Parents of Orlando Distracted Driving Accident Victim Urge Stronger Laws

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.

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.