What to Do After a Golf Cart Crash in Charleston
Carts are part of island life on Kiawah, Seabrook, Isle of Palms, Folly and Daniel Island. They have no doors and often no belts, so a rider thrown onto pavement can end up with a head injury or broken bones and a ride to MUSC or East Cooper. Get care first.
After the ER, stay with every surgery, therapy session and doctor visit. A relative or friend can find out which agency took the report and how to get it. They can also collect the cart driver's name and license details, the owner's name and any insurance, and do the same for a car driver if one was involved.
If the cart was a rental, write down the company name and any number or sticker on the body. Someone can photograph your injuries, then the cart, any car, the street or path, the signs and the lighting. Get phone numbers for anyone who saw it. Talk with a lawyer before you sign papers from an insurer or a rental company.
South Carolina Golf Cart Rules
South Carolina has specific rules for golf carts on public roads, covering registration, permits, insurance, drivers, roads and hours.12 Under current law:
- Who can drive: on a public road, the driver must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's license.
- The cart: it must be registered with the DMV, carry a permit decal and have liability insurance.1
- Which roads: generally roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, though carts may cross faster roads at intersections.
- When and how far: unless a local ordinance or another exception applies, carts may run only on secondary roads in daylight and within four miles of their registered address.2
- Kids: passengers under 12 generally must wear seat belts on public roads, with a golf course exception.6
A broken rule may help show who was responsible, but it does not automatically settle legal fault. Carts on private property, like a gated resort's own roads, may fall under different rules.3
The Time to File
Most South Carolina injury claims must be filed within three years.4 The date is for a lawsuit, and an insurance claim does not stop it.5 Claims against a state or local government body generally must be filed within two years, or three with a qualifying verified claim under the Tort Claims Act.7 A government defendant can also mean caps on what's recoverable.8
Cart crashes from Hilton Head to the Grand Strand are on our South Carolina golf cart page.
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
Talk With Us About What Happened
Cart crashes often involve neighbors, friends or a family vacation, and that can make a claim feel uncomfortable. We keep those relationships in mind and talk through your choices with you.
Our office is on King Street in downtown Charleston. A fall from a cart onto asphalt often means a head injury; our Charleston brain injury page covers that. If a car hit your cart, see car accidents in Charleston.
Call and tell us where you were headed, who was driving and whether a car was involved.
South Carolina Law on This
- To drive a golf cart on public roads in South Carolina, the golf cart must be registered with the DMV, have a valid permit decal, and be covered by liability insurance. The driver must be at least 16 years old, hold a valid driver's license, and carry their license, golf cart registration certificate, and proof of insurance while driving.1
- South Carolina generally limits permitted golf carts on public roads to those with speed limits of 35 mph or less, although carts may cross faster roads at intersections. Unless a local ordinance or another statutory exception applies, golf carts may be operated only on secondary roads during daylight hours and within four miles of their registered address. Special rules apply to gated communities and certain events.2
- A violation of a golf cart safety rule may be relevant to determining responsibility for an accident, but it does not automatically establish who is legally at fault. Different rules may apply to golf carts operated on private property.3
- Most personal injury claims in South Carolina must be filed within three years.4
- South Carolina's statute of limitations generally sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit in court. Simply opening a claim with an insurance company or negotiating with an insurance adjuster does not stop the statute of limitations from running.5
- Golf cart passengers under 12 generally must wear seat belts on public roads in South Carolina, with a specific exception for golf courses.6
- Lawsuits under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act generally must be filed within two years after the loss was or should have been discovered. A three-year deadline may apply if a qualifying verified claim was first filed under the Act.7
- Claims against a South Carolina state or local government agency have their own filing deadline, which can be shorter, and there could be caps on damages under the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, depending on the facts of the case.8
Frequently Asked Questions
Whose insurance pays for a golf cart crash?
It depends. Coverage might come from a policy on the cart, a car policy, the rental outfit's coverage or something else, depending on the facts and the policy language. Don't take for granted that a homeowner's or auto policy will cover it.
We rented the cart for a beach week. Does that change things?
It can raise questions about who was driving, the shape the cart was in, its upkeep and what the rental business was responsible for. Hang on to the rental contract, the receipt, any safety sheet and every email or text with the company. Whether the company shares responsibility turns on the facts.
Should police come out for a golf cart wreck?
If someone is hurt, call 911 and report it. Before the officer leaves, find out if there will be a written report and where to request it. Reporting rules can depend on where it happened.
Does an insurance claim buy me more time?
No. The deadline is for filing a lawsuit in court, and an insurance claim does not stop it.5 Put the crash date on your calendar where you'll see it.
Can I call from out of state after our trip?
Yes. A phone call works for a first conversation. Our office is on King Street downtown if you're still in town and would like to meet.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
