.
If you’ve been injured in a golf cart accident in California, we’d be happy to speak with you. Contact us today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.
