Flint man killed in Richfield Township golf cart crash

A 79-year-old Flint man died Monday afternoon after the golf cart he was driving collided with a pickup truck in Roscommon County.

The crash happened around 3:25 p.m. Monday, June 29, on West Branch Road west of Woods Road in Richfield Township, according to the Richfield Township Department of Public Safety.

Police said the Flint man was driving a golf cart west on the shoulder of West Branch Road. As he attempted to turn left, the golf cart entered the travel lane and collided with the side of a westbound pickup truck driven by a 57-year-old Gladwin man.

After the collision, the pickup truck left the road and hit a tree.

Bystanders and emergency personnel tried to help the golf cart driver, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The occupants of the pickup truck were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment.

West Branch Road between F-97 and M-76 was closed for several hours while investigators processed the scene but has since reopened.

Richfield Township Department of Public Safety officers were assisted by the Roscommon

The crash remains under investigation but police said alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors in the crash.

Legal options after a fatal Michigan crash

Michigan is a no-fault state, which means people injured in a motor-vehicle crash may qualify for Personal Injury Protection benefits without having to prove who caused the crash.

These benefits can include allowable medical expenses, wage loss, replacement services and other economic losses depending on the claim.

Recovering noneconomic losses usually requires a separate claim against an at-fault driver. That type of claim is generally available when the injuries involve death, serious impairment of body function or permanent serious disfigurement.

In fatal crash cases, Michigan's wrongful death statute, MCL 600.2922, generally requires the claim to be brought by the personal representative of the estate. Potential damages can include medical, hospital, funeral and burial expenses, conscious pain and suffering, loss of financial support and loss of society and companionship.

Golf cart crash legal issues in Michigan

Golf cart crashes can raise different legal questions than ordinary car crashes because Michigan law limits when and where golf carts may be operated on public roads.

Certain villages, cities and townships with populations under 30,000 may allow golf carts on local streets. The statute includes rules for operators, roadway position, speed, time of day and roads where golf carts may be used.

Michigan law generally requires a golf cart operator to be at least 16 and licensed to operate a motor vehicle. Golf carts covered by the statute must be operated at no more than 15 mph and generally may not be operated on highways or streets with speed limits over 30 mph except to cross them.

Fault may depend on details such as the golf cart's path from the shoulder into the lane, the pickup truck's speed and lane position, visibility, traffic conditions, witness statements, vehicle damage and any available video or event data.

For more background, read Michigan Legal Center's guides to Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and Michigan wrongful death deadlines.

Get help from Michigan Legal Center

Michigan Legal Center is the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates. Our attorneys help injured people and families across Michigan with personal injury, car crashes, no-fault claims, insurance disputes, serious injury claims and wrongful death cases.

If you or a loved one was injured in a Michigan car crash, call Michigan Legal Center at (248) 886-8650 or contact us for a consultation.

There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.

Michigan Legal Center can help you navigate the issues involved in claims such as this with Michigan car accident medical bills and PIP priority and Michigan wrongful death deadlines.