Golf Cart DUI Accidents in Georgia & South Carolina
Many people are surprised to learn that DUI laws apply to golf carts — but in both Georgia and South Carolina, operating a golf cart while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and can result in criminal DUI charges, exactly as if the driver were operating a car. Despite this, golf cart DUI remains disturbingly common, particularly in resort communities, vacation destinations, and retirement communities where alcohol consumption and golf cart transportation frequently overlap. When an impaired golf cart operator causes an accident, the consequences for passengers, pedestrians, and other road users can be devastating.
At Roden Law, our attorneys represent victims of golf cart DUI accidents across Georgia and South Carolina. These cases often support claims for punitive damages — additional compensation designed to punish the impaired driver’s reckless disregard for the safety of others.
DUI Laws Apply to Golf Carts
Georgia’s DUI statute (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391) prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating any “vehicle” — a term that includes golf carts when operated on public roads, cart paths connected to public roads, and in many community settings. The legal BAC limit is 0.08% for drivers 21 and older.
South Carolina’s DUI law similarly applies to golf cart operation. Operating a golf cart on any public road or in any publicly accessible area while impaired violates South Carolina’s DUI statute and exposes the driver to both criminal penalties and civil liability. A golf cart DUI conviction — or even an arrest — provides powerful evidence in a civil injury lawsuit against the impaired operator.
For additional information about DUI accident claims, see our drunk driver accident lawyers page.
Where Golf Cart DUI Accidents Occur
Golf cart DUI accidents are particularly common in specific settings:
- Resort and vacation communities: Hilton Head Island, Kiawah Island, and Myrtle Beach area communities where golf carts are the primary mode of evening transportation
- Retirement communities: Sun City and similar communities where golf carts are used for daily errands and social events that involve alcohol
- Golf courses: Beverage cart service on courses leads to impaired driving on cart paths and parking areas (see golf course cart accidents)
- Community events and festivals: Local events where golf cart transportation is combined with alcohol consumption
- Restaurant and bar districts: Areas where patrons use golf carts to travel between nightlife venues
Punitive Damages in Golf Cart DUI Cases
Both Georgia and South Carolina allow punitive damages in DUI cases to punish the defendant’s willful disregard for the safety of others. Georgia generally caps punitive damages at $250,000 under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1, but this cap does not apply in cases involving DUI or intentional misconduct — meaning punitive damages in golf cart DUI cases can be unlimited. South Carolina allows punitive damages upon proof of willful, wanton, or reckless conduct by clear and convincing evidence, with no statutory cap.
Proving a Golf Cart DUI Accident Case
Critical evidence in a golf cart DUI case includes police reports documenting BAC test results and field sobriety observations, witness testimony about the operator’s behavior and alcohol consumption, surveillance footage from restaurants, bars, clubhouses, and community cameras, criminal case records including DUI arrest reports and dispositions, receipts and records from bars or restaurants that served the operator, and medical records documenting the victim’s injuries. Our attorneys work closely with law enforcement to obtain all available evidence and build the strongest possible case.
Dram Shop Liability
If a bar, restaurant, clubhouse, or event host served alcohol to the golf cart operator when they were visibly intoxicated, a dram shop claim may be available. Georgia’s dram shop law (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-40) and South Carolina’s statute (S.C. Code § 61-4-580) hold alcohol vendors liable when they knowingly serve a visibly intoxicated person who then causes injury. This provides an additional source of compensation beyond the impaired driver’s personal assets and insurance.
Why Choose Roden Law for Golf Cart DUI Claims
Golf cart DUI cases require aggressive representation to secure the punitive damages and full compensation that victims deserve. Our attorneys have extensive experience with impaired driving cases and understand how to leverage criminal DUI proceedings to strengthen your civil claim. We handle all golf cart DUI cases on a contingency fee basis — no fees unless we win.
