Orlando Auto Accident Lawyers

The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation of multiple crashes that killed ten people and injured at least 18 on I-75 near Gainesville, FL over the weekend. Drivers encountered an area of extremely low visibility, and a string of collisions occurred. The scene of the disaster stretches one mile long with wreckage everywhere. Fog and smoke from a brushfire at nearby Paynes Prairie made it so difficult for drivers to see that they crashed into the vehicles in front of them one after the other. Witnesses have reported hearing repeated crashes of the vehicles, crying and screaming. One survivor said, “It was happening on both sides of the road, so there was nowhere to go. It blew my mind.” Several passenger cars as well as tractor-trailers were involved in the pileup.

It is possible that the fire that caused such awful driving conditions was set intentionally, and officials have found no natural cause or explanation, such as a lightning strike, for why the fire started. The interstate had been closed for a period of time before the pileup due to the fog and smoke, and then it was reopened, which will be a focus of the investigation.

Terrible auto accidents like this one result in many victims, including the friends and family members of those who were killed. If you have lost a loved one and you have questions about your legal rights, contact Orlando wrongful death attorney James O. Cunningham. He can help you pursue a lawsuit for damages to cover funeral expenses, the deceased’s future earnings, pain and suffering, etc. Call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to put Mr. Cunningham’s skills and experience to work for you.

A notoriously dangerous intersection on County Road 46-A that has been the scene of at least 60 auto accidents in the last three years is going to be reconfigured, according to Seminole County officials. The intersection of Hartwell Avenue and County Road 46-A in Sanford is near two schools and hundreds of homes and apartments and has been a major concern for area residents for years. One nearby resident, Sonja Reddick, hears and sees accidents at the intersection on a regular basis.

“I’ve witnessed a whole bunch. I can sit in my house and hear, ‘Crash!’ I know what happened,” she said recently after learning about the planned overhaul.

The county recently announced that work will begin soon on the $1.5 million renovation of the intersection, which will include adding a middle left turn lane that should significantly reduce the number of rear-end collisions at the intersection.

Another Sanford resident, Dick Hedges, avoids the intersection whenever possible, citing the difficulties and dangers of making left-hand turns.

“There should be a turning lane there, I believe. You just have to wait for the light and dart and take your chances,” he said.

At least 17,000 motorists travel through the intersection every day, but they are not the only ones at risk. Pedestrians must also brave the intersection on their way to school, their homes and other nearby destinations, and many have been struck and seriously injured or killed at the intersection in recent years. Last September, an 11-year-old was struck by a car and critically injured while crossing the intersection.

Ask any Orlando personal injury attorney about the most dangerous intersections in Central Florida, and the intersection of Hartwell Avenue and County Road 46-A ranks near the top of any list. People who are injured in accidents at this and other notorious intersections often seek the counsel of Orlando personal injury lawyers such as James O. Cunningham to help them seek damages against negligent drivers. Since 1977, Mr. Cunningham has helped countless injured people receive the fair and just compensation they deserve through negotiated settlements and court awards. If you or a member of your immediate family has been injured in an accident and you have questions about your rights and the law, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles compiles auto accident data from across the state and charts trends from these data on an ongoing basis. The most recent accident data on the DHSMV site is from 2009 and shows a drop in the crash rate for Orange County. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham and other Central Florida auto accident lawyers welcomed the news but caution that the accident rate in Orange County is still dangerously high. From a statistical standpoint, Orange County is the fourth-most dangerous county in the state for auto accidents, behind Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough Counties.

All of the top four counties registered lower auto accident rates from 2008 to 2009, which is good news, but much remains to be done to make Florida roadways safer for everyone. Accident rates in Miami-Dade County dropped 1.7 percent from 43,376 accidents in 2008 to 42,244 in 2009. Broward County showed a more modest 0.8 percent drop from 26,417 accidents in 2008 to 25,957 in 2009. Hillsborough County registered a dramatic 10 percent drop in accidents from 20,162 in 2008 to 18,168 in 2009. Finally, Orange County’s accident rate fell from 16,712 in 2008 to 16,092 in 2009, a drop of 3.9 percent.

Any drop in the auto accident rates in Florida is good and very welcome, given our state’s ranking near the top in the country for total number of auto accidents and people injured and killed each year in these accidents. However, Mr. Cunningham would like to remind readers that these numbers are still unacceptably high, and each of 2009’s 16,092 auto accidents in Orange County represents lives that have been altered and lost. Indeed, those accidents claimed 142 lives that year, and 66 of those people were killed in accidents involving alcohol.

If you or a close family member has been hurt in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver, you have a right to seek damages to help pay medical bills, replace lost time at work and compensate you for pain and suffering and other damages. If you want to learn more about your legal options and speak with an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation.

Accident investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol suspect that alcohol was a contributing factor in a recent early morning Orlando auto accident that claimed the life of a local man. Investigators say that the victim was a 27-year-old Orlando man who crashed and overturned his vehicle on North Powers Drive near Balboa Drive. Accident reconstruction specialists say the man was driving on the wrong side of the road and nearly hit a church van when his car jumped the curb and struck a telephone pole, which fell on top of the car. The victim’s car came to rest on its top in the middle of North Powers Drive, and the victim was pronounced dead from his injuries at the scene. The driver of the church van had to veer sharply to avoid being struck head-on by the oncoming car.

FHP Trooper Montague Haight said that the accident investigation would determine whether or not the victim had been drinking before the crash but admitted that preliminary signs indicated that drunk driving was a strong possibility.

“If you’re going to come out and drive your vehicle and you’re going to be out drinking make sure you have a designated driver. There’s no reason to get behind the wheel after you have had anything to drink. But if this accident was alcohol related again that’s going to be pending the investigation,” he said.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham and other Central Florida auto accident attorneys take a very dim view of drunk drivers and for very good reasons. Drunk drivers caused auto accidents that killed 66 people in 2009 and injured dozens more, and driving while under the influence of alcohol is the very definition of negligence.

If you were injured in a car accident caused by a negligent driver, you have a right to seek damages against the driver and his or her insurance company. In many cases, injured people will be contacted by the at-fault driver’s insurance company and offered a modest sum in exchange for a signature on some documents. What these unfortunate folks don’t realize until it is too late that they are signing away their rights to seek damages. Before you sign anything, have it reviewed by an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney such as Mr. Cunningham. To schedule a free consultation, call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today.

In a move that Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham fully supports, Florida Governor Rick Scott recently designated December as National Drunk and Drugged Driving (3D) Prevention Month in our state. Taking part in the national campaign, the governor instructed the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to enhance public awareness about safer driving habits during the holiday season. Drivers intoxicated by alcohol and/or drugs caused nearly 19,000 auto accidents across the country in 2010, leading to more than 13,000 injuries and hundreds of deaths.

To make Florida roadways safer this holiday season, the governor, the DHSMV, law enforcement agencies and safety advocates are joining forces to educate drivers and enforce impaired driving laws. To illustrate the importance of the issue, Governor Scott recently issued a proclamation to recognize 3D Prevention Month in Florida.

“This is the season to celebrate with friends and family,” he said. “My administration and all of our safety partners across the state of Florida are dedicated to making sure this season is celebrated safely. We plan to lead by example by practicing safe driving habits that include buckling up, driving sober and avoiding distractions while behind the wheel.”

“We encourage everyone to plan ahead this holiday season to avoid drinking or drugged driving,” said Florida Highway Patrol Director, Colonel David Brierton. “The Florida Highway Patrol will participate in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over national crackdown this month. We are encouraging all drivers to make good decisions.”

Mr. Cunningham and other Orlando personal injury attorneys fully endorse these efforts and any others that will make our roadways safer this holiday season as law enforcement officials usually see a spike in accidents caused by impaired drivers during this time. The grim statistics for the 2010 holiday season include the following:

• During the New Year’s holiday travel period, 32 people died on Florida’s roadways. Of those, 12 deaths were alcohol-related.
• During the four-day Christmas holiday travel period, 24 people died on Florida’s roadways. Of those, eight deaths were alcohol-related.

Mr. Cunningham wishes all Floridians and visitors a very safe and happy holiday season. Anyone who wishes to schedule a free consultation at one of his many law offices throughout Central Florida can call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Happy Holidays!

Sanford police recently arrested a 22-year-old Sanford man on multiple reckless driving charges after a very high-speed chase through town where the man was caught on radar traveling at 117 miles per hour. After receiving numerous complaints about a man traveling at excessive speeds, the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office dispatched a helicopter, which spotted the man running red lights at the intersections of 13th Street and French Avenue and U.S. Highway 17-92 and Lake Mary Boulevard around 2:15 a.m.

Officers on board the helicopter alerted officers on the ground, who deployed spiked sticks to flatten the man’s tires so that his vehicle could be disabled and he could be apprehended. The man faces multiple charges including reckless driving, fleeing and eluding officers at high speeds, disobeying multiple traffic signals and others. He is being held in the Seminole County Jail in Sanford with bail set at $2,050. Officers placed the spiked sticks at Country Club Road and Airport Boulevard and were finally able to apprehend the subject at County Club and Southwest roads.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham was quite relieved to hear that no one was injured or killed by this man’s recklessness. Given the exceptionally high rates of speed and the number of red lights the man ran, it is somewhat miraculous that no one was in the wrong place at the wrong time and struck by this man’s vehicle.

As you know, many Floridians are not so lucky. Reckless drivers kill and severely injure many people in our state every day. Through no fault of their own, their lives are changed forever, and their physical injuries are compounded by the psychological turmoil of skyrocketing medical bills and the inability to provide for their families.

That is why many people in Central Florida rely on Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham for experienced legal counsel and help through this difficult period of their lives. Mr. Cunningham has a proven record of helping injured people receive the fair and just compensation they deserve since 1977. He gives each client and case the individual attention they deserve and answers all questions in plain, easy-to-understand language. To schedule a consultation at one of his many Central Florida law offices, call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today.

Regular readers of this blog are very familiar with our state’s lack of cell phone legislation for drivers. They are also very familiar with Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham’s stance on this issue. He prefers a zero tolerance policy on cell phone use of any kind while driving and encourages state lawmakers to take decisive action on this issue to save lives. Currently, there are no state laws against texting, surfing the internet or making calls on cell phones while driving. Further, Florida does not allow communities to enact legislation against distracted cell phone driving.

Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that all states impose total bans on cell phone use while driving, except in cases of emergency. Yet, in spite of clear evidence illustrating the dangers of talking and texting while behind the wheel, many law enforcement officials take a dim view of the NTSB recommendation.

One such dissenter is St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, who, while admitting that texting while driving is “a killer,” does not support a national ban on cell phone use while driving.

“I think it can be handled at the state level,” he said.

Sadly, Florida lawmakers have repeatedly killed cell phone legislation in committee, and this reticence is taking a serious toll on the lives of Floridians. The Florida Highway Patrol recently conducted a study on cell phone use by drivers, and their findings are consistent with other studies conducted across the country. The FHP found that drivers who talk on their phones while driving are four times more likely to be involved in an accident. They found that cell phone use was the primary contributing factor in seven fatal auto accidents in our state in 2010, citing instances where talking or texting was definitely the cause of the accident.

They freely admit that their findings are very conservative and that cell phone use is very likely the cause of many more accidents and fatalities. FHP Lt. Bill Leeper cited the difficulties of singling out cell phone use in auto accidents.

“A lot of times, you can’t prove it,” he said. However, he said that he expected the problem to worsen in the coming months and years, saying, “It is increasingly becoming an issue because of the numbers of people who have cell phones.”

“Texting is even more dangerous,” he said.

Florida may not yet have laws against cell phone use on the books, but people injured by distracted drivers still have legal options. With the help of experienced, aggressive Orlando personal injury lawyers such as Mr. Cunningham, they can seek damages against negligent drivers and get the fair and just compensation they deserve. To schedule a free consultation with Mr. Cunningham, call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today.

Accident investigators found that a recent fatal auto accident on the Florida Turnpike was caused by a driver who was changing the compact disc in her car. Florida Highway Patrol investigators say the recent accident occurred around 2:50 p.m. at Mile Marker 237, south of Kissimmee-St. Cloud and closed two lanes of the Turnpike for several hours. They say the 63-year-old victim was driving her 2000 Chevrolet SUV southbound on the Turnpike when a 2001 Pontiac Firebird driven by a 55-year-old West Palm Beach woman suddenly veered from the left lane into the right and struck the SUV. The impact caused the SUV to roll over onto its roof and skid a short distance. Although she was wearing a seatbelt, the SUV driver died from her injuries at the scene. Two passengers in the SUV were treated for minor injuries. Charges are pending against the driver of the Firebird, who suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham would like to remind his readers that any activities that distract a driver from the safe operation of a vehicle, even for an instant, can result in tragedy. Today, most distracted driving accidents are caused by people who talk, text and search the internet on their cell phones despite the well-publicized risks of doing so. Distracted driving can also include eating while driving, reaching for an object on the floor, applying makeup and many other activities.

These and other examples of distracted driving are negligent and place everyone else on the road at significantly elevated risk for being involved in an accident. Negligent drivers are often held responsible for the damages they cause their victims, and rightly so, as victims often suffer life-changing injuries and catastrophic medical bills through no fault of their own. If a distracted driver has injured you or someone in your immediate family and you would like to speak with an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Mr. Cunningham offers free consultations, listens intently to potential clients’ concerns, answers their questions and explains the law and legal options in plain, easy-to-understand language so that they can make informed decisions. Call today to get his skills and experience on your side!

Florida Highway Patrol officers are requesting that those who may have seen a recent fatal hit-and-run pedestrian accident come forward with any information they may have. Accident investigators say that the accident occurred near the intersection of Semoran and Old Cheney Highway in east Orange County. They say an adult male pedestrian was crossing Semoran east-to-west when he was struck and killed by a black Jeep Wrangler. They say that after the jeep struck the man, the driver immediately fled the scene to avoid taking responsibility.

The pedestrian was taken to Florida Hospital for treatment but died of his injuries shortly after arrival. FHP troopers say that charges are pending in the accident, which remains under investigation. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the accident or knows anything about it to call the Florida Highway Patrol at 407-737-2213 or Crimeline at 407-423-8477.

Since he began practicing law in 1977, Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has seen the Orlando metropolitan area grow significantly in size and population. He has also seen the number of pedestrians injured and killed in pedestrian accidents climb steadily over the years and the metro area become the nation’s most dangerous for anyone walking or biking along roadways. Regular readers of this blog will know that a report issued last year named our area the worst in the country for pedestrian accidents after years of steadily increasing and tragic accident statistics. There are many reasons for this ignominious distinction, including the following:

• Infrastructure designed for automobiles
• Very large intersections
• Lack of sidewalks
• Large number of drivers who run red lights
• Talking and texting on cell phones while driving
• Intoxicated drivers
• Drivers who deliberately try to intimidate pedestrians and bicyclists

Pedestrians who survive being struck by an automobile often face a very long and expensive road to recovery. That is one of the many reasons why so many injured people choose Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham to help them seek damages against the negligent driver who injured them. Mr. Cunningham has a proven record of success, gives each client and case the individual attention they deserve and works hard to help clients receive the fair and just compensation they need to pay medical bills and recover from their injuries. If you would like to speak with Mr. Cunningham in a free consultation, call him today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000.

A trucking accident involving two tractor-trailers on Interstate 95 recently closed two lanes of the busy highway and claimed the life of one of the truck drivers. Florida Highway Patrol officers say the accident occurred around 5 a.m. at mile marker 189 south of the I-95 exchange with Wickham Road. Emergency responders from Brevard County Fire Rescue said one truck was hauling PVC piping and the other was carrying general merchandise when the driver of the truck carrying the PVC rear-ended the other truck, causing more than 70 gallons of diesel fuel to spill onto the road.

FHP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes said that the diesel spill made the clean-up especially dangerous and problematic.

“That diesel eats the roadway up,” she said. “We can’t let people drive on that. They had to fix the road before they could.”

Road workers had to mill the road where the fuel spilled and then repave it before traffic could be restored on two of three lanes of I-95.

Montes said that the 57-year-old driver of the truck carrying general merchandise was following traffic too closely at the time of the accident. When his truck rear-ended the truck hauling PVC in front of him, the PVC piping was driven through the driver’s cab, killing him instantly.

“They were just traveling along,” Montes said. “(Daniels) was simply going faster than the other truck and ran right into the back of it.”

The 48-year-old driver of the other truck suffered minor injuries in the crash and was not hospitalized. FHP troopers said that they did not believe alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in the accident.

This trucking accident is very unusual in that two trucks were involved and that one of the drivers was killed. The overwhelming majority of trucking accidents involve tractor-trailers and much smaller passenger vehicles, and, in most cases, it is the occupants of the smaller vehicles who suffer catastrophic, even fatal, injuries. If you or a member of your immediate family has been injured in a Florida trucking accident and you have questions about your rights and legal options, call Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Mr. Cunningham is an Orlando personal injury attorney with a reputation for working hard and helping clients receive the maximum allowable compensation.