Two 13-year-old siblings were seriously injured recently when they were struck by a car while riding their bicycles. Accident investigators have not released many details about the accident, but they report that the teens were riding their bicycles with their father when they were struck at a crosswalk at the intersection of Apopka Vineland Road and McCormick Road in west Orange County. Investigators report that a female driver, age and address unknown, was traveling south in her 2009 Volkswagen on Apopka Vineland Road around 2:25 p.m. when she struck the teens.
The teens and their father were eastbound in the crosswalk that connects the popular West Orange Trail, which is used by up to 55,000 bicyclists each month, according to county officials. The driver struck the children with the front of her car, throwing the kids from their bikes onto the roadway. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) crash report, the children were not wearing helmets when the accident occurred, which may have contributed to the severity of their injuries. Neither the driver nor the father of the victims was injured in the accident. Troopers say that charges are pending against the driver based on who had the right of way at the time of the accident. The teens were rushed to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where they are receiving treatment for undisclosed injuries.
In a recent post on this blog, we wrote about a study just released by the Journal of Pediatrics, which studied the correlation between bicycle accident fatality rates in states with helmet laws versus states with no such legislation. The study found that there were 20 percent fewer fatal injuries from bike accidents in states with mandatory helmet laws. Florida is one of the states with helmet laws for kids on bikes, and Orlando bicycle accident lawyer James O. Cunningham strongly advises parents to practice tough love and make kids wear proper protective gear when riding.
Hopefully, these children will fully recover from their injuries without permanent damage or disability. However, their parents will likely face many thousands of dollars in medical bills and may or may not have the means to pay them. If FHP troopers find that the driver was negligent and is responsible for the accident, she and her insurance company could be liable for damages. If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident and you would like to speak with an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney to learn more about your rights and legal options, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-FLA-AUTO (888-352-2886).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a vehicle accident, call toll-free at 1-888-FLA-Auto (1-888-352-2886).
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