Go-karting is an exciting activity for people of all ages. For those who are too young to get a driving license, it’s a wonderful opportunity to get behind the wheel and experience the pleasure of driving. For those who have a driver’s license, it’s still a thrill to drive around in a low-slung vehicle and race around the track without worrying about traffic, pedestrians or potholes. It’s a lot of fun and most times all goes well.

The majority of the time, go-karting is fun and everyone finishes their day with a smile on their face, however, occasionally that isn’t always the case. Accidents can occur causing injuries that sometimes could’ve been prevented. Importantly, if you’ve been injured in a go-karting accident that was due to the negligence of the track owner or operator, you may be eligible to make a go-kart accident claim for compensation.

If you’re eager to discuss a potential claim, give us a call on 0800 6524 881. If you would like more information first, continue reading to learn about the process of making a go-kart accident claim.

Am I Eligible To Make A Go-Kart Accident Claim?

To be eligible to make a go-kart accident claim, you’d need to prove that your injuries were due to the negligence of somebody else. You would need to determine what caused the accident and why it happened, who could’ve been at fault and whether could have been prevented.

If you speak with one of our claims advisors, they should be able to determine relatively quickly if you are eligible to make a claim by checking:

• If you were owed a duty of care by the accused.
• Whether the accused failed in their duty of care due to negligence.
• Whether or not your injury was a result of their negligence.

Please call us if you’d like to discuss your go-kart accident and find out whether a claim is viable.

What Happens If A Go-Kart Operator Causes An Accident?

Go-kart track operators are required by law to put in place and enforce safety measures to ensure that customers and visitors are safe while using their facilities, whether for recreation or during competitive events.

Safety measures pertaining to karting include:

• Carrying out regular inspection and maintenance of the track and karts.
• Providing all drivers with appropriate, properly fitting personal protective equipment including helmets, overall and gloves.
• Educating all drivers on how to control their vehicle and dos and don’ts when there are many drivers using the track at the same time.
• Educating all drivers on potential dangers and safe practices while driving around the track.
• Supervise the track at all times when drivers are using it.
• Keeping an emergency team and first aid kit ready to handle any accidents immediately.

Operators have a responsibility to take action if any equipment becomes broken or areas within the arena become unsafe for use. Any need for repairs or equipment replacements should be dealt with effectively and as soon as possible.

Additionally, employees need to be given the correct training to ensure that they give the correct instructions and briefing before allowing participants to use the go-karts. They should also know what to do in the event of an accident.

Common Causes Of Go-Kart Accidents

There are many possible causes of go-kart accidents that can result in injuries to participants and spectators such as flips, rollovers and collisions with other go-karts. Of course, all track operators typically do all they can to prevent accidents that shouldn’t happen, but sometimes things go wrong.

Some common causes of go-kart (indoor and outdoor) accidents include:

• Poorly maintained tracks leading to potholes and bumps.
• Poorly maintained or defective go-karts causing issues such as brake failure, steering failure, broken seat belts etc.
• Defective or incorrect safety clothing such as crash helmets.
• Insufficient instructions, safety and rules briefing.
• Dangerous and careless driving on the tracks.
• Unsafe levels of surface water on the tracks.
• Lack of proper supervision or training.
• Hair or clothing becoming entrapped in the go-kart mechanisms.

If at any time, the operator fails in their duty of care, leading to someone becoming injured, they could be found liable and made to pay compensation if a claim is made.

Common Injuries From Accidents Involving Go-Karts

All sorts of injuries could result from a go-karting accident. Some may be quite mild and heal fairly quickly with no long-lasting effects, but some can be far more serious and have devastating effects on someone’s life. In extreme cases, a go-kart accident could prove fatal.

Some of the more common go-kart injuries include:

• Fractures or broken bones from getting thrown against the go-kart with force or getting ejected out from the go-kart.
• Dislocated joints from the force of the collision.
• Whiplash injuries from your head and neck being flung forcefully forward and backwards.
• Head injury from getting thrown out of the vehicle when not wearing a helmet.
• Burns from contact with the engine during a collision.

If negligence can be proven as the cause of your go-karting injury by the track owner/operator, you may be eligible to claim compensation.

How Much Compensation For A Go-Kart Accident Could I Claim?

The level of compensation awarded for a successful go-kart accident claim will depend mainly on the severity of the injury and the impact on your life. There are typically two types of damages that are taken into consideration before the final settlement amount is decided.

Just some of the different components of a claim taken into consideration are:

General Damages

• How severe the injury was and the level of pain and suffering you endured, both mentally and physically.
• Any loss of amenity (the reduction or loss of enjoyment or quality of life).
• What is your long-term injury prognosis?

Special Damages

• Whether you have lost any earnings or are going to lose future earnings.
• Have you had to pay for any medical expenses such as physiotherapy, prescriptions etc?
• Have you had to pay travel costs for medical appointments etc?
• Did you need someone to care for you because of your injury?

Once all the factors that apply to your case are taken into account, a personal injury solicitor can start to calculate the amount of compensation you deserve.

Compensation Calculator

Without all the details, the full settlement amount cannot be estimated at this stage. However, you can use our compensation calculator which is based on the latest Judicial College guidelines (for general damages only) to get some idea of what compensation may be available for different injuries.

Any compensation amounts should be taken only as a guide as without our solicitors knowing the details of the effects the injury has had in relation to special damages, there is no way to factor those in.

Evidence To Support A Go-Kart Accident Claim

To make a successful go-kart injury claim, you’ll want to have strong evidence to give the best chance of proving your case. Evidence that can help support your claim could include:

• Medical reports from your GP or from a hospital that treated your injuries.
• A copy of the track operator’s accident report.
• Photos of the aftermath of the go-kart accident scene.
• Photos of any injuries sustained.
• Any CCTV footage if possible or recordings from witnesses.
• Witness statements backing up your version of events.

We also recommend that you write down everything you remember about the karting accident, and how it has affected you both physically and mentally. By doing this, if you are asked to recall later on what happened, you won’t have forgotten any of the details.

If you are unsure of how to access some of the evidence, we could help you with this.

Time Limits For Claiming Go-Kart Accident Compensation

In the UK, you have three years starting from the date of the accident, or the date your injury is diagnosed, to start your go-kart accident claim.

If a child has suffered an injury at a go-karting park, you could make a claim on their behalf as a litigation friend at any time before they turn 18. If you do not start a claim on their behalf, they have the opportunity to start a claim themselves from when they turn 18, until they are 21 years of age.

If you intend to proceed with a claim, it is best to start as soon as possible, in our opinion. Some compensation claims can take a fair length of time to reach a conclusion. If you have had monetary losses and expenses as a result of being injured, receiving a compensation award sooner rather than later should help you financially. Also, once the claim has concluded, you can then hopefully feel a sense of closure and get on with the rest of your life.

Starting The Go-Kart Accident Claims Process

Unless you are a legal professional yourself, we strongly advise that you seek the help of a personal injury solicitor to conduct your claim for you as they’ll have the experience and knowledge needed to hopefully give you the best outcome possible.

With that in mind, we offer a free consultation by telephone to start, without obligation. This is time used to discuss your case, check your eligibility for compensation and answer any questions you may have.

Following the consultation, if you have a viable case, we will likely offer to represent you on a No Win No Fee basis. What this means is that we can make your claim for you with no upfront costs to pay. If we win, as payment, we take a set percentage directly from the awarded compensation amount once paid. If we lose, we don’t ask for any payment at all.

To speak to one of our advisors about a go-kart accident claim today, simply call 0800 6524 881 or use the live chat if you prefer.