Kart Crash: How to claim compensation if you have been injured in a go kart accident in the UK

Find out what a go kart crash claim is; how to show a go kart business in charge of the track is responsible for your injuries and how much compensation you can claim for all manner of injuries you might have suffered.

What is a kart crash claim?

Use of a go kart (also known as karts, go-karts or go carts) tracks and racing is becoming a popular activity in the UK. Formula 1 drivers – such as Lewis Hamilton – gained essential driving expertise in small petrol and diesel powered karts.

Karting can take place indoors or on outside tracks.

Should you be involved in a kart crash or other accident causing physical injury – you might be entitled to claim compensation from the go-kart track business. This is known as a public liability “kart crash claim”.

How do you know if you have a go-kart crash claim?

To best answer how to establish if you have a kart crash claim – we will look at a real life example of a karting accident, which led to a broken ankle.

Go-kart crash victim question

In January I attended an indoor go carting centre situated in Birmingham.

No experience of go-karting

On arrival I was asked if I had ever been in a go-kart and I explained that I had never used a kart.

Explanation of kart handling and track safety

I was told that karting was quite safe and a member of the kart track staff explained how to control the kart, what to do when certain flags were presented and to remain in the kart if a crash occurred.

Track barriers absorb go-kart impact

I was told that the track tyre barriers were designed to absorb the impact of any crash. I was assured I would be quite safe, so long as I remained in the kart until assistance arrived.

Collision with stack of tyres surrounding track

I was then allowed to use the kart. After a few minutes – I was rounding a bend when the grip on the tyres of the kart did not seem adequate causing me to skid, spin out of control and hit a stack of tyres surrounding the track.

Barrier failure

The tyres lifted slightly as I hit and my kart left the track.

Back and ankle pain

I felt an immediate pain in my lower back due to the kart crash and shouted to the assistant to get me out of the kart and helmet as I felt slightly dizzy and uncomfortable.

Once out of the kart I tried to place my foot firmly on the floor and felt a pain in my right ankle. A worker at the kart centre offered me a drink, but I requested first aid. The first aider examined me and said that my ankle and back were fine, so I was given the opportunity to get back in the go-kart.

Worn tyres on kart

I explained what had happened to the kart and when the kart was examined I heard a member of staff say that the tyres on my kart were very worn and I was offered another go kart.

Could not continue on the track

When I got into the new kart I couldn’t control the vehicle as my right foot could not press the accelerator down firmly enough, so I got out and waited until my friends had finished by which time I was my back and neck were causing me a lot of pain.

Hospital attendance – fracture detected

One of my friends took me to hospital in Birmingham. My ankle was x-rayed and I was diagnosed with a fractured right ankle and a strained lumbar spine.

Can I claim compensation for my kart crash injuries and if so how much is my claim likely to be worth?

Personal injury solicitor response

Duty of care

The go kart business owe a duty of care to keep you safe whilst on the premises (under public liability and occupiers liability).

Breach of duty

It seems from what you describe that this duty was breached for the following reasons:

Insufficient instruction & warnings

You were not given sufficient instruction prior to using the go kart and were not warned correctly of the dangers involved.

Go kart not maintained correctly

The go kart provided was not maintained to a correct standard such that the tyres were too worn causing you to lose control of the vehicle which caused the kart crash.

Protection surrounding track failed

The protection surrounding the track seemed insufficient to ensure you did not leave the track in the event of a crash. The tyres did not absorb the impact so as to prevent harm to your person – in this case your ankle and back.

Guidance about suitability of barriers incorrect

You were specifically guided about the dangers and were told that you would be protected in the event of a crash which was clearly not the case.

Good chance of making a successful personal injury claim

Given the particular circumstances of your claim – it is likely you would succeed with a kart crash claim for compensation. Compensation would include a sum for your injuries and a sum for direct financial losses, Financial losses might include{ lost income, medical expenses, etc.

Compensation payout amounts for go-kart injuries

Your solicitor instructs an independent medical expert

Your solicitor will instruct an independent medical expert (most likely an orthopaedic surgeon) to produce a medico-legal report. This report will help your solicitor determine how much compensation you can claim for your kart crash injuries.

Report details nature of injury and recovery period

This expert will examine you, look at your hospital and GP notes and set out in a report the exact nature of your injuries, together with how long it is likely for you to recover from your symptoms and whether you will have any disabilities.

Your solicitor calculates likely compensation payouts

Based upon this report the amount of compensation you can claim can be calculated by your solicitor.

Examples of payouts for back and ankle injury

See our back injury payouts and fractured ankle claim articles for full details on the amounts of compensation you can claim for these injuries.

Multiple injury calculations

Our multiple injury claim calculator article explains how to calculate total compensation when you have more than one injury in the same accident.

Compensation for kart injury to body parts in alphabetical order

To see how much compensation you can claim for all manner of kart crash injuries – see our compensation payout by body part article.

Free Legal Help And Assistance

We can help you by providing free online and telephone legal help. This includes an initial consultation with one of our solicitors, asking a question, dialling direct to speak to our solicitors, and much more.