24 Hours/7 Days a Week

352-484-0775

Golf Cart Laws in Florida

Golf Cart Laws in Florida

Florida Golf Cart Laws Here are some FAQs about golf cart laws in Florida. As golf carts become an increasingly popular mode of transportation in the Sunshine State, it is essential to understand the rules and regulations governing their use. We'll cover a range of topics about golf cart usage in Florida, such as legality, driving in neighborhoods, operating hours, street requirements, age requirements, and more. Is It Legal to Drive a Golf Cart on the Street in Florida? Yes, Florida golf cart laws permit you to drive a golf cart on the road under certain conditions. It is important to be aware of the...

Continue reading

Florida Golf Cart Insurance Requirements & Golf Cart Accidents: Who Pays For Damages?

Golf Cart

Who pays for the damages in a golf cart accident? In Florida, a golf cart is considered a "dangerous instrumentality," which means that in most cases the golf cart owner is liable for damages caused by negligence. If you were hurt in a golf cart accident due to someone else's negligence, contact a golf cart accident attorney near you in The Village. We also have golf cart accident lawyers near you in Ocala to serve you. Florida Insurance Requirements for Golf Carts Many people in The Villages and throughout Florida who own a golf cart or low-speed vehicle are confused with Florida’s insurance...

Continue reading

Truck Accidents throughout the U.S., Florida and the Counties of North Central Florida

truck injuries and crashes

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in 2015, large trucks were involved in 3,598 fatal crashes across the U.S., resulting in 4,067 deaths.  While the number of fatal crashes has decreased by 22% since 2005, it has, with the exception of 2014, increased steadily since 2009, as shown in the chart below. Injuries and Fatalities Due to Truck Accidents in Florida What’s even more disturbing than the national increase in fatalities for those of us who live in Florida is that our state ranks third in the nation (behind only Texas and California) in the number of fatal crashes involving...

Continue reading

Uninsured Motorist Hits Your Bicycle or Golf Cart…Now What?

uninsured driver accidents

What happens if you are hit by a car while operating a bicycle or golf cart and the at-fault party does not have auto insurance? In a golf cart accident, who pays for damages? How do your medical bills and lost wages get paid? How do you recover for your pain and suffering? What should you do to protect yourself in a bicycle or golf cart accident? 1. If you own a motor vehicle, it is extremely important to have uninsured motorist coverage with stacking coverage. This coverage takes the place of liability coverage for the at-fault driver, if uninsured or...

Continue reading

$24 Million Awarded to Widower Of Woman

drunk driving injuries and fatalities

A Florida jury recently awarded $24 million to a man whose wife was killed when a car, driven by a drunken driver, crossed a sidewalk, jumped a curb, and then crashed into the poolside cabana at the Riverside Hotel. Jurors assigned 15% liability to the hotel and  85% of the liability to 37-year-old Rosa Kim.  She was sentenced in January to 15 years in prison. The decedent, who was 26-year-old, was seven months pregnant and on a vacation with her husband. ...

Continue reading

Increase in Large Truck Accidents

truck-accident

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, large trucks accounted for 3,964 fatalities in 2013.  That is the fourth straight jump in annual large truck-involved fatalities, dating back to 2009. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reports that the top ten most common factors causing these accidents are fatigue, brake problems, distractions, traffic flow interruption, prescription drug use, drunk driving, traveling too fast for conditions, unfamiliarity with roadway, over-the-counter drug use, and inadequate surveillance.  While many of the factors are attributed to the fault of the driver, there can be others who share in the blame such as the trucking...

Continue reading

The Villages is the #1 Small City in the U.S.

Forbes magazine recently ranked The Villages as the #1 Best Small City For Business And Careers. "Florida has been a retirement haven for decades thanks to its warm climate, recreational opportunities and lack of income or estate taxes. The state is annually one of the fastest-growing by population thanks to a steady influx of people 65 and older." "No area is capitalizing more on retiring baby boomers than The Villages, located 60 miles northwest of Orlando in central Florida. The metro area, which developed out of the large retirement community of the same name, was the fastest growing metro in the U.S....

Continue reading

Golf Cart Laws in Lady Lake, FL

accidents on golf courses

In 2003, the Town of Lady Lake, Florida passed the following ordinances pertaining to Low-Speed Vehicles and Golf Carts. Florida also has its own set of golf cart laws. Sec. 17-2. - Low-speed vehicles. (a) Definition of low speed vehicle. Pursuant to F.S. § 320.01(42), a low-speed vehicle is any four-wheeled electric vehicle whose top speed is greater than twenty (20) miles per hour but not greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour, including neighborhood electric vehicles. Said vehicles must conform to the safety standards in 49 C.F.R. Section 571.500 and F.S. § 316.2122. For purposes of this section, "golf carts" as...

Continue reading

Is Hands Free Driving Safe?

hands free driving

According to a recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 3 out of 4 drives believe hands-free use is safe.  However, the study found that hands-free systems in vehicles can distract drivers more than was previously believed.  The results of the study revealed the following: The accuracy of voice recognition software significantly influences the rate of distraction; Composing text messages and emails using in-vehicle technologies was more distracting than using these systems to listen to messages; Use of Apple's Siri generated a relatively high level of mental distraction; Using an error-free speech-to-text system to listen to and compose emails or texts...

Continue reading

Bicycle Accidents Increasing in Florida

bicycle accident attorney

The number of bicyclists killed on roadways in the United States is trending upward, according to a report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). In its report, the GHSA notes that yearly bicyclist deaths increased 16 percent between 2010 and 2012, while overall motor vehicle fatalities increased just one percent during the same time period. According to the report, Florida is now second (behind California) in the most bicycle deaths in the United States, with 329 accidents.  Florida also ranked highest for most motor vehicle related cyclist deaths at 5% annually. There wave been some remarkable changes when analyzing current and historical...

Continue reading

Golf Cart Accident in The Villages?

golf course injuries

With the ever-increasing number of retirees moving to The Villages each year, we continue to see a rise in the number of golf carts being utilized on the streets.  And with that, comes an increase in golf cart accidents. If you are involved in a golf cart accident in The Villages or surrounding areas, there are several things to remember: Do not leave the scene of the accident. Call 911 and get medical attention if you need it.  It is also important to call the police even if there is are no serious injuries.  You will likely need a police report to...

Continue reading

Florida’s Low-Speed Vehicle Laws

slow speed limits

In Florida, a “low-speed vehicle” means any four-wheeled vehicle whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour, including, but not limited to, neighborhood electric vehicles. Below is a summary of some of Florida's low-speed vehicle laws: A low-speed vehicle  may be operated only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.  This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle from crossing a road or street at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. A low-speed vehicle...

Continue reading

Governor Rick Scott Signs Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act

Ocala car accident lawyer for accidents involving fatalities

On June 24, 2014, Governor Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 102, which creates the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act relating to leaving the scene of an accident.  This bill includes increasing the punishment for leaving the scene of a crash resulting in serious injury to a person, imposing a mandatory minimum term for imprisonment of 4 years for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of a person, increasing the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment from1-4 years for a driver convicted of leaving the scene of a crash resulting in the death of...

Continue reading

New Requirement for Trucks

trucking injuries and crashes

It is estimated that the rule would eliminate approximately 1,115 fatal crashes and require minimal investment by carriers since most heavy trucks already have limiters on board. The first efforts for rulemaking on this subject came in 2006 when petitions were brought by the American Trucking Association (ATA) and Road Safe America (RSA). They said that a key strategy in preventing large truck fatal crashes is to reduce the top travel speed of the trucks. Studies were cited showing that large trucks moving at high speeds have much longer stopping distances than the same trucks operated at lower speeds. According to...

Continue reading

Teenagers & Distracted Driving

car accident attorney

"Novice drivers are more likely to engage in high-risk secondary tasks more frequently over time as they became more comfortable with driving." Traffic studies reveal that drivers from 15 years to 20 years of age represent 6.4% of all motorists on the road, but account for 11.4% of fatalities and 14% of police-reported crashes resulting in injuries. Cell phones and other electronic devices have garnered the most public and media interest, but even the simplest distractions can put a young driver at risk. In the New England Journal of Medicine study, titled “Distracted Driving and Risk of Crashes Among Novice and Experienced...

Continue reading

Couple File Suit Against Golf Cart Dealership

A lawsuit was recently filed by a Florida couple against a Perry, Florida-based golf cart dealership after the wife was left partially disabled after an accident.  Danielle and John Pfeil of Arcadia, Fla., filed the lawsuit in federal court in Macon, Georgia against Mike’s Golf Carts, a company located in Perry, Florida. Danielle Pfeil was seriously injured in the golf cart accident on November 25, 2011, at Jewel Mint Plantation, the lawsuit states.  The lawsuit alleges that a golf cart modified by Mike’s Golf Carts malfunctioned, resulting in the golf cart overturning on Danielle Pfeil (who was driving it).  The lawsuit states...

Continue reading

Seatbelts Will Soon Be Required On Large Buses

New tour buses and buses that provide service between cities must be equipped with seatbelts starting in late 2016 under a new federal rule, a safety measure sought by accident investigators for nearly a half century. Beginning in November 2016, all new motorcoaches and some other large buses must be equipped by manufacturers with three-point lap-shoulder belts, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said.  The rule will not apply to school buses or city transit buses. Every year, an average of 21 people are killed in large crashes, and almost 8,000 others are injured annually, according to the NHTSA. It’s estimated...

Continue reading

Texting While Driving–It’s Illegal in Florida

distracted driving accidents texting while driving

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that made texting while driving illegal in the State of Florida.  This law represents a significant step to further ensure that our loved ones are safe on the roads.  The bill, SB 52, which Gov. Rick Scott signed into law on May 28, prohibits motorists from using their cellphones to text or email while driving, with some exceptions. Drivers are allowed to use their devices while reporting criminal activity, listening to music or using text-to-talk systems such as Siri.  They may also text or email while stuck in traffic or at red lights. The...

Continue reading

Florida Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Generally In 2000, motorcycle fatalities accounted for about 8% of all traffic fatalities in Florida, but by 2008 the percentage had increased to 17.8%. By 2010, motorcycle fatalities dropped to 14.3% of all traffic fatalities. In 2011, motorcycle fatalities have returned to 2008 levels, accounting for 17.0% of all traffic fatalities. Alcohol and Motorcycle Accidents: In 2011 in Florida, impaired motorcyclists with blood alcohol content (“BAC”) of .08+ accounted for 26% of motorcycle fatalities, while impaired motorcyclists with a BAC of .01+ accounted for 32% of motorcycle fatalities. Nationally, in fatal crashes in 2011 a higher percentage of motorcycle riders had...

Continue reading

Let’s Make Our Roads Safer

truck crashes

Nearly four thousand people were killed in truck crashes in 2011.  While fatal truck crashes often cost over $4.3 million, federal law only requires cargo truck drivers to maintain insurance policies for $750,000 dollars.  Injured motorists and taxpayers are left to pay the difference. If trucking companies are not accountable, the safety and financial security of all drivers is at risk.  Congress has not updated this minimum insurance requirement in over 30 years and as a result unsafe trucking carriers are prevented from being held fully accountable. H.R. 2730, the Safe And Fair Environment on Highways Achieved through Underwriting Levels (SAFE HAUL)...

Continue reading

Is a Modified Golf Cart a Motor Vehicle?

florida personal injury attorney

In the recent case of Angelotta v. Security National Insurance, the 5th District Court of Appeal addressed the question of whether a golf cart can be considered a “vehicle.” Facts In 2008, a resident of The Villages was operating a modified golf cart on a public roadway when he “sideswiped a car and then crashed into a lawfully stopped golf cart operated by John Angelotta.”  Mr. Angelotta was severely injured and sued to recover for injuries he sustained as a result of the collision.  Unfortunately, the defendant’s insurance company, Security National, denied the claim and asserted that the policy covered “autos”–defined as...

Continue reading

Slower Golf Cart = Reduced Insurance Premiums

On July 1, 2013, Governor Scott signed a law that will give Florida residents the option of reclassifying their “low-speed vehicles” as golf carts in order to save on registration and insurance fees. The law allows the conversion of a “low-speed vehicle” to a golf cart by reducing the maximum speed to 20 mph.  Specifically, it establishes procedures to allow a vehicle titled or branded and registered as a “low-speed vehicle” to be administratively converted to a golf cart upon verification of the conversion by the Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles, which is accomplished by the owner’s submittal of an...

Continue reading

Legislative Proposal Seeks Tougher Penalties for Drivers Who Leave the Scene of an Accident

A recent proposal in the Florida Senate, known as the Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act, seeks to create tougher penalties for drivers who leave the scene of a hit and run bicycle accident.  The proposed legislation is named after Aaron Cohen, a triathlete and father who was killed when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Michael Traverso in February 2012. Investigators found evidence suggesting Traverso had been drinking before he struck Cohen. However, they were unable to test his blood alcohol level because he drove away.  Traverso was sentenced to 364 days in jail for leaving the scene of...

Continue reading

What Is My Personal Injury Case Worth?

personal injury attorney

After being involved in a car accident or injured as a result of the negligence of another person, you probably want to know how much you should expect to recover.  Although each case is different, below are some factors we take into consideration when attempting to determine the value of a personal injury case: <li Severity of the Injury - The type of injury you sustained, as well as its severity, is by far the most important factor.  The more severe the injury, the higher the value.   Yet, many injuries are not noticeable until days or weeks after an accident. By...

Continue reading

Common Auto Accident Questions

When you are involved in an auto accident, you are bound to have many questions. Below is a list of commonly asked questions people have after being injured in an auto accident. If you do not find the answer to your question here, contact Attorney Gordon Glover for a free case evaluation today at our office in The Villages (352-205-4495) or our Ocala office (352-484-0775), or contact us online. Attorney Gordon Glover is available 24/7 for home and hospital visits, and charges no attorney’s fees unless he recovers money for you! Q. What do I do if I’m involved in an...

Continue reading

Is Golf Cart Insurance Necessary?

Does Car Insurance Cover Golf Cart Accidents? Who Pays for a Golf Cart Accident?

Golf carts are common in The Villages and throughout central Florida (read more on golf cart rules in The Villages, FL). After purchasing a golf cart, one must decide if he/she is going to purchase golf cart insurance. However, before purchasing golf cart insurance, it is important to know if you have a traditional golf cart or a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle (NEV). Most people in The Villages drive traditional golf carts that top out at 20 mph and don’t have to be registered or insured. Yet, that does not pertain to NEVs. NEVs are usually built to have a top speed...

Continue reading

The Importance of Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Most people do not realize the importance of uninsured motorist coverage.  This type of auto insurance covers damages to a person injured in an automobile accident when the at-fault driver either does not have insurance coverage or does not have an adequate amount coverage. In essence, uninsured motorist coverage takes the place of liability coverage for the at-fault driver and provides an injured person with an ability to make a recovery for outstanding medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages. In Florida, individuals have the ability to “stack” uninsured motorist policies. This means that if you have more than...

Continue reading

Debunking Medical Malpractice Myths: Unraveling the False Premises Behind “Tort Reform”

Debunking Medical Malpractice Myths: Unraveling the False Premises Behind "Tort Reform" is the title of a recent law review article that appeared in Vol. 5, Issue 1 of the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law and Ethics: http://www.dayontorts.com/uploads/file/Debunking%20Medical%20Malpractice%20Myths(1).pdf Below is the last paragraph of the article: "No one denies that there is a broad array of very serious health care issues facing the United States right now-patient safety, rising costs, availability and affordability of health insurance, and, in some places, rapidly rising malpractice premiums (although they are easing as we enter a soft market). But even with these problems, caps are not a...

Continue reading

New PIP Law in Effect

1. Initial treatment must be obtained within fourteen (14) days from the date of the accident.  The initial medical treatment must be lawfully provided, supervised, ordered, or prescribed by a licenses physician (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopath (D.O.), Dentist or Chiropractic Physician, or provided in a hospital or medical facility. 2. PIP will only pay for follow-up services if there was initial medical treatment within fourteen (14) days and the following occurs: a. The follow-up services are on the referral from an M.D., D.O., D.C.; and b. The follow-up services are consistent with the underlying medical diagnosis rendered on the initial visit. 3....

Continue reading

Motorcycle Driving Safety Tips

The practices of some riders are offensive to other motorists (e.g., weaving in and out of stalled traffic, riding on shoulders). Being inconsiderate of other motorists creates a negative image for all riders, and can cause crashes. Be especially alert at intersections because approximately 70 percent of motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur there! Watch for vehicles that may unexpectedly turn in front of you or pull out from a side street or driveway. At intersections where vision is limited by shrubbery, parked vehicles, or buildings, slow down, make doubly sure of traffic, and be prepared to react quickly. Check the rearview mirrors before changing...

Continue reading

Bicycle and Large Truck Accident Deaths Increase

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Traffic has reported that fatalities in 2011 dropped 1.9% to their lowest level since 1949.  However, deaths of bicyclists and occupants of large trucks rose sharply last year.  Bicyclist deaths jumped 8.7% and deaths of occupants of large trucks increased 20%.  In addition, more people died in distraction-related crashes, up 1.9% compared with 2010, and motorcycle deaths also rose 2.1%. Jonathan Adkins, deputy executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association (which represents state highway safety agencies), said the increase in bicycle deaths probably reflects more people riding bicycles to work and for pleasure. Disclaimer *The information...

Continue reading