$180,000 Settlement for Golf Cart Accident Injury in Massachusetts

How Our Personal Injury Lawyers Secured Compensation After a Golf Cart Rolled Down a Hill and Caused a Serious Shoulder Injury

In September 2022, a day of leisure turned traumatic when a woman was struck by an unattended golf cart while playing a round at Billerica Country Club. The golf cart had been left at the top of a hill and rolled down, hitting her unexpectedly. The collision caused a shoulder injury that required surgical intervention. Despite having a prior shoulder surgery over a decade earlier, this incident caused new damage that left her unable to work for eight months in her role as a swim instructor.

The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone thoroughly investigated the accident, identified all responsible parties, and strategically leveraged available insurance coverages to secure justice. Our legal team reached a $180,000 settlement with the country club, which then pursued contribution from the golf cart operator.

Cases like this show how important it is to have a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer on your side after an accident—someone who can dig into the details, find coverage options, and hold negligent parties accountable. If you or someone you love was injured in an accident involving negligence, seeking help from an experienced attorney can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.

Why Golf Cart Accidents Can Lead to Complex Injury Claims

Golf cart accidents are often overlooked as serious personal injury cases, but the reality is that these vehicles can cause significant harm—especially when left unsecured on uneven terrain. Whether at a golf course, resort, or private property, operators and facility owners have a duty to prevent foreseeable dangers.

In this case, two factors contributed to the incident:

The operator failed to properly secure the golf cart — Golf cart operators have a responsibility to ensure the vehicle is stationary before leaving it unattended. In this case, an act of carelessness by the golf cart operator created a serious hazard on a sloped part of the course, putting players in harm’s way.
The golf club did not maintain safe oversight of its property or vehicles — Beyond the operator’s actions, the facility itself bears responsibility for ensuring safety protocols are followed. In this case, the country club’s failure to prevent the hazard made them equally liable. In Massachusetts, property owners are expected to identify and eliminate foreseeable dangers, including unattended moving vehicles.

These lapses opened both parties to liability—and with our law firm’s guidance, both were held accountable for their negligence.

Injured on Private Property? Liability Isn’t Always Clear

In Massachusetts, multiple parties may share responsibility when someone is injured on private property due to negligence. That’s why our legal team moved quickly to uncover:

Whether the golf club had procedures in place for vehicle safety
If the cart operator had insurance coverage applicable to the incident.
What type of medical coverage, if any, existed through the property’s liability policy.

By accessing both personal injury protection (PIP) through the cart operator’s auto insurance and medical payments coverage through the golf course, we maximized available compensation for our client without going to court.

Prior Injuries Do Not Prevent Compensation

A common insurance defense tactic is to blame a victim’s injuries on pre-existing conditions. In this case, our client had surgery on the same shoulder over a decade prior. But that didn’t mean the golf cart accident wasn’t to blame for her current condition. Our personal injury attorneys built a clear timeline and presented medical evidence proving that this new trauma directly caused her setbacks and the need for another surgery.

In personal injury law, the aggravation of a pre-existing condition is just as compensable as a new injury—especially when it disrupts the victim’s ability to work, as it did here.

Understanding Your Rights After a Golf Course Injury

If you’re injured at a golf course or country club, you may have a valid claim for compensation. Some of the most common causes of golf-related injuries include:

Runaway or unattended golf carts — Golf carts can reach surprising speeds, especially on downhill slopes. If left unsecured, they pose a major risk to other golfers and staff. These incidents often happen when carts are improperly parked or defective.
Slip and falls near clubhouses or on walkways — Wet flooring, cracked pavement, or poorly maintained paths can cause serious falls. Golf courses must regularly inspect walkways and keep high-traffic areas safe and clearly marked.
Injuries from errant golf balls — Whether caused by a lack of proper signage, poor course layout, or reckless play, getting struck by a golf ball can lead to head trauma, brain injuries, eye injuries, or broken bones. Course operators must take steps to protect players in known hazard zones.
Faulty or damaged course equipment — Broken benches, malfunctioning ball washers, or damaged signage can all create tripping or injury hazards. Regular inspections and prompt repairs are a basic duty of care for property owners.
Negligent property maintenance — From overgrown areas that obscure views to poorly lit parking lots, general neglect can lead to a wide range of accidents. Any failure to maintain a safe environment can open the door to a premises liability claim.

Even if you signed a waiver or assume the risks of the sport, you still have rights when someone else’s negligence causes you harm. The key is to contact a personal injury law firm that understands how to prove negligence—and how to pursue every available source of compensation.

What Factors Impact Golf Cart Accident Settlements?

Settlements in golf cart accident cases vary based on:

The severity of the injury (surgery, long-term disability, etc.) — More serious injuries, especially those requiring surgery, physical therapy, or leading to permanent limitations, typically result in higher settlements to account for ongoing care and lost quality of life.
Time missed from work — If the injury prevents the victim from returning to work—or forces them to change careers—lost wages and reduced earning capacity become a major factor in the final settlement amount.
The amount of insurance coverage available — Even strong cases can be limited by policy limits. Identifying multiple liable parties or policies (like med-pay, PIP, or umbrella coverage) can increase the total funds available for recovery.
Whether multiple parties share liability — When more than one party is responsible, each can contribute to the final settlement. This not only increases accountability but also helps maximize compensation, especially if one insurance policy alone isn’t enough to cover the victim’s losses.
Any aggravation of a prior medical condition — Insurance companies often argue that an injury was “pre-existing,” but under Massachusetts law, a new incident that worsens an old injury still qualifies for compensation. Demonstrating that the accident caused a measurable aggravation—as we did in this case—adds weight to the claim.

Our attorneys were able to achieve a $180,000 settlement without litigation—a result that reflects not only the strength of the case but also our strategic approach to identifying coverage and proving fault.

Give Your Case the Salomone Advantage

At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone, our personal injury lawyers are not just trial-ready—we’re results-driven. With in-house jury testing, strategic case building, and aggressive negotiation tactics, we know how to take on insurance companies—and win.

If you’ve been injured in Massachusetts or Connecticut due to someone else’s negligence—whether at a golf course, in a vehicle accident, or on someone’s property—you need a law firm that won’t back down. With over $1 billion recovered for our clients, we have the knowledge, experience, and resources to handle complex personal injury cases from start to finish.

Let us help you find the best path forward. Give us a call at 800-WIN-WIN1 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

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