Hit and Run

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 woman was killed and a teenager critically injured in a bizarre hit-and-run accident in a neighborhood that has been plagued with pedestrian and bicycle accidents for many years. Many details about the fatal pedestrian accident remain unknown while the accident investigation is underway, but police say the 22-year-old woman and 16-year-old boy were lying in the roadway in Altamonte Springs around 9:00 p.m. on October 11 when they were run over by a car or SUV that fled from the scene after the accident.

The accident mortally injured the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and critically injured the teen, who was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center. Accident investigators say the vehicle that ran over them was a large white or silver sedan or sport utility vehicle. Police say that they do not yet know why the woman and teen were lying in the road.

This accident was all too familiar to Altamonte Springs residents. They have seen many pedestrian and bicycle accidents in the area over the years and have been outspoken in their quest to increase safety and awareness about the problems. They say that their accident problems have persisted for decades due to drivers cutting through the area between State Roads 434 and 436.

“Traffic problems like this, they’ve really been something that we’ve been petitioning the county for, for over 20 years, and nothing gets done,” said one concerned neighbor. “We’ve wanted speed bumps, we’ve wanted better patrolling. None of it has happened, and I hope that whoever ran over our friends, I hope that their conscience will bring them back.”

State troopers are looking for a white or silver car with a damaged or missing right headlight and other front-end damage. Anyone who may know something about the accident is asked to contact CrimeLine at (800) 423-TIPS.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has been following developments in this case closely and is very sad to see two more hit-and-run accident victims added to our area’s reputation, however bizarre the circumstances may be. For more than 34 years, he has aggressively and successfully represented injured people and helped them receive the compensation they need to pay medical bills and provide for their families while they recover from their injuries. If you would like to speak with an Orlando personal injury attorney who works hard for each client and handles each case personally, call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today to schedule a free consultation.

A local man who often works as an emcee at clubs and parties is facing charges in Osceola County for reporting a fake robbery to police in order to cover up his involvement with a hit-and-run accident. Sheriff’s deputies report that they were called recently to interview a man at Osceola Regional Medical Center who claimed he had been assaulted and robbed the night before. The man told the deputies that he had been working as an emcee at a party on Kimberlee Lane in Kissimmee the previous evening when he drank too much and passed out.

He told deputies that he awoke some time later to discover that people were “messing with his car” in front of the house. When he went out to confront several men damaging his car, he claimed that they attacked him, causing him to lose consciousness again. While interviewing the man, deputies noticed that one of his teeth was chipped and his left eye was swollen and cut. However, the alleged victim was unable to describe any of his attackers and told police that they had taken his wallet but not his iPhone. Upon further investigation, deputies found that the man’s car had been involved in a hit-and-run accident around 1:20 a.m. that morning.

Their investigation found that the man had been driving his car when the accident occurred and had fled from the scene on foot. They believe that alcohol was a factor in the accident and the man now faces numerous charges for his role in the accident, filing a false police report and other charges. The condition, age, location or any other information about the person the suspect struck with his car has not been released while the investigation continues.

It is not uncommon for drivers who cause hit-and-run accidents to fabricate a story to try to cover up their role and attempt to avoid taking responsibility for their actions. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has seen this happen many times over the years and has won many cases against these negligent individuals. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver who fled the scene, you have a right to seek damages against that person to defray the costs of medical care, lost time at work and other costs. For more information about Florida law, your rights and your legal options, schedule a free consultation with Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham today by calling 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000.

Accident investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol are asking for anyone who may be a witness of a fatal Central Florida hit-and-run accident to contact them as soon as possible. According to police, an Astatula man was walking along Duda Road near County Road 448A early on the morning of June 21, 2010 when a large truck struck and killed him. The truck then fled the scene.

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A recent WESH Orlando report claims that a woman was killed in an Orlando hit-and-run accident in early September 2009. Law enforcement officials investigating the accident say that the victim was struck and killed on the side of Goldenrod Road and the motorist who hit the woman fled from the scene. Police officials say that the Orlando hit-and-run accident occurred around 3 am when the driver of one car and the occupants of a black Nissan Altima were arguing with each other.

They say that the 24-year-old victim was driving along Goldenrod Road arguing with the people in the Altima when she stopped her vehicle in the middle of the road and confronted the people in the other car.

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Central Florida News reported that a hit-and-run accident on September 6 sent a woman to the hospital with critical injuries, and the woman’s family is pleading with the public for help in finding the driver who fled the scene. According to law enforcement officials investigating the accident, the head-on accident occurred before 3 a.m. and witnesses were unable to provide a positive description of the vehicle involved.

The 35-year-old Orlando victim was reportedly riding her motorcycle on West Colonial Drive near the intersection of Emeralda Drive when a car hit her head-on, resulting in the woman suffering critical injuries. She was treated at Orlando Regional Medical Center and was reportedly alert and talking to family and friends. The Orlando hit-and-run accident victim told family members that the impact sent her flying into the car’s windshield. She said that the car’s driver then reached through the broken glass, pushed her off the hood and then fled the scene of the accident.

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