Over the past few years, golf carts have become common across the Carolinas. In previous decades, seeing golf carts zooming around on public roads would have been unthinkable. Today, numerous communities have welcomed these low-speed vehicles – sometimes disregarding serious safety concerns in the process. What happens if you hit one of these golf carts while intoxicated? Can you defend yourself against DWI charges in North Carolina?
DWI Defendant Accused of Hitting Couple on Golf Cart
In October 2024, The Charlotte Observer reported that a man had been arrested on DWI charges after a golf cart collision. The incident occurred in Caldwell County, and it resulted in the death of the golf cart driver. The man’s wife was also in the vehicle at the time, and she suffered life-threatening injuries in the collision.
Police arrived on the scene, and the defendant seemed to have cooperated with their investigation. Ultimately, they decided that he was intoxicated and placed him under arrest for DWI. Although this would imply that the driver caused the crash, the report also included a key piece of information: The golf cart driver pulled out of a driveway “into the path” of the other vehicle.
As any traffic attorney will tell you, vehicles pulling out of driveways must yield to traffic on main roads. Although the death of the golf cart driver is certainly tragic, he may have pulled out of the driveway in a somewhat unlawful manner. As a result, the other driver may not have been able to avoid a collision even if he were sober at the time.
Arguing That Your Intoxication Was Not a Factor in the Crash
It is always illegal to drive while under the influence of intoxicating substances, whether you caused a crash or not. That being said, it may be more difficult for prosecutors to convict you of additional crimes if your intoxication was not a contributing factor to the crash.
This could be a crucial point if you face charges such as felony death by vehicle in North Carolina. A DWI instantly becomes much more serious if you cause serious injuries or deaths – and you may face many years in prison if accused of this offense. That being said, it may be possible to avoid this consequence if you can show your intoxication was not a contributing factor. In other words, you may argue that the accident would have happened anyway – whether you were sober or not.
Can a North Carolina DWI Defense Attorney Help?
If you are facing legal consequences after hitting a golf cart during an alleged DWI in North Carolina, a defense attorney may be able to help. Whether you were intoxicated or not, it might have been impossible to avoid hitting a reckless golf cart driver. To learn more about potential defense strategies, consider a consultation with Coastal South Law today.
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