After a Golf Cart Crash in Spartanburg County
Treatment comes first. A relative or friend can take care of the report, the pictures and the insurer while you're admitted.
- Get medical help. Dial 911 for serious injuries. Then keep each surgery, therapy and doctor visit, and save the paperwork.
- Get it on record. Out in the county a deputy may come; inside a town, its police department. Find out who is writing the report and how to request it later.
- Swap details. Driver's license info for whoever was behind the wheel of the cart, the cart owner's name, and every insurance card involved, car included.
- Was it rented? Write down the rental company and any number or sticker on the cart.
- Camera roll. Start with injuries, then the tipped cart, any car, the pavement or cart path, posted signs and how dark it was.
- Ask who saw it. Neighbors on porches, golfers, anyone walking by.
- Don't rush to sign. Many people have a lawyer answer their questions first.
South Carolina's Golf Cart Rules
Golf carts on South Carolina public roads have their own set of rules, covering permits, insurance, licensed drivers, which roads and what hours.12 As the law stands:
- Who drives: the driver on a public road must be at least 16 and hold a valid driver's license.
- The cart: it must be registered with the DMV, carry a valid permit decal and be covered by liability insurance.1
- Which roads: generally those 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, the default rules generally mean daylight hours only and within four miles of the registered address. Towns and counties can pass ordinances that permit carts after dark under set conditions.2
- Kids: passengers under 12 generally must wear seat belts on public roads, with a specific exception for golf courses.6
Breaking one of these rules may be relevant to who is responsible, but it doesn't automatically establish legal fault. Carts used on private property may be under different rules.3
The Filing Deadline
South Carolina sets a three-year limit for most personal injury suits.4 It's a deadline for going to court, and an insurance claim doesn't pause it.5
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 Limits on damages and other special rules may also apply.8
How this fits your crash is something a lawyer can go over with you.
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
Talk With Us
Cart wrecks in lake neighborhoods and golf communities often involve neighbors and friends, which can make a claim feel awkward. We keep those ties in mind and walk through your options together.
We take cases across South Carolina, including Spartanburg County. If thinking, memory or mood changed after the crash, see brain injuries in Spartanburg. If a car hit the cart, see car crash claims in Spartanburg, or the statewide page on golf cart accident claims.
When you call, we'll want to know whose hands were on the wheel and if a car hit you.
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 after a cart crash near Lake Bowen?
It may be a policy on the cart, a car policy, a rental company's coverage or something else, depending on the facts and the policy wording. Don't take for granted that a homeowner's or auto policy covers it.
We rented the cart. Does the rental outfit share the blame?
Maybe. Questions can come up about the driver, the cart's condition and upkeep, and what the rental business was supposed to do. Hold on to the agreement, receipts, safety handouts and any texts or emails with the company. Whether the company bears any responsibility depends on the facts.
Do I need to call the sheriff or police over a golf cart wreck?
Injuries mean a 911 call, period. Make a note of the responding officer's name and agency. A private course path and a public street can be handled differently.
The adjuster is "working on it." Does that buy me time?
No. The deadline is about filing a lawsuit, and an open insurance claim doesn't stop it.5 Circle the crash date on a calendar.
Can we start by phone from Spartanburg?
The first conversation can happen by phone. Our office is on King Street in Charleston.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
