If you’re a golfer – and there are millions of you out there – then you know what it’s like to hit a crazy shot on the golf course. You may have even been hit by errant golf balls before. What you may not know is that, if you get hurt by a stray golf ball, you may have a legal claim for damages.
Even the best golfers make mistakes. Tiger Woods proved that a few years back. When you whack that little white ball, there’s no telling where it might end up. If it ends up hitting somebody, it could do some serious damage.
Golf courses and golfers around the country know what it’s like to be held accountable for these errant balls. Over the last ten years, there have been lawsuits filed against golf courses for as much as $1 million.
If you’ve been hurt while on a golf course, you may actually have a claim for damages. You can pursue both the golfer and the owners of the golf course. You just want to make sure you hire an experienced personal injury lawyer in August, Georgia. They know what it takes to win a negligence case.
Golfers Might Need to Start Carrying Insurance
People who play golf – both for sport and professionally – may want to think about getting insurance. Whether they hit a ball that whacks someone in the eye or damage someone’s sports car with a stray ball, they can be held liable.
This is what happened when Gaylor Jones went golfing one day at the Westchase Golf and Country Club in Florida. Back in 2000, Jones and his buddies went to play golf at the Westchase course. This particular course used granite markers because they liked the way they dressed up the course.
Jones hit a ball that ended up hitting one of these granite markers. It ricocheted off the marker and back toward Jones, hitting him in the face. Jones suffered serious injuries to his face and, ultimately, his right eye.
Jones sued the course for negligence. His personal injury attorney argued that the golf course management company was negligent in using granite markers. Apparently, the managers had been warned before that balls were known to ricochet off the markers. They were well aware that people could get hurt.
Jones ended up winning in court and got a judgment for $1-million.
Shot Without a Warning
Another popular golf course on the East Coast ended up getting sued when one doctor hit his buddy in the face with a stray golf ball. The two had been out for the afternoon playing golf with a few other doctors from work.
One of the men hit his ball without yelling “Fore!” It ended up hitting the plaintiff in the eye, blinding him. The man sued his friend for damages, claiming that he was negligent in failing to call out a warning before his ball went astray.
Although the settlement amount wasn’t disclosed, it’s believed that the plaintiff settled for somewhere around $120,000. His suit was not against the golf course, but against his friend. This was the case even though the defendant was not a professional golfer and made a simple mistake on the 9th hole.
You Can Sue for Property Damage as Well
A couple in New York owned a house that ran along the side of a popular golf course in New York. Their house abutted the 2nd hole at Quaker Ridge Golf Course. Leon and Gail Behar filed suit for alleged damage to their home caused by errant golf balls.
The lawsuit was filed for $3 million. The Behar’s claimed damages for the following things:
- Nuisance
- Trespass
- Damage to property
- Negligence
- Punitive damages
The Behar’s asked for punitive damages because they said the golf course was well aware that their home was being pelted by up to 10 stray golf balls per day. The court disagreed. However, they did award the Behar’s about $8,000 in property damage. The message from the court was that, you can’t buy a house on a golf course if you don’t expect to hit with a few balls.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Augusta, Georgia Today
Augusta, Georgia is known for their many golf courses. If you get hurt while on the links, you need to call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Augusta at Ted A Greve & Associates. They can review your case and let you know what it may be worth. They can also answer any questions you may have.
Call today and schedule your free initial consultation.
