Golf carts are convenient vehicles used for many different purposes. These carts are used on golf courses, in parks, and even in schools. They allow for quick and simple transportation in places where there aren’t many other options to choose from. Although golf carts have proven to be convenient vehicles time after time, there have been a number of issues surrounding golf carts on the market. Specifically, some golf carts have been proven to be defective (for different reasons) and have been recalled by different companies.
If you or a member of your family suffered any type of harm as a direct result of a defective golf cart, you might have grounds to take legal action against the parties that made the defective golf cart available to the public. If you are interested in exploring the possibility of suing a liable party and fighting for your right to receive some sort of compensation, do not hesitate to contact our law firm at your earliest convenience.
When you contact Downtown L.A. Law Group, you can be certain that there will be someone available to evaluate your claim and provide you with all the information that you need to better understand your right to sue after being harmed by a defective product. If you are interested in learning more about your right to pursue a claim after you or a member of your family suffered any type of harm in association with a defective golf cart, do not hesitate to seek legal assistance with the experts at our firm immediately.
Golf Cart Recalls -U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
There have been at least two major recalls involving golf carts (also referred to as golf cars). Although these recalls were issued many years ago, it is still possible that these golf carts are being used – all consumers should be aware.The Yamaha Recall
On June 30, 2015, Yamaha issued a recall (number 15-738) for their Yamaha Gold Cars and Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTV). The recall affected approximately 2,000 units. Based on the recall, the front wheel hubs on the PTVs and golf cars can crack, resulting in the detachment of the front wheels. This creates a crash hazard that could result in injury and even death to occupants of the vehicles and innocent bystanders. The Yamaha recall specifically involves five 2015 models and one 2016 model of the golf carts and PTVs. These include the following (model name/model number/serial numbers):- The DRIVE PTV – YDRAX5 PTV – JC0-606306 through 606698
- The DRIVE EFI – YDRAX5F – JC2-209964 through 210300
- Adventurer One – YTF1AX5F – JW6-700581 through 700600
- The DRIVE – YDRAX5 – JW8-513800 through 514310
- The DRIVE Electric – YDREX6 AC – JW9-515401 through 516300
- The DRIVE A.C. – YDREX6 AC – JC3-001701 through 001900 (2016 model)
The Ultimate Guide to Golf accidents
– Golf Cart Accidents – Who Is Liable? – Golf Cart Rollover Accidents – Brain Injury After Golf Cart Accident – Defective Golf Cart Injury Attorney – Golf Ball Injury LawsuitThe Club Car Recall
On November 5, 2015, Club Car issued a recall (recall number 16-706) for their Precedent Golf and Transport Vehicles. The recall affected approximately 11,600 units. According to the recall, the hazard was caused by an issue with a factory-installed hose clamp. Because of improper installation the hose clamp could rub on the fuel tank, possibly wearing a hole in the tank. This could lead to a gas leak, which represents a significant fire hazard.
The recall includes the following products (model/model number/serial number range):
Model
- Precedent 12 – Gas/SL/1438-497172 to 1604-619273
- Precedent 12L – Gas/SM/1503-527138 to 1603-619240
- Precedent 12 4 Passenger – Gas/SN/1502-525626 to 1604-619488
- Precedent 12 Signature – Gas/SU/1516-545869 to 1603-618029
- Precedent 12 Signature 4 Passenger – Gas/SV/1506-530816 to 1546-608008
The Dangers of these Defects
As explained above, the defective products pose a significant risk of injury. Depending on the specific details of the incident, the parties riding on the golf carts as well as bystanders could suffer a number of injuries, including but not limited to head injuries, neck injuries, back injuries, spinal cord injuries, fractures, lacerations, and burn injuries, for example. Depending on the details of the incident, the injuries could be moderate to severe – sometimes even life-threatening. Injured victims can find themselves left with permanent injuries, leading to the need for life-long medical care. Whether a victim suffered survivable injuries or fatal injuries, the harm resulting from the defective product could result in a significant financial burden for the victim’s entire family. No matter how you or members of your family were directly affected by the defective golf carts, you might have grounds to take legal action.You Can Sue
If you or a member of your family suffered any sort of harm as a direct result of a defective product, you could pursue a claim. Your right to sue is based on product liability. The companies that design and manufacture products have a duty to ensure that their products are completely safe to be used as intended; they must identify and address any issues present in their products before making their products available for purchase. When these companies fail to ensure that their products are safe for consumer use (free of defects), they are breaching their duty of care towards their consumers; therefore, these companies could be liable for any harm associated with their defective products. Distributers and retailers could also share some of the liability for the harm caused by defective products under certain circumstances.The Recovery of Monetary Compensation
As explained above, you could sue for the harm that you or your family suffered because of a defective product. Depending on the details of your claim, you could also be eligible to recover monetary compensation (if your claim is successful). How much compensation could you receive? What type of compensation could you be eligible to recover? These are perfectly normal questions that deserve answers; however, these questions should only be answered by your attorney (because everything relevant to compensation is case-specific). Some of the compensation that could be available for recovery includes medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, loss of consortium, funeral and burial costs, and punitive damages, for example. However, there is no guarantee that you will recover the compensation listed above. Rather than making assumptions regarding the compensation that you could be eligible to recover, you should always seek the expertise of a lawyer to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of the potential value of your case. When you allow the defective product at Downtown L.A. Law Group with experience in defective golf carts to handle your claim, you could be certain that there will always be someone aggressively fighting for your right to receive compensation. Our lawyers will not rest until you reach the maximum recovery based on the details of your claim. If you are ready to allow our experts to evaluate your claim, do not hesitate to contact us today.The Deadlines for Product Liability Claims
All claims are subject to a statute of limitations – or a deadline to file a claim. The statute of limitations that applies to your claim determines the length of time that you have to file; if you do not file within the appropriate length of time, you could lose your right to sue. In California, product liability cases are generally subject to a two-year statute of limitations; however, exceptions could apply. Because failing to understand the statute of limitations that applies to your claim could result in losing the right to sue, it is essential that you seek legal assistance to learn more about the deadline that applies to your claim.Product Liability and the Steps You Should Follow
After being harmed by a defective product, there are a number of steps that you should follow to ensure that you could file a claim at a later time. Without a doubt, filing a lawsuit is not the first thing that comes to mind after suffering an injury; however, many people consider taking legal action just a short time after the date of their incident.
All parties should do the following immediately:
- Take photos of the golf cart (the defect should be clear)
- Take photos of all the injuries suffered
- Seek medical attention immediately (ensure that you keep all medical records)
- If you own the defective golf cart, keep it as-is. Do not tamper with the defective product in any way.
- If you own the defective golf cart, contact the company to report the incident and the harm that you suffered.
- If another party or entity owns the defective golf cart, contact them and inform them of the defect and the harm that you suffered.
- Never accept any sort of compensation from the company without the guidance of a lawyer.
- Gather all records associated with the purchase of the defective vehicle (if applicable).
- Contact a lawyer immediately to learn more about your right to sue after being harmed by a defective product.