Right After a Cart Crash
Treatment comes first. A family member or friend can take care of the report, the pictures and insurance calls while you're in the hospital.
- Get to a doctor. Call 911 for a serious injury, then keep every surgery, therapy and follow-up visit.
- Ask about the report. Find out which agency is handling it and how to get a copy.
- Get names and coverage. The cart driver's name and license, the cart owner's name and insurer, and the same for any car driver.
- Note if it's a rental. Write down the company and any number or logo on the cart.
- Photos. Injuries, then the cart, any car, the pavement, signs and streetlights.
- Find witnesses. Names and phone numbers.
Carts on the Grand Strand
Golf carts are common on the side streets near the beach, in North Myrtle Beach, Garden City and Surfside Beach neighborhoods, and around resorts. Many carts in summer are rentals driven by people who don't know the streets.
South Carolina's Golf Cart Rules
The state sets rules for carts on public roads, covering permits, insurance, licensed drivers and where and when carts may run.12 In general:
- Who drives: at least 16, with a valid driver's license.
- The cart: registered with the DMV, with a permit decal and liability insurance.1
- Which roads: roads posted at 35 mph or less, though a cart may cross faster roads at intersections.
- When and how far: absent a local ordinance or other exception, daylight hours on secondary roads within four miles of the registered address.2
- Kids: riders under 12 generally must wear seat belts on public roads, with a golf course exception.6
Breaking one of these rules may bear on who's responsible, but it doesn't automatically decide fault, and private property may follow other rules.3
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
Time to File
Most South Carolina injury claims must be filed within three years.4 That means a lawsuit, and an insurance claim won't hold it off.5 Claims against a state or local government entity generally have two years, and a qualifying Tort Claims Act claim may extend that to three.7 Damage limits and other special rules may apply too.8
Our statewide golf cart page has more.
Talk With Us
Cart crashes often involve neighbors, friends or a family trip that went wrong, which can make a claim feel awkward. We keep that in mind and talk through your options.
We take cases across South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Our office is on King Street in Charleston. The first conversation can happen by phone.
If a car hit your cart, see car wrecks in Myrtle Beach. Call and tell us who was driving.
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 covers a golf cart crash?
It depends. Coverage might come from a policy on the cart, an auto policy, a rental company's coverage or something else, and the policy terms control. A homeowner's or auto policy may or may not reach a cart, so check before assuming.
We rented the cart for the week. Does that change things?
It can raise questions about the driver, the cart's condition and upkeep, and the rental company's role. Keep the rental agreement, receipts, safety sheet and any messages. Whether the company shares responsibility depends on the facts.
Should I call the police after a cart crash?
If anyone is hurt, call for help and report it. Ask whether an officer is writing a report and how to get it.
Does opening an insurance claim buy me more time?
No. The deadline is for filing a lawsuit in court, and an insurance claim doesn't stop it.5 Put the date of the crash on your calendar and your fridge.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
