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 rider was issued a citation for failing to have a motorcycle endorsement on his driver’s license and was taken to Shands at the University of Florida shortly after the crash where he is listed in serious condition. The truck driver received a citation for violating the rider’s right-of-way. Troopers say he either overlooked the cyclist trying to lawfully merge with traffic on the freeway or deliberately failed to observe his right-of-way to intimidate the rider. The motorcyclist was attempting to merge onto the freeway from an onramp on the left when the left side of the pickup struck him.

Regrettably, this is an all-too-familiar scenario for Florida motorcyclists. They report that they have to be extra alert for drivers of passenger cars and trucks who deliberately try to intimidate them by failing to observe their right-of-way, following too closely from behind, slamming on their brakes in order to make the rider take evasive action and other negligent acts. Some Florida drivers dangerously think that our state’s streets and highways are for their use and no one else’s, and they use these road rage episodes to frighten riders. In many cases, these episodes lead to serious motorcycle accidents that injure and kill riders.

Have you or someone in your family been injured in a motorcycle accident caused by a driver engaged in these or other negligent acts? If so, you may be entitled to damages to help pay medical bills, replace lost wages and cover other related costs. For more information about your rights and legal options, contact Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Mr. Cunningham has represented riders and their families since 1977 and is very skilled and experienced in helping them receive compensation through settlements and court awards. Call today to get an aggressive Orlando personal injury attorney on your side!

FHP troopers said the collision threw both riders from the motorcycle and they suffered critical injuries. The man driving the motorcycle was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he is listed in critical but stable condition. His female passenger was airlifted to Florida Hospital East, where she was pronounced dead from her injuries. The accident closed the westbound lanes of S.R. 520 for a few hours while FHP troopers investigated the accident, and charges are pending against the pickup driver.

It’s difficult to imagine that a driver could fail to notice the oscillating lights and loud siren of a police vehicle attempting to pull someone over, but that appears to be what happened in this tragic motorcycle accident. Troopers have not yet released details about the accident, but the driver of the truck could have been texting or talking on a cell phone, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, eating while driving, reaching for an object on the floor or otherwise failing to devote full attention to the safe operation of the vehicle. If officers determine that the truck driver was negligent, he or she may be liable for damages in a wrongful death and/or personal injury case.

If a negligent driver has injured you or a close family member and you want to speak with an Orlando personal injury lawyer to learn more about the law, your rights and your legal options, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. He has been helping injured people throughout Florida since 1977 and has a reputation of working hard to help each client receive the maximum amount of damages. He assists clients from law offices conveniently located throughout Central Florida. Call today to get an experienced Orlando personal injury attorney on your side.

Regular readers of this blog know that we often discuss how aggressive driving on the part of automobile drivers usually contributes to fatal motorcycle accidents in our area. However, it is important to note that sometimes it is the motorcyclists who engage in risky, negligent behavior that causes motorcycle accidents. It must be said that negligent drivers are far more likely to cause motorcycle accidents that result in serious and fatal injuries for bikers. Victims of accidents caused by negligent motorcyclists are entitled to the same rights and damages as injured bikers are. Examples of motorcyclists operating their bikes in a risky and negligent manner include the following:

• Riding while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Speeding
• Running red lights
• Road rage
• Riding too fast for conditions
• Talking on a cell phone or reading texts while riding
• Tailgating
• Other negligent behavior that endangers everyone on and near the roadway

If a negligent motorcyclist has injured you or someone in your family and you want to pursue damages, contact Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Mr. Cunningham has skillfully and aggressively protected the rights of injured people since 1977 and works hard to ensure that all clients receive the fair and just compensation they deserve.

The victim was transported to Health Central Hospital, where she died from her injuries. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol say charges against the truck driver are pending while they wait for toxicology test results. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has seen tragic motorcycle accidents like this far too many times in the nearly 35 years he has represented injured people in cases against negligent motorists. Even when properly equipped, riders have little to protect them when they are struck by vehicles weighing thousands of pounds and often suffer catastrophic injuries such as the following:

• Paraplegia
• Quadriplegia
• Disfigurement
• Compound fractures
• Crushing internal injuries
• Severed limbs
• Other severe injuries that change the course of the victim’s life forever

Making matters worse, insurance companies representing the negligent drivers who cause these accidents use their legal teams, resources and other means to discredit injured persons’ claims to reduce their exposure to damages. This is one of the many reasons why injured people need an experienced, aggressive Orlando personal injury attorney like Mr. Cunningham to protect their rights, look out for their interests while they recover from their injuries and help them receive the damages they deserve.

These damages can help accident victims provide for their families while they recover from their injuries, pay medical bills, replace lost wages and compensate them for pain and suffering. If you or a close family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident or another kind of accident caused by the negligent actions of another person and you want to learn more about your legal options, contact Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer James O. Cunningham today. He has law offices conveniently located throughout Central Florida, and you can schedule your free consultation by calling 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000.

Troopers say they don’t expect to file charges against the driver of the pickup, but they are seeking the driver or drivers who struck the victim after the collision and drove away. Troopers were quick to point out that they only want to question the driver or drivers and that, depending on the outcome of the interview, they may or may not face charges for leaving the scene of an accident. FHP spokesperson Sgt. Kim Montes said that drivers aren’t always aware that they have struck someone on the road.

“In a lot of these cases, people don’t know they ran over a person,” Montes said. “They think they ran over an animal or debris and they may not notice until later, when they see blood on the car.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or knows anything about it is encouraged to contact the Florida Highway Patrol.

As previously mentioned, sometimes motorcycle riders operate their bikes in a negligent manner and cause accidents. They have the same responsibilities as motorists and given the high rate of motorcycle accidents in Florida and riders’ lack of protection even when properly equipped, you would hope that they would operate their bikes with more care. If you or a close family member has been struck and injured by a negligent rider and you have questions about your legal options, call Orlando motorcycle injury lawyer James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

Drivers violating motorcyclists’ rights of way are a very common cause of motorcycle accidents in Florida. Whether the toxicology test come back positive for alcohol intoxication or not, the driver of the van was negligent in failing to observe the rider’s right of way and can be liable for damages. Call 888-425-2004 to schedule a free consultation with Orlando motorcycle accident attorney James O. Cunningham if you or a close family member has been injured in a motorcycle accident.

The Rossmeyers decided to continue to use their father’s name and image on local billboards promoting the event as a lasting tribute to the man who built his business with a hands-on approach and invested so much of himself in creating the Bike Week event. The current recession has taken a toll on disposable income that drove motorcycle sales and popularity over the last several years. However, the family has seen these cycles come and go over many years of being in business and remains optimistic.

Each of the Bruce’s five children, at least one spouse and his former business partners are still active in managing the businesses. All of the children are directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the businesses, and one sibling said that they all pitch in as their schedules allow. One daughter directly involved in managing the businesses said that although some of the family’s dealerships are for sale, they plan to focus on growing and improving many of their businesses in and around Daytona and other central Florida locations.

She said, “It’s not a secret that my father started here, and at the end of the road, knew that his core business would end up here. He ventured to those other dealerships because he had that opportunity. He loved the challenge of taking other stores and building them out to be profitable. At Daytona, we have no intentions to do anything but make it stronger. We’re moving together as a team, being involved, keep moving forward. My dad brought so much to the table in different aspects. There will be strengths he had that I’ll never have.”

One of the unfortunate aspects of celebrating and participating in Bike Week each year is the spike in motorcycle accidents that accompanies the influx of riders into Daytona and the surrounding area. Some of the most common factors that contribute to the regrettable rise in Bike Week motorcycle accidents are driver negligence and failure to honor a motorcyclist’s right of way. Whether you live in Central Florida or came here from hundreds of miles away, if you or someone you care for has been injured or worse in a motorcycle accident, Orlando motorcycle accident lawyer James O. Cunningham will review your potential claim to determine what compensation you may be entitled to under the law. . For experienced and skilled personal injury representation, contact Bike Week motorcycle accident attorney James O. Cunningham today.

Resource Link:  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-03-03/news/os-shelly-rossmeyer-bike-week-legacy-20100303_1_bike-week-destination-daytona-motorcycle

The police say they noticed the naked rider early one morning on I75 and pulled him over for running a red light. The 45-year-old rider admitted that he had been drinking and a breathalyzer returned blood alcohol levels of .178 and .162-both dangerously over Florida’s legal limit of 0.08. The naked rider told police he had been drinking at a local restaurant. Police found a shirt and shawl hanging around the motorcycle’s handlebars and requested that the rider wear them. Records indicated that this drunken driving conviction was the rider’s fifth offense.

In a related incident two days later, the Florida Highway Patrol arrested another motorcyclist riding his blue Honda on I95 in Flagler County without any clothes on. FHP officers claimed that the 45-year-old rider was performing a sexual act while riding and intentionally exposed himself to a woman driving a tractor-trailer and her passenger, her 11-year-old son. The man was not charged with driving under the influence, but faces charges of lascivious exhibition and indecent exposure.

Although some aspects of these stories may be humorous, there is nothing amusing about people operating any kind of vehicle under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. In 2006, 1111 people were killed in alcohol-related accidents and thousands more were injured. Drunk driving is exceptionally egregious because it is entirely preventable. People who drink and drive know that their behavior is illegal and negligent but do it anyway and endanger the lives of others.

If you or someone you care for has been injured or killed in an accident caused by a drunken driver, Orlando drunk driving accident attorney James O. Cunningham may be able to help. Since 1977, he has helped victims receive the compensation they deserve. Schedule a free consultation with Orlando drunk driving accident lawyer James O. Cunningham by calling the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham today.