Orlando Auto Accident Lawyers

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.

A rear-end accident on State Road 50 near the intersection with Remington Road has claimed the life of a 41-year-old motorcyclist, according to Florida Highway Patrol officers. They say that the victim was in the center westbound lane of Colonial Drive waiting for a red light to change when he was struck from behind by a Honda sport utility vehicle driven by an 18-year-old Clermont man. Accident investigators say the accident occurred around 12:03 a.m. Just as the light changed from red to green, the Honda SUV collided with the rear of the victim’s motorcycle, sending it across the intersection and ejecting the rider.

The driver of the SUV told police that he had not noticed the rider or the fact that the motorcycle had not begun to accelerate as he approached the intersection. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, and charges are pending against the SUV driver. Neither he nor his passenger in the SUV was injured in the accident.

Victims of rear-end accidents often suffer devastating, if not fatal, injuries due to the physics involved in this type of accident. When a person sitting in or on a vehicle in a stationary position is struck from behind, the impact throws the body forward but the head, neck and limbs are driven back with frightening force. In an instant, the muscles, ligaments and vertebrae of the victim’s neck are hyper extended, stressing and usually permanently altering the ability to keep the spinal cord aligned. These injuries often result in the following:

• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Chronic, severe pain
• Loss of bladder and bowel control
• Loss of freedom and mobility
• The inability to work and provide for a family
• Many other difficulties that significantly impair quality of life

Sadly, these physical, emotional and financial difficulties are common for victims of all types of motor vehicle accidents, and, in many cases, the at-fault driver’s insurance company tries to avoid paying for medical care and other expenses caused by their client. If you or a member of your immediate family has been injured in an accident, you need an experienced and aggressive Orlando personal injury lawyer on your side to deal with insurance companies and help you through this difficult time. Call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation with an Orlando personal injury attorney who puts the needs of his clients first!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating whether or not Jeep Grand Cherokees manufactured between 1993 and 2004 should be recalled due to gas tank ruptures in rear-end accidents. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham is closely following developments in this case as the Jeep that NHTSA is investigating in the case belongs to an Orlando man who died in a recent accident after his Jeep was struck from behind.

NHTSA spokeswoman Karen Aldana recently wrote in an email that “As part of our open defect investigation, N.H.T.S.A. plans to inspect the Jeep Grand Cherokee that was involved in a recent Orlando area crash.”

The fiery accident occurred on Interstate 4 in Lake Mary when the victim’s 1997 Grand Cherokee was rear-ended by a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer when its driver failed to notice that traffic had stopped. The Jeep burst into flames after the impact, trapping a 24-year-old passenger who died from injuries. Accident investigators estimated that the Mercury was traveling around 65 miles per hour when it struck the Jeep, but they do not know how fast the Jeep was traveling at the time of the accident. Two years ago, the non-profit safety advocacy group Center for Auto Safety formally requested that the NHTSA launch an investigation into Jeep Grand Cherokee models after similar fiery accidents.

The center claims that Grand Cherokees made from 1993 to 2004 have a design flaw that makes the gas tank much more likely to burst open and spill fuel when hit from behind than similar vehicles in its class. In August 2010, the NHTSA notified the Center that it had granted its request and planned to begin its preliminary investigation. There are an estimated 2.2 million Grand Cherokee models made in those years still on the road today, according to Experian Automotive. Chrysler has insisted repeatedly that the gas tanks on Grand Cherokees have no design defects, but the automaker redesigned the Cherokee in 2005, moving the gas tank from behind the rear axle to in front of the rear axle. Chrysler claims that the gas tank was moved due to the relocation of the spare tire, not because of safety concerns.

Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has a proven record of success helping injured people receive the best possible outcome for their product liability cases. Since 1977, he has taken on large corporations and helped his clients receive damages through court awards and negotiated settlements. If you have been injured by a defective product and would like to learn more about the law, your rights and your legal options, call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Five Orlando residents were arrested recently for their roles in an organized insurance fraud ring that staged auto accidents. The Florida Department of Financial Services reports that the suspects solicited people and told them they would receive $1,000 each if they participated in a fake auto accident on July 10, 2010 and filed false medical claims for injuries they supposedly received in the accident. Orlando personal injury attorneys are growing increasingly alarmed about insurance fraud as it has caused insurance premiums in our area to soar and has made it more difficult for them to help clients who have been injured in auto accidents.

After the staged auto accident, participants were told to seek medical treatment for their “injuries” at Orlando’s Silver Hills Health & Rehab and Injury Care Inc. The suspects then filed claims with GEICO, Allstate, Progressive and State Farm Insurance companies to collect payments. Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater spoke out against this and other insurance fraud rings in a recent statement.

He said, “This is the type of scheme that is costing honest Floridians millions of dollars through skyrocketing auto insurance premiums. During these challenging economic times, Florida families cannot afford to spend one more dime on increased insurance costs. It is my mission to stamp out auto insurance fraud and to ensure these cheats who are making money off the backs of Florida drivers serve real time.”

The ringleaders of the insurance fraud group, two 40-year-old Orlando residents, have been arrested on charges of insurance fraud, patient brokering and intentionally staging a motor vehicle crash. Their three accomplices each face a variety of charges, which could result in prison sentences up to 12 years. The Florida Department of Financial Services warns that this group is one of many that stage fake auto accidents in our state and asks Floridians to help them combat insurance fraud. If anyone is approached to participate in insurance fraud or suspects that they were involved in a staged accident, they are asked to contact officials by calling 1-800-378-0445. Anyone tipping off authorities can remain anonymous and may qualify for a reward up to $25,000 if a tip leads directly to an arrest and conviction.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham is following developments in this case very closely. He has watched auto accident fraud skyrocket in recent years and is concerned about much more than higher car insurance premiums. Criminals who stage auto accidents make it much more difficult for people who are injured in auto accidents to receive compensation from insurance companies from legitimate claims. If you have been injured in an auto accident and would like to speak with an Orlando auto accident attorney, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation.

Regular readers of this blog are very familiar with the sad story of Heather Hurd. Heather was an Orlando resident who was killed when the driver of a tractor-trailer who was texting on his cell phone while driving slammed into her car and eight others on a Florida highway four years ago. Since then, her parents, Orlando personal injury lawyers and many thousands of concerned Floridians have asked lawmakers to pass tough laws against cell phone use while driving with little success. Heather’s parents, Kim and Russell Hurd, who live in Maryland, have taken a proactive stance against drivers who talk and text while driving.

They recently created the Heather L. Hurd 5K Walk/Run, an annual fundraiser to help students at Harford Community College, their daughter’s alma mater. The event also helps raise awareness about the dangers of cell phone use while behind the wheel so that other parents don’t have to endure the heartbreak of losing a child to a distracted driver.

“Nothing can change our grief, but maybe through our activism we can spare another family an eternal heartache,” Russell Hurd said. “Heather’s Law was born that day. The bill did not pass that year, but we became real pests.”

The couple’s persistence paid off two years after their daughter’s death when the Maryland legislature passed cell phone legislation. Not satisfied, the couple continues to campaign for even tougher restriction on cell phone use behind the wheel and plans to expand the annual walk/run for the foreseeable future. They believe that their efforts help them while they help other people.

“The grief never goes away, but organizing this event and raising awareness can be therapeutic,” Kim Hurd said.

According to recent statistics compiled by the National Transportation Safety Administration, talking and texting on cell phones while driving causes more than 5,000 fatal auto accidents each year and injures at least 500,000 people. If you or a close family member has been injured in a cell phone car accident and you would like to speak with an Orlando personal injury attorney, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation. Mr. Cunningham is a fierce advocate for accident victims’ rights and uses his skills and experience as a cell phone car accident lawyer to help victims receive the fair and just compensation they deserve.