Orlando Personal Injury Blog

The investigation continues into a pileup that has killed ten people and injured several others. The crashes occurred on a stretch of I-75 near Gainesville, FL late Saturday, January 28 and early Sunday, the 29th. It has been reported that wreckage was strewn along the road for about a mile, and the highway was closed for hours. One survivor said that the scene looked “like the end of the world.”

It appears that a patch of fog in addition to smoke from a 62-acre fire that started Saturday in Paynes Prairie, a wildlife area near the highway just south of Gainesville, resulted in extremely low visibility for drivers. A spokeswoman for the Florida Forest Service said that it was unknown how the fire started. Sadie Darnell, Alachua County Sheriff, reported that the first deputies to arrive on the scene were only able to see a few inches in front of their faces due to the smoke, fog and darkness. Rescuers could only listen for the screams of victims. At least 12 passenger cars and seven big rigs collided in both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-75. People with injuries went to Shands Hospital, and authorities hope to release the names of the victims Monday.

If you’ve been injured in an auto accident, it’s important to contact a skilled personal injury lawyer who can help you build a case and establish the at-fault party in the accident. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham has been helping injured people since 1977, and he can help you get the compensation you need to cover medical bills and time away from work as well as other expenses. Call 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 today to schedule your free consultation.

A spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol has announced that a Seminole County Sheriff’s Deputy was killed recently in a motorcycle accident north of Orlando on December 26. FHP accident investigators say the 53-year-old deputy was on his motorcycle pursuing a speeding driver on Maitland Boulevard at Gateway Drive when a Volkswagen Jetta turned directly in front of him, causing the deputy’s motorcycle to collide with the Volkswagen. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham was saddened to hear about this accident, citing another tragic instance where a vehicle turned directly into the path of a rider, giving little or no time to react.

FHP investigators say the driver of the Jetta was attempting to turn left onto Gateway Drive from eastbound Maitland Boulevard when it turned in front of the deputy’s motorcycle. The collision caused the Jetta to flip over onto its top, crushing the deputy and his motorcycle.

A witness described the horrific motorcycle accident, saying, “It sounded like an explosion, or a big rig truck hitting something solid. It was loud. It wasn’t just a screeching tire. It was all of a sudden, it was a fatal impact, and you’re seeing the devastation.”

Officers said that the deputy’s lights were flashing at the time of the accident but did not know if his siren was on or how fast he was going while pursuing the speeder. Flags at the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office and other county agencies were flown at half-staff to honor the fallen deputy.

This tragic accident is all too common in Florida. Our state is among the worst in the country for motorcycle accidents each year. To illustrate the scope of the problem in our state, consider that in 2010, there were 7,484 motorcycle accidents in Florida, which killed 383 people and injured at least 7,400 riders and passengers. Many of these victims were injured or killed in accidents similar to this one in which a car turns directly into the path of a motorcycle.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, you need an effective, experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer to protect your rights, advise you of your legal options, work hard to help you seek compensation and inform your decisions through this difficult time. Call Orlando motorcycle accident attorney James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation and get the skilled and experienced legal representation you deserve.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham has seen Orange County and the rest of our state change in many ways since he began practicing law in 1977. Some changes have been for the better, and others have been decidedly for the worse. Our state’s auto accident statistics would definitely fall in the latter category. To illustrate the scope of Florida’s auto accident problems, consider the following 2010 auto accident statistics:

• There were an astonishing 235,461 auto accidents throughout Florida for an average of 645 accidents each day.
• There were 2,261 fatal auto accidents that claimed the lives of 2,444 people.
• At least 195,104 people were injured seriously enough in these accidents to warrant an emergency room visit.

Alcohol-Related Florida Auto Accidents for 2010

There were 17,748 alcohol-related auto accidents in Florida last year, a truly frightening number when you consider that everyone knows about the dangers of drunk driving. Yet, in spite of knowing that driving while drunk is reckless and negligent, tens of thousands of Florida drivers got behind the wheel after drinking. Consider the following Florida drunk driving accident statistics:

• There were 7,825 accidents that resulted in injuries.
• 794 Floridians were killed.
• 12,168 people were injured.
• 2010’s numbers are down 11.64 percent from the number of alcohol-related accidents in 2009.

Drug-Related Florida Auto Accidents for 2010

Drivers under the influence of drugs are also a persistent problem on Florida roadways. When we hear of a drug-related auto accident, we often think of illegal drugs. While there are certainly drivers out there who are under the influence of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and other illegal drugs, prescription medication abuse among drivers is actually a much larger problem and greater danger. To illustrate the scope of the problem of Florida drivers impaired by drugs of all kinds, consider the following drug-related auto accident statistics for 2010:

• There were 1,236 drug-related auto accidents.
• 106 people were killed in drug-related accidents.
• 957 people were injured in drug-related accidents.

The auto accident statistics listed above are a small fraction of the auto accident numbers for Florida in 2010. If you or a family member is injured in an auto accident caused by a negligent driver and you want to seek legal action to recover damages, contact Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham today to schedule a free consultation. Mr. Cunningham has law offices conveniently located throughout our state, so contact him today toll-free at 888-425-2004 to schedule a consultation at the office nearest you.

A Titusville man was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition recently after a motorcycle accident. Accident investigators with the Florida Highway Patrol say that the 48-year-old man was riding his motorcycle near the intersection of County Road 42 and County Road 25 shortly before 5 p.m. when he improperly passed a stopped vehicle. They say the man tried to get around a vehicle that had stopped for an as-yet unknown reason by passing the vehicle on the right shoulder when he slammed his 2001 Yamaha V-Star motorcycle into a minivan that had also stopped.

After accident responders arrived at the scene, they found that the rider’s injuries were so severe that they called in a helicopter to airlift the man to the hospital. The accident closed the busy intersection for more than two hours while accident investigators evaluated the scene and cleanup crews cleared the roads of debris. The 46-year-old driver of the minivan and his 32-year-old female passenger were unhurt in the accident.

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham would like to remind readers that although motorcycle riders are often the victims of reckless drivers, they can also operate their bikes recklessly and cause accidents that injure others. When riders fail to observe the rules of the road, they endanger themselves and everyone around them. When their recklessness injures others, they can be held liable for damages just like reckless drivers of automobiles and their victims have just as much right to seek compensation through negotiated settlements or court awards.

If you or a member of your immediate family has been injured by the negligent actions of another party and you want to learn more about your rights, the law and your legal options, schedule a free consultation with James O. Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham has been helping injured people since 1977 and has the experience, skills, knowledge of the courts at every level and the resources to help you and your family. He has been building effective cases against negligent parties for decades, and his record of success makes him stand out from other Orlando personal injury attorneys. To schedule at consultation with Mr. Cunningham at one of his law offices throughout Central Florida, call him today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000.

Accident investigators from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) are investigating a Florida boating accident that claimed the life of one man and critically injured a woman. They say the 41-year-old man and 45-year-old woman were southbound in the Intracoastal Waterway near Hollywood around 1:40 a.m. recently when their boat crashed into a seawall head-on. The impact split the boat’s hull in half, pinning the man against the seawall and hurling the woman into the water. The crash occurred in an area marked as a no wake zone, where boats are expected to travel slowly and operators are supposed to exercise extra caution.

However, FWC investigators say that the boat was traveling at a very high rate of speed when the accident occurred. They said that after colliding with one seawall, the boat’s momentum caused it to carom into another seawall across the Intracoastal Waterway. Officials say that if the vessel had been traveling at the posted speed limit, the collision would have been minor, the boat would have had little damage and both people would have likely been able to walk away from the accident.

When rescuers arrived, the man was trapped in the wreckage as it began to sink, and the woman was floating unconscious in the water. Hollywood Fire Rescue Captain Patrick Keller reported that as many as 20 rescuers spent nearly half an hour cutting the wrecked vessel with chainsaws trying to free the man.

Charles Hansen of Fast Response Marine Towing was one of the rescuers on the scene. He frantically pumped water from the sinking vessel in order to buy time for the injured man and rescuers trying to free him.

“It was a frantic scene,” Hansen said. “It was one of the few times I’ve ever had to pump, not just to save a boat but to save a life.”

Officials say the man had a history of being cited for careless operation of a watercraft.

The boating season in our state continues all year in Florida, and Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham would like to remind readers to exercise caution at all times when out on our state’s waterways. Make sure that all of your safety equipment is on board and is ready to use in case of emergency, and operate your watercraft defensively at all times. If a negligent boater injures you or a member of your family and you want to learn more about your legal options, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000. Schedule a free consultation with Mr. Cunningham to get an experienced and aggressive Orlando personal injury attorney on your side!

Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham is closely following developments in an elder abuse case that casts all legal professionals in a bad light. A disbarred Kissimmee lawyer was recently sentenced to two years in prison for defrauding elderly people out of their life’s savings. Linda Vasquez, who is also known as Linda Littlefield, pleaded no contest last spring to charges that she created a scheme that defrauded senior citizens out of $20,000 or more. The State of Florida dropped 11 counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information in the case, but the 40-year-old ex-lawyer was ordered to pay an undisclosed amount of restitution to her victims.

Vasquez’s ex-husband, 47-year-old Ross Littlefield, is scheduled to receive his sentence in connection with the elder fraud case on February 24. He pleaded no contest this month to one count of fraudulent use of a credit card. The state dropped ten more fraud charges and one count of scheme to defraud against him in connection with the case. The ex-couple are the targets of numerous lawsuits, as are the pooled trust they controlled, foundations that administered the trust and Medicaid Benefits Experts, a company Vasquez created in Tampa in 2010 after her initial arrest. The plaintiffs in the lawsuits claim that hundreds of thousands of dollars held in the trust have disappeared, representing the entire life’s savings of many victims.

Mr. Cunningham is indignant at the actions of the former couple for two reasons: they preyed upon and defrauded vulnerable seniors, and at least one of them betrayed their professional and moral obligations as an attorney. Simply put, their actions are unconscionable and indefensible.

Mr. Cunningham has built his reputation as an aggressive Orlando personal injury lawyer helping people injured in accidents, but he also has a proven record of success helping victims of elder abuse. His skills and experience building effective personal injury cases have helped countless victims of abuse and their families receive the fair and just compensation they deserve. If you or someone you love is a victim of elder abuse of any kind and you would like to learn more about the law, your rights and your legal options, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

House of Raeford has announced that they are voluntarily recalling more than 4,100 pounds of a cooked chicken breast product due to possible bacterial contamination. After conducting an investigation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said that the chicken may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which can lead to listeriosis, a potentially fatal disease. The product was distributed to delicatessens and food service facilities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina for further processing.

Consumers and foodservice workers are cautioned to look for 18- to 22-pound boxes containing two 9- to 11-pound “BONELESS OVEN ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST” products. The recalled chicken will carry the establishment number “P-239A” inside the USDA inspection mark along with a product code of “94268″ and a package date of “1270″ (September 27, 2011).

Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham is especially concerned about this food recall as listeriosis can be fatal to people with compromised immune systems, such as young children and senior citizens. Most people who ingest this bacterium suffer from unpleasant but manageable symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, fever, muscle aches and other flu-like symptoms.

In children and older adults, listeriosis can lead to deadly conditions such as septicemia and meningitis, which can quickly overwhelm their immune systems. Even if they aren’t fatal, these conditions can severely compromise their health, independence and quality of life. Mr. Cunningham urges anyone who may have purchased and/or eaten this product to contact the establishment where it was purchased. For more information, they can also contact their local health department.

When we buy a product of any kind, we have a right to expect that it is safe to use. Sadly, a cursory glance at any newspaper or news program on television will reveal that this is frequently not the case. Whether they know that their product is unsafe to use or not, manufacturers of defective products can be held liable for damages by anyone who has suffered due to the product. If you have been injured due to a defective product and you would like to speak with an Orlando personal injury attorney who has a proven record of success in product liability cases, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation.

Nearly 40 former factory workers who have developed cancers and other serious illnesses from drinking and washing with tainted drinking water have settled a multimillion-dollar five-year legal battle against Siemens Corp. and General Dynamics Corp. The victims claimed that the companies negligently handled toxins that leaked into nearby drinking water sources that eventually caused a variety of cancers and other life-threatening illnesses. Gladys Elder, a 32-year employee at the Lake Mary plant that makes telecommunications equipment was pleased that the long legal battle with the corporations was at an end.

“I’m just glad it’s over with,” she said, echoing what many of her coworkers said. Elder is a 70-year-old retiree who was diagnosed with kidney cancer more than ten years ago. She and her coworkers accused the corporations of making them sick by improperly handling industrial solvents such as trichloroethene (TCE), which was used to clean circuit boards and other electronic equipment at the plant.

Siemens AG owned the plant in 2001 and ordered workers to stop drinking the water after TCE was discovered. TCE is a known carcinogen that has caused cancer in laboratory animals. Workers had sued TCE at the plant from the time it opened in 1968 until 1986, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. After using the solvent to clean electronics, workers poured it into 55-gallon drums that were rusty and leaked the solvent into nearby groundwater over time. The tainted water was pumped inside the plant, where workers used it to wash their hands and make coffee. The plant was closed in 2003 after being owned and operated by five different corporations over the years, including United Technologies Corp., Marconi Communications Inc. and Siemens. Each corporation was a defendant in the lawsuit, and, while details about the settlement were unknown, it is believed that different employees were awarded different amounts.

Former employee and plaintiff Wallace Brottem was one of the recipients of the settlement. He has been diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, an illness with symptoms similar to leukemia. He did not reveal how much he received in the settlement, but doubted that the amount would help pay the more than $1 million in medical bills he has incurred to treat his illness. Many of the former employees and plaintiffs in the suit died before the suit was settled.

This sad story illustrates how important it is to retain the services of an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer. While no amount of damages awarded in a court award or settlement can undo damage caused by corporate irresponsibility, it can help victims provide for their families and get the level of care they need. If you believe that your health has been impaired by someone’s negligence and you’d 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.

A young man was hospitalized with undisclosed injuries recently after getting his hand caught in a machine at an Orlando bakery. Details about the workplace accident are still sketchy, but police say the young man was working at around 12:30 a. m. one recent morning when his hand got caught in the auger of a machine at Aladdin Food and Bakery at 655 S. Golden Rod Road in the Rio Plaza. Firefighters arrived shortly after the accident and worked for around an hour to free the young man’s hand from the machine. They say he was preparing a large batch of bread dough when his hand got caught in the auger. Although they did not disclose the extent of the victim’s injuries, firefighters said that the teen’s fingers were intact when they extracted his hand from the machine. They said that after they freed him from the machine, they wrapped his injured hand in gauze and transported him to Arnold Palmer Hospital for treatment.

Any job involving heavy machinery can be dangerous whether the person is working in a bakery, a construction site, a machine shop or any other workplace. However, strict safety guidelines issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration over the last several decades have made workplaces much safer for workers. Regrettably, not all employers adhere to these safety standards and put profits before the health and safety of their workers. It is not yet known whether or not the Aladdin Food and Bakery removed safety equipment to increase productivity, but, if they did, they can be held liable for damages that their negligence and disregard for safety caused this young worker.

If you or a family member has been injured on the job, it is a very good idea to consult with an experienced Orlando personal injury lawyer such as James O. Cunningham. An attorney can explain the laws that apply to your situation, investigate the accident, negotiate with the employer, insurance companies, workers’ compensation officials and others and work hard to help you receive the best possible outcome for your case. If you’ve been hurt at work and have questions about your legal options, call Mr. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to get an Orlando personal injury attorney with a proven record of success in these matters on your side.

A hazing incident at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University has led to serious injuries for one freshman and the arrests of three people who broke the victim’s leg and caused other injuries. Tallahassee Police arrested three young men aged 19, 22 and 23 for felony battery for injuring the 18-year-old member of the school’s “Marching 100” band. In addition to a broken femur, the victim suffered blood clots and bruised bones in her legs. The victim said she suffered the beatings on October 31 and November 1 while the Marching 100 band was in Orlando to perform at halftime of the Florida Classic football game. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham is closely following developments in this case, as it is distressingly similar to a similar hazing incident that claimed the life of a 26-year-old FAMU drum major who collapsed and died in October. Police suspect that hazing led to this victim’s death.

The victim told police that she suffered the physical abuse when she tried to join a band club called the “Red Dawg Order,” which includes members from Georgia. She said she was struck repeatedly by two of the members at a meeting of the club held at a member’s apartment. She said she was forced to lift her legs as if she was marching in the band and the three arrested men punched her on top of her thighs more than 20 times. The next day at another meeting in the same apartment, the victim and other pledges were beaten by two of the men because they could not recite information that they were supposed to remember about the club. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the State Board of Governors are investigating the incidents.

The beatings that the victim received and her injuries suggest a great deal more than hazing pranks. To James O. Cunningham and other Orlando personal injury lawyers, the incidents sound a lot more like assault, and the victim may be able to pursue damages against the three individuals. Medical treatment for her injuries is likely to climb into the thousands of dollars, and damages awarded in a lawsuit or settlement could help her pay these bills while she attends college. If you have been assaulted and want to explore your legal options, call James O. Cunningham today at 888-425-2004 or 407-425-2000 to schedule a free consultation. He has law offices conveniently located throughout Central Florida and works hard to help clients receive the fair and just compensation they deserve.