James O. Cunningham 
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Camp Lejeune LawsuitsFebruary, 2013 | Orlando Accident & Injury Blog Archive
Stuntman Faces DUI Charges After Series of Accidents
A Seminole County man who is a famous movie stuntman may now be infamous after a series of hit-and-run incidents on Feb 13. Orlando police say that Grady Allen Bishop, 51, of Winter Springs, caused more than $10,000 worth of damage to several parked cars, a parking meter and lamppost in downtown Orlando. He faces several charges including driving while under the influence with property damage and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage.
Florida Hit-and-Run Awareness Campaign Begins This Month
Regular readers of this blog may remember a post from last summer about a 69-year-old Orlando man who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while attempting to cross the street in his wheelchair. Orlando police are still looking for the driver who killed this man and drove off to avoid taking responsibility. He was one of 23 people who were struck and killed by hit-and-run drivers in Central Florida last year. In a move strongly supported by James O. Cunningham and other Orlando personal injury attorneys, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles recently added a new page on their website, which will describe cold case hit-and-run accidents throughout Florida. The page was added as part of a new campaign to help combat hit-and-run driving and help law enforcement officials apprehend the people responsible for hit-and-run accidents.
Highway Safety Official Says Distracted Driving Data Is Unreliable
In a statement that shocked distracted driving attorneys in Orlando, a Florida highway safety official recently told lawmakers that data on how distracted driving affects Florida auto accidents is unreliable. Matthew Montgomery, Legislative Affairs Director for the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, recently told legislators that 2011 distracted driving crash data is flawed due to the way that data is collected after accidents. He said that law enforcement officials have the option to include what type of distraction caused an accident in their reports but are not required to do so. He went on to say that it is impossible to determine whether or not a driver was talking or texting while driving if he or she is killed in an accident.
Hit-and-Run Driver Who Injured Four-Year-Old Boy Arrested
Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man they say is responsible for a hit-and-run accident that injured a four-year-old boy early this month. Deputies say that the 19-year-old suspect has been charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license and burglary of an unoccupied structure. He is being held without bond in the Volusia County jail. Investigating officers say that the suspect lost control of his vehicle in a road rage incident with the driver of a green pickup truck. Deputies are still looking for the driver of the truck, as they want to interview him for additional details about the accident. Deputies told local reporters that the driver of the truck would not face any charges in connection with this hit-and-run accident.
Guest Attendance and Revenue Up at Universal Orlando
Comcast Corp., parent company of Universal Orlando Resorts and other theme parks across the country, reports that attendance and visitor spending rose in 2012. In a recent statement, Comcast reported that theme park revenue rose 9.9 percent in 2012 from revenue in 2011, from $867 million to $953 million. Comcast cited the surging popularity of Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter as the single-largest factor of the jump in revenue. The popular attraction opened three years ago and continues to attract throngs of would-be wizards of all ages.
Older Riders More Likely to Be Severely Injured in Motorcycle Accidents
James O. Cunningham and other Orlando motorcycle accident lawyers are alarmed at the findings of a recent study published in the journal Injury Prevention. The study compared the motorcycle accident statistics and severity of injuries of riders over 40 years of age with younger riders and found that older riders are three times more likely than younger riders are to suffer severe injuries in an accident. This is of particular concern to Orlando personal injury attorneys, as an increasing number of older people are purchasing motorcycles and the Orlando metropolitan area, like most of our state, is home to a larger percentage of older people than most states.
Florida Bill to Ban Red Light Cameras Advances in the House
Red light cameras in Florida municipalities have been controversial from the beginning. Opponents say that these devices invade drivers’ privacy and are strictly for generating revenue, among other complaints. Proponents of red light cameras say that these devices makes Florida roadways safer by discouraging drivers from disobeying traffic signals and preventing deadly T-bone accidents. It appears that these devices have polarized Florida lawmakers as well, as a panel in the Florida House recently passed a bill that would ban red light cameras across the state.
Lake County Teacher Arrested for Third DUI
Jason Gross, 37, a second grade teacher at Groveland Elementary School, was recently arrested for his third driving under the influence charge. Florida Highway Patrol troopers recently arrested the man on University Boulevard in Orlando after he did an illegal U-turn. When the trooper asked Gross for his driver’s license after pulling him over, the trooper reported that Gross handed him a gift card from his billfold and a "business only" driver’s permit from DHSMV.
Clermont Announces Plans to Install Red Light Cameras at 13 Intersections
Florida lawmakers may be getting ready to ban red light cameras across our state, but many communities are continuing plans to install new cameras at problem intersections. The Central Florida town of Clermont is the most recent community to announce plans to install the devices. City officials recently announced that they would be adding these devices at 13 intersections along State Road 50 and U.S. Highway 27 to prevent accidents and discourage drivers from disobeying traffic signals.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.