Car Accident

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.

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!

The construction zone on State Road 417 is a mere 3.8 miles long, but Orlando personal injury attorneys, Florida Highway Patrol officers, area residents and traffic safety advocates are increasingly worried about a recent rash of auto accidents. The construction zone runs from Curry Ford Road and State Road 528, and commuters who drive on this stretch every day are worried about the potential for deadly accidents. FHP troopers have responded to six auto accidents in the zone over a six-week period and claim that unexpected lane closures are a major concern. In one spot, three lanes merge into two without warning, making surprised drivers take evasive action to avoid rear-ending others who have to slam on their brakes.

One daily commuter is Sam Venzekri, who claims that frequent changes in lane closures and configurations during construction are a recipe for tragedy.

He said, “It’s very confusing you don’t know where you’re going. You’re trying to watch out for the other car and may hit the other car and you don’t know where you’re going.”

A spokesperson for the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority says that commuters’ concerns about safety are unfounded. He reports that state inspectors travel the route at least twice each day looking for problems in the construction zone. However, FHP officials say otherwise. One recent afternoon, one of their troopers was involved in an accident while trying to avoid striking a construction barrel used to route traffic.

Diane Cummings often travels through the zone at night. She reports that confusing lane painting is another contributing factor to the accidents.

“It’s hard to distinguish which lanes are which and where they’re going and people seem to have trouble driving straight,” she says.

The construction is underway to convert a four-lane section of S.R. 417 to six lanes. While more lanes should make this heavily congested roadway safer in the long-term, Mr. Venzekri believes that the contractor, Hubbard Construction, could and should make this construction zone safer while work is underway.

“Normally most construction is very organized,” he said. “I don’t know why this one is disorganized. Just make it clear to drivers, these days drivers are texting, talking on the phone or busy with a lot of stuff and a little thing like that can cause a huge accident.”

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham would like to remind area residents to exercise extra care while driving through this construction zone and the many others throughout the area. He also cautions drivers not to talk on their phones or text while driving as no conversation or message is worth risking their lives or the lives of those around them. If you or a close family member has been injured in an accident caused by a poorly designed construction zone or a distracted driver and you would like experienced legal counsel, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation.

Auto accidents are the leading cause of death for young people aged 16 to 20, but some forward-thinking people in Orange County are trying to change this fact. The Florida Safety Council announced recently that high school students in Orange County would be able to apply for free driver training. This free training will include six hours of behind-the-wheel driving lessons in traffic and driver education classroom courses.

“We actually take them out to the expressway. We don’t cut them loose until they’ve driven in traffic on I-4 and the 408 expressway,” said Glenn Victor, Florida Safety Council spokesperson.

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A Florida Central News article reports that officials with the Florida Highway Patrol are investigating a recent five-vehicle accident in Lakeland that claimed the lives of three people. FHP officials say that the accident occurred around 4 pm on U.S. Highway 98 just south of Rockridge Road when a Chevrolet pickup truck crashed head-on with a motorcycle. They say the pickup was driven by a 65-year-old woman who veered into the path of a motorcycle operated by a 55-year-old man.

The pickup’s driver was killed in the accident, as was the motorcycle’s passenger-a woman whose identity and age was not released by the FHP when the article was published. The 55-year-old motorcycle rider suffered critical injuries in the accident and was flown to Tampa General Hospital in a helicopter. The 51-year old driver of a Ford pickup truck behind the motorcycle also died in the accident. FHP officials say that he swerved to avoid the initial accident, but crashed into the left front of the oncoming Chevy pickup. The force of the collision caused the Ford pickup to land on its roof.

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An article published on TheLedger.com reports that a man, a pregnant woman and an infant were killed in mid-September on U.S. 27 near Davenport. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office reported that the infant had suffered critical injuries and was flown to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando, but died later in the evening. Officials investigating the accident say that the accident occurred around 6:40 in the evening when a car turning east at U.S. 27 onto Citrus Ridge Drive was struck by a van headed north on U.S. 27.

There were four people in the car, including the infant. Law enforcement officials investigating the accident had not released the names of those involved in the car accident pending the notification of family members. The pregnant woman and the baby were both ejected from the car when it was struck, and a man inside the car died in the car from his injuries. Deputies said the pregnant woman’s body was found in the ditch on the east side of U.S. 27 and the car’s driver was taken to Lakeland Regional Medical Center with injuries described as traumatic.

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Law enforcement officials investigating a single-car accident that claimed the lives of three people say that the car’s impact was so intense that people calling 911 to report the accident said that the car blew up. An article on News-JournalOnline.com said that one male and two female passengers in the car were killed instantly around 8:30 on the evening of September 2, 2009, in the southbound lane of Nova Road just north of 15th Street in Holly Hill.

"I hate to say it’s the worst I’ve seen in 30 years as a police officer, but it is," Holly Hill Police Chief Mark Barker said. "It looks like an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq went off. The car was completely split in half—the front end landed 30 feet from the back end of the car."

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