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Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims Guide
By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 14th March 2024. Welcome to our golf course accident claims guide. If you have been injured in a golf course accident caused by another party’s negligence, then you may have grounds to claim compensation.
At Legal Expert, we have many years of experience and we have helped thousands of personal injury victims get the compensation they are entitled to claim, including people who have been injured at golf courses.
To find out more about our company and the service we provide, as well as the accident claims process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Email info@legalexpert.co.uk
- Complete a contact form
- Use the live chat feature on your screen
Select A Section
- Who Is Liable For Accidents On A Golf Course?
- The Time Limit For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
- What Sort Of Accidents Can Happen At Golf Courses?
- What Can I Claim For When Making A Golf Course Accident Claim?
- Calculating Compensation For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
- No Win No Fee Solicitors For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
Who Is Liable For Accidents On A Golf Course?
When you visit a golf course, the occupier of the premises has a duty of care to ensure their grounds are reasonably safe whilst you are there. This duty of care is outlined in the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957 and should be abided to avoid the risk of golf course accidents. Therefore, should the occupiers breach their duty of care and you are injured as a result, you may have grounds for a valid claim. For example, you could be hit by a golf ball because you were told to cross the green by a member of staff at the wrong time.
However, in order to secure personal injury compensation, you’ll need evidence that can demonstrate that you have been injured as a result of the occupiers’ negligence. You’ll also need to prove any injuries or financial harm you have sustained as a result. For example, medical records, witness statements and bank statements could be used as evidence.
Additionally, as per the Limitation Act 1980, you’ll need to take action within three years from the date of the accident that caused you harm. Failure to do so might result in your claim being statute-barred. There are exceptions to the time limit. For example, if a minor is injured, they have three years from their 18th birthday to start a claim. Before this, the time limit is suspended.
Speak to our advisors and they can give you free legal advice on collecting evidence to support your personal injury claim. Furthermore, they can discuss exceptions to the time limit. Get in touch for free at any time for more information.
The Time Limit For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
As set out by the Limitation Act 1980, there is a three-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim. This usually begins from the date of the accident that injured you.
This time limit can work differently under certain circumstances. If a child has been injured in a golf course accident, then the time limit for starting a claim will be put on hold until their 18th birthday. A litigation friend could start a claim on the child’s behalf before that day. If this doesn’t happen, then the injured party will have three years to make their own claim once they turn 18.
If the injured party lacks the mental capacity to start their own injury claim, then the three-year time limit will be frozen indefinitely. A litigation friend could start a claim on their behalf while the time limit is frozen. However, if the injured person later regains their mental capacity and a claim has not been made, then the time limit will start for them from the day of recovery.
To learn more about your eligibility to claim, contact our advisors for free today. They can also discuss other parts of the claiming process or answer questions you may have, such as whether you can claim for specific accidents, such as being hit by a golf ball.
What Sort Of Accidents Can Happen At Golf Courses?
There are many different types of accidents that can happen at a golf course. We are going to take a look at four of the most common below:
- Golf course negligence– This relates to injuries that have been caused because of golf courses that have not been maintained properly and contain dangerous slopes, which can lead to players, marshals, and caddies being injured in slip, trip and fall accidents especially. Other issues concerning negligent golf course maintenance include broken glass strewn around, sand traps, cracked pathways, and puddles of water, all of which show that management has not maintained the golf course properly. Fractures, strains, and sprains are common injuries suffered due to this. It is also worth pointing out that all golf courses are required to put fences up in areas that are deemed high risk so that people do not get hit by golf balls. If it is not possible for a fence to be erected, it is important that warning signs are put up so that people are aware of the dangers of walking about in the said area.
- Golf buggy and cart injuries – You may be surprised by just how common accidents involving golf buggies and golf carts are. They can either be caused because the individual driving the buggy has not been doing so with the required attention and care or because of a fault with the golf buggy itself. Golf caddies and players may get injured if rash driving causes a collision with another individual or buggy, or if faulty brakes cause the golf buggy to fail. Common injuries, in this case, include concussion, whiplash, fractures, and bruises.
- Golf club injuries – Another common cause of accidents and injuries on golf courses include when a player loses their grip of the club during their swig. If a club goes flying through the air, it could easily strike another person or several people. If you have been injured in this manner, you can make a claim. Injuries differ in severity considerably. Some people suffer concussions and serious bruising, whereas others sustain broken bones. There can also be serious head injuries or cerebral haemorrhages if the golf club hits someone in the side or back of their head.
- Golf ball injuries – Last but not least, we have golf ball injuries. These are the most common types of accidents that occur at golf courses. Even experienced players can play an errant shot from time to time, which has resulted in marshals and spectators suffering eye and head injuries. Golf balls are dangerous because of their small size and the sheer speed at which they travel. The severity of such a golf course injury differs depending on how far away the victim was from the golfer and the speed at which the ball was travelling.
If you cannot see the type of injury you have sustained above, please do not fret, as you will still be able to make a claim if you can prove liability. Simply pick up the phone for more information.
What Can I Claim For When Making A Golf Course Accident Claim?
Compensation could include up to two parts when making a personal injury claim. One part (that is always part of personal injury claims) is called general damages. This is the payout you will get for the pain and suffering you have been subject to. It is worth noting here that this does not only relate to the physical damage, but you can claim for psychological injuries too.
Golf course injury claims may potentially include compensation for what is known as special damages. When someone gets injured, it is very likely that they will experience a few financial expenses or consequences because of this. For example, people often need to take time off work while they recover, and this results in a loss of earnings or even a future loss of earnings. You can claim for this as this is part of special damages.
You can also claim for any other costs involved, be it travel expenses, care costs, domestic help costs, medical bills and the like. The only requirement is that you can show the expense directly relates to your injuries. Furthermore, you will need proof, so make sure you keep a hold of receipts, documents, and anything else that shows the cost.
Calculating Compensation For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
Your compensation will primarily be influenced by your injury. A golf ball injury, for example, could come in the form of a head injury after getting hit with a golf ball on the course. If you had a legitimate claim, and were eligible to sue for compensation, legal professionals will examine factors such as:
- The severity of your head injury
- The distress your injury may be causing
- Your injury’s effect on your ability to work
- Any required care costs, or other financial effects of your injury
For the pain and distress of your injury you would seek general damages. We can show you examples of general damages by using the Judicial College Guidelines and their listed awards. This is a publication that looks at previous compensation awarded in court to generate compensation brackets for various injuries. We have included a table with figures from the 2022 edition below.
| Type of injury | Average payout | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple serious injuries and special damages | Serious | Up to £1,000,000+ | If you have sustained multiple serious injuries in a golf course accident, then your compensation payout may cover all of these plus related special damages, such as the cost of home care provisions. |
| Head injury | Very severe | £282,010 to £403,990 | When the injured person has very little response to their environment |
| Hand Injuries | (a) Total or Effective Loss of Both Hands | £140,660 to £201,490 | A serious injury that has resulted in extensive damage to both hands, leaving them little more than useless. |
| Hand Injuries | (c) Total or Effective Loss of One Hand | £96,160 to £109,650 | The injuries will have likely led to permanent cosmetic disability and significant loss of function. |
| Back Injuries | Severe (i) | £91,090 to £160,980 | Such as breaks to the back, which will have a permanent affect on the life of the victim. |
| Back Injuries | Moderate (i) | £27,760 to £38,780 | Damage to the muscles and ligaments of the back, which will cause pain until healed. |
| Back Injuries | Minor (i) | £7,890 to £12,510 | Sprains, lacerations and bruising, which will heal rapidly and have no lasting affect. |
| Wrist Injuries | (a) Complete loss of fucntion | £47,620 to £59,860 | This compensation bracket may apply to wrist injuries that result in complete loss of function, including ones that led an arthrodesis to be performed. |
| Wrist Injuries | (b) Injury causing significant permanent disability | £24,500 to £39,170 | This compensation bracket may apply instead of the one above if some useful movements remain. |
If you are looking for a valuation for compensation in your golf ball injury claim, please reach out to one of our advisers now.
No Win No Fee Solicitors For Golf Course Accident Compensation Claims
After suffering a golf course injury caused by negligence, such as being hit in the head with a golf ball, you might seek to use a golf course injury lawyer to help you claim compensation. However, you may be concerned about the cost of hiring legal help. If this is the case, it may benefit you to seek No Win No Fee injury solicitors.
Under such an agreement, such as a Conditional Fee Agreement, you agree to pay your solicitor a success fee if they help you secure compensation. The amount that they deduct from your compensation is legally capped. If you don’t receive compensation, you are not required to pay your solicitor.
If you contact our advisors and they think you have a good chance of success, we could help you make a No Win No Fee claim.
Contact Us Today
There are many different ways you can get in touch with us here at Legal Expert if you would like to proceed with a claim or you have any further queries concerning golf course accident claims:
- Call 0800 073 8804
- Email info@legalexpert.co.uk
- Complete a contact form
- Use the 24/7 live chat feature on your screen
Useful Links
Here are some useful further resources:
- Accident at work claims
- Public place accident claims
- Personal injury claims calculator
- NHS advice on head injuries and concussion
- Find NHS services near you
- Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957
- Personal Injury Claims Time Limit
- Head Injury Claims
- Loss Of Vision And Blindness Claims
- Child Accident Claims
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Claims
- Learn more about how to claim for sporting event injuries
Thanks for reading our golf course accident claims guide.
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