Trial Attorney Blog
Brake system care of golf carts is very important. Golf carts can be just as lethal as automobiles if not operated and maintained properly. When used carelessly, a golf cart can kill or severely injure the driver and passengers, innocent bystanders, or it can cause significant property damage. There are a number of things that can be wrong with golf cart brakes to create these types of situations.
Most all golf carts employ cable activated rear wheel brakes only. In recent years, hydraulic brakes and 4-wheel cable activated brake systems are becoming more common, as golf carts take on more diverse applications off the golf course; however, these systems are less common. Cable activated brake systems must be properly inspected and maintained on golf carts. Negligent maintenance can result in total and unexpected brake failure. Cable activated systems have three primary drawbacks. 1) The multi-stranded cables can start to break and unravel, sometimes inside the housing so that it is hard to see damage in progress; 2) The cables themselves are often located immediately under the battery compartment in electric vehicles, thus they are subject to the problems of improper battery maintenance. Acid-dripping batteries can contaminate and start to corrode the cable strands. Coupled with the natural water spray and corrosive golf course fertilizers, the cables really take a beating and may be subject to sudden and unexpected failure; and 3) The cables hang below the chassis and they are vulnerable to snagging stumps, rocks, and any other protruding obstacles they encounter.
A proper and systematic inspection of a golf cart will reveal most of these problems before there is a catastrophic event. If the cables are rusted, kinked, have broken housings, or just look suspicious in any way, shape or form, they should be replaced immediately. Failure to properly inspect and maintain a golf cart may subject the owner to liability for injuries in the event of a golf cart crash.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a golf cart accident, call the Georgia injury lawyers at Finch McCranie, LLP. We have been representing clients in serious injury and wrongful death cases for over 40 years.