Miami Golf Cart and Low-Speed Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Reviewed by Mike Redondo, Founding Attorney, Redondo Law, P.A. • Updated October 2026

Redondo Law helps people hurt in golf cart and low-speed vehicle (LSV) accidents. That includes riders thrown from a cart, people in carts hit by cars, and people on foot struck by a cart. If you were hurt or lost a loved one in Miami or anywhere in Miami-Dade County, a Miami golf cart accident lawyer can find out who is responsible and which insurance, if any, applies.

The consultation is free, and you pay no fee unless we win. Our phones are answered 24/7, and our staff is fully bilingual (Se habla español). You can meet us at our office at 2828 Coral Way, by phone or by video. If you cannot travel, we come to you.

Golf carts and low-speed vehicles are not the same

Florida law treats these two vehicles differently, and the difference changes your claim.

• Golf cart. Under Fla. Stat. 320.01, a golf cart is made for use on a golf course for sport or recreation and cannot go faster than 20 miles per hour.
• Low-speed vehicle (LSV). An LSV is a four-wheeled vehicle that can go faster than 20 but not faster than 25 miles per hour. Many neighborhood electric vehicles are LSVs.

Many carts sold today look alike. Some have been modified to go faster. We check the vehicle’s make, speed, title and registration to find out which set of rules applies.

Florida golf cart laws (Fla. Stat. 316.212)

Florida generally bans golf carts on public roads, with exceptions. The main rules are:

• Designated roads only. A cart may use a county road or city street only if the county or city has designated it for carts and posted signs.
• Crossing state highways. Carts may cross a state road only at crossings approved by the Florida Department of Transportation.
• Age and ID. A driver under 18 must have a valid learner’s license or driver license. A driver 18 or older must have a valid government-issued photo ID.
• Daylight hours. Carts may run only from sunrise to sunset, unless the local government allows night use and the cart has headlights, brake lights, turn signals and a windshield.
• Equipment. Carts on the road need working brakes, reliable steering, safe tires, a rearview mirror and red reflectors on the front and rear.
• Local rules. Cities and counties may adopt stricter rules for carts, and some allow carts on certain sidewalks under set conditions.

A driver who broke one of these rules, such as an underage driver or a cart on a road not open to carts, may be easier to prove at fault.

Florida low-speed vehicle laws (Fla. Stat. 316.2122)

• LSVs may be driven only on streets with a posted speed limit of 35 mph or less. They may cross a faster road at an intersection.
• The driver must have a valid driver license.
• LSVs must have headlamps, stop lamps, turn signals, taillamps, reflectors, a parking brake, mirrors, a windshield, seat belts and a vehicle identification number.
• LSVs must be titled, registered and insured. Registration under Florida law requires proof of PIP and property damage liability coverage.
• Cities and counties may ban LSVs on their roads for safety reasons.

When PIP does not apply, the main sources of payment are usually the at-fault party’s liability insurance, a homeowner’s or umbrella policy that covers the cart, a business’s commercial policy, and your own coverage. Your uninsured motorist coverage may also help in some crashes with cars.

Common golf cart injuries, including ejection

Golf carts and LSVs have no doors and little protection. Many have no seat belts in the back. A sharp turn, a sudden stop or a hit from a car can throw riders out. Common injuries include:

• Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury, when a rider hits the pavement
• Spinal cord injuries and broken necks or backs
• Broken arms, legs, hips and wrists
• Crushing injuries when a cart rolls over
• Road rash, cuts and scarring

Children riding on the back or on a lap are at special risk. When a crash takes a life, the family may have a wrongful death claim.

Who may be liable for a golf cart accident

Golf cart crashes often involve more than one responsible party.

The driver

A cart or LSV driver who was speeding, distracted, drunk, carrying too many people or driving where carts are not allowed may be at fault. So may a car driver who hit a cart.

The owner

Florida’s dangerous instrumentality doctrine makes owners of motor vehicles liable when someone they let drive causes a crash. The Florida Supreme Court has held that a golf cart is a dangerous instrumentality. So a parent or homeowner who lets someone use a cart may be responsible for that driver’s carelessness.

Rental companies and resorts

Companies and resorts that rent carts to visitors must keep them in safe condition and give them only to people who may legally drive them. Bad brakes, worn tires or handing a cart to an underage driver can create liability.

HOAs, condo associations and gated communities

Associations that own carts, run cart paths or set community rules may be liable for unsafe paths, poor lighting, missing signs or careless staff. Read about premises liability claims.

Golf courses and clubs

Courses and clubs must maintain their carts and paths. Steep slopes without warnings, broken pavement and poorly kept carts can cause rollovers and ejections.

Manufacturers

If a cart’s brakes, steering or seat failed because of how it was designed or built, the maker may be liable. Learn more about product liability.

Golf cart accidents across Miami-Dade

Golf carts and LSVs are a common sight in several parts of Miami-Dade. In island and waterfront communities such as Key Biscayne, residents use them for short trips to the beach and shops. On Miami Beach, LSVs and carts share streets with cars, delivery trucks and rental cars. See our Miami Beach injury page.

Gated communities, condo complexes and golf courses across the county use carts every day, often near streets with regular traffic. When a cart meets a car, the cart riders almost always take the worst of it. These crashes often overlap with car accident claims, so it helps to talk with a Miami car accident lawyer who knows both.

What to do after a golf cart or LSV accident

Why work with Redondo Law

Mike Redondo is the firm’s only attorney, and Mike personally oversees every case. Before founding Redondo Law in 2019, Mike spent six years at Holland & Knight defending major corporations in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases, so he knows how corporate defendants and their lawyers build a defense. That matters when the other side is a club, an association or a manufacturer. Learn more about Mike Redondo or see our case results.

Frequently asked questions

Does PIP cover golf cart accidents in Florida?

Often it does not. Florida’s PIP law applies to motor vehicles that must be licensed for the road, and golf carts generally are not. PIP also covers people hit by a car only when they are not in a self-propelled vehicle. LSVs are different because they must be registered with PIP. We review every policy to see what applies.

How old do you have to be to drive a golf cart in Florida?

Under Fla. Stat. 316.212, a driver under 18 must have a valid learner’s license or driver license to drive a golf cart on a public road. A driver 18 or older must have a valid government-issued photo ID. Local rules can be stricter. An LSV driver must have a valid driver license.

Can I sue the owner of the golf cart?

Often, yes. The Florida Supreme Court has held that a golf cart is a dangerous instrumentality. That means the owner can be held responsible when someone they allowed to use the cart causes a crash. The owner’s homeowner’s or other policy may cover the claim.

Can a golf cart drive on any road in Miami-Dade?

No. Golf carts may use only roads the county or city has designated and signed for carts, and may cross state roads only at approved crossings. LSVs may use streets posted at 35 mph or less. Some cities limit or ban them on certain roads.

What if my child was hurt in a golf cart accident?

Get medical care right away, even if the injury seems minor. Head injuries can show up later. A claim may be made for your child’s injuries and for medical bills the family paid. We look at who was driving, who owned the cart and whether an adult let an unlicensed child drive.

How long do I have to file a golf cart accident claim?

For most negligence claims from incidents on or after March 24, 2023, Florida gives you two years to file a lawsuit. Claims against a government agency require written notice first. Wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the death.

If you were hurt in a golf cart or low-speed vehicle accident anywhere in Miami-Dade, contact us or call (305) 908-6778. The consultation is free, and we answer 24/7.