Anyone who lives in Augusta, Georgia knows that Augusta is known for its golf courses. In fact, Augusta National is one of the most well-known golf courses in the world. Even people who aren’t very experienced with golf go there for around every now and then. Business people take their clients there. People on vacation like to get a few holes in at a world-renowned course. But going to the golf course in Augusta isn’t always a vacation. It can quickly turn into a nightmare if you get injured.
It may sound comical, but lots of people get injured while on the golf course. You could get hit by an errant ball. Or, someone may swing a club that ends up hitting you on the head. You can even get into a golf cart accident. Depending on how serious the accident is, you can suffer some pretty severe injuries. If this happens, you may have a claim against the golf course owner or manager. In order to know for sure, you need to call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Augusta, Georgia.
Whether or not you can recover against the golf course will depend on a few things. Some of these include:
- Whether or not the accident was your own fault or someone else’s
- If the golf course owner or manager failed to keep their course in good shape
- If a third party was responsible for your injuries or not
- How serious were your injuries
- If your injury was foreseeable
Your personal injury lawyer in Augusta will review your case and let you know if you have a valid claim. If so, they can handle the legal side of things while you recover from your injuries.
Your Lawyer Must Prove that the Owner of the Golf Course in Augusta Failed to Keep their Premises Safe
Usually, in order to recover against any property owner, you need to prove that they were responsible for your injuries. This is almost always based on negligence. In order to prove negligence, your Augusta personal injury lawyer must demonstrate the following:
- The golf course owner owed you a duty of care
- They breached this duty
- You were injured
- Their breach is what caused your injury
It’s not enough that you were injured. You have to prove that the golf course owner caused your injuries. For example, if someone had a heart attack and ran you over with their golf cart, the course owner probably isn’t responsible. There is absolutely nothing they could’ve done to prevent this kind of accident.
If, however, you fell and broke your ankle on a broken step, the owner of the golf course in Augusta would be liable for your injuries. Had they fixed their steps, you wouldn’t have fallen in the first place.
Typically, in order to prevail in this kind of claim, your personal injury attorney in Georgia will need to prove the following:
- The golf course owner or management failed to maintain safe premises
- The managers allowed people to play when they were intoxicated
- Management failed to enforce club rules even when violations were brought to their attention
If your lawyer can prove any of these sorts of situations, you’ll probably have a valid claim for damages.
Your Augusta Personal Injury Lawyer Will Demand Damages
If you can prove that the defendant was responsible for your accident, you’ll have a claim for damages. Depending on the seriousness of your injuries, you may be able to demand any or all of the following:
- Medical Bills – If you are hospitalized or require medical care, the defendant will have to pay for this treatment. This includes future medical care as well. Your doctor can testify as to what future medical treatment you need. The defendant will be liable for these expenses.
- Lost Wages – If you miss a significant amount of time from work, you can demand that you be reimbursed for lost wages. Usually, this requires that you miss at least a couple of weeks. Your attorney will submit timesheets and payroll records to prove these damages.
- Property Damage – If any of your property was damaged or destroyed during the accident, you can demand compensation.
- Pain and Suffering – These damages are intended to compensate you for physical and mental anguish. These usually make up the lion’s share of your settlement.
- Permanent Disability – If you can no longer work as a result of your accident, the defendant may be held liable for these damages. They are represented by the difference in what you’ll earn on disability compared to what you would’ve earned if you could return to working full-time.
Contact an experienced personal injury lawyer in Augusta at Ted A. Greve & Associates today to schedule your free initial consultation.