What to Do After a Golf Cart Accident Around Summerville
Treatment comes first. Someone close to you can deal with the report, photos and insurance calls while you are in the hospital.
- Call 911 for serious injuries. Then keep every surgery, therapy and doctor visit and save the records.
- Learn who responded. In Nexton or Cane Bay that can be town police or the county sheriff, depending on the street.
- Get names and insurance for the cart driver, the cart owner and any car driver involved.
- Note if it was a rental, including the company name and any decals on the cart.
- Take photos of your injuries, then the cart, any car, the street or path, signs and lighting.
- Get witness names and numbers.
- Ask before signing. A lawyer can answer your questions first.
Golf Carts Around Summerville
Golf carts are a common sight in the master-planned neighborhoods around Summerville, including Nexton, Cane Bay and Carnes Crossroads. Kids head to the pool, families ride to neighborhood events and adults run errands. Crashes happen where carts meet cars at neighborhood entrances, at road crossings and along streets with no shoulder.
South Carolina's Golf Cart Rules
South Carolina has rules for golf carts on public roads. Depending on the place and circumstances, they cover permits, insurance, licensed drivers, which roads are allowed and when carts may run.12 Under current law:
- Driver: at least 16, with a valid driver's license, on a public road.
- Cart: registered with the DMV, with a valid permit decal and liability insurance.1
- Roads: generally only roads with speed limits of 35 mph or less, though carts may cross faster roads at intersections.
- Hours and distance: unless a local ordinance or another exception applies, carts generally may run only during daylight hours and within four miles of their registered address.2
- Children: passengers under 12 generally must wear seat belts on public roads, with a golf-course exception.6
A violation of a golf cart safety rule may be relevant to who is responsible for a crash, but it does not automatically establish who is legally at fault. Different rules may apply on private property.3
Want someone to look at your situation?
Talk with our team about what happened and ask the questions on your mind.
How Long You Have
Most personal injury claims in South Carolina must be filed within three years.4 The limit is for a lawsuit, so an insurance claim doesn't stop it.5
Suits against state or local government entities generally must be filed within two years. A qualifying claim filed under the Tort Claims Act may extend that to three years.7 Special liability rules and damage caps may also apply.8
More is on our statewide page about South Carolina golf cart crashes.
Talk With Us
Golf cart crashes in a neighborhood often involve people you see every week, which can make a claim feel uncomfortable. Those ties matter, and we factor them in when we go over what you might do.
Our office is on King Street in downtown Charleston. We take cases across South Carolina, including Summerville. If a car hit the cart, see car accidents around Summerville.
Give us the street, the driver and any vehicle that was part of it.
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
Is a phone call enough to start?
Yes. The first conversation can happen by phone. Our office is on King Street in downtown Charleston.
Whose insurance pays after a golf cart crash?
It depends. Coverage might come from a policy on the cart, an auto policy, a rental company or another policy, and the terms control. Don't assume a homeowner's or car policy picks it up.
We rented the cart. Does that change anything?
A rental crash can raise questions about the driver, the cart's condition and upkeep, and the rental company's duties. Keep the rental agreement, receipt, safety sheet and any messages with the company. Whether the company shares responsibility depends on the facts.
Should someone call the police?
Yes, when someone is hurt, and call for EMS if needed. The officer can tell you whether a written report will follow. Whether a report is required depends on where and how it happened.
Does opening an insurance claim buy me more time?
No. The filing limit is for a lawsuit, and an insurance claim does not stop it.5 Put the crash date on your calendar where you will see it.
Sources
This page is general information about South Carolina law, not legal advice for your situation. Every case depends on its own facts.
