Winter Park Cyclist Injured After Collision with Garbage Truck

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on May 31, 2017

On a beautiful and sunny Tuesday in Winter Park, many cyclists were out soaking up the clear air and sunshine. Riding a bicycle is one of the greatest pleasures that the warm and clear weather brings, and this day was no exception.

Unfortunately, riding a bicycle also comes along with certain risks and uncertainties, exemplified by a particularly bizarre incident that happened on Tuesday between a cyclist and a garbage truck. The cyclist, who has yet to be named, was riding near the Helen Street Mobile Home Park, situated near State Road 434 and Winter Park Drive. According to the report filed by the Winter Park Police Department, the cyclist was headed down the street when he collided with the boom claw attachment of a garbage truck.

Although it is not clear whether or not the garbage truck was moving at the time, the impact between the claw and the cyclist was damaging enough to send the cyclist to Central Florida Regional Hospital with injuries that are listed as being serious. The driver of the garbage truck did not sustain any injuries as a result of the crash.

The situation is still under investigation by Winter Park authorities, but at this time it is not at all known what caused the cyclist to collide with the claw attachment. Normally, the attachment is secured inside of the garbage vehicle unless it is in operation. When the claw gets used, the sanitation vehicle should be fully stopped. Additionally, the use of the claw is a highly visible operation which makes it strange that the cyclist collided with the device.

Initial tests results indicate that the driver of the garbage truck was not suffering from any adverse affects due to drugs or alcohol. Evidence of such substances would have made this particular case easy to close, however, as it stands now the, authorities are still looking for the precise reasons as to why the cyclist collided with the claw arm.

Collisions between automobiles and bicycles are particularly dangerous accidents as the cyclists are operating on vehicles that are far slower than cars as well as offering the rider much less protection in the case of collision.

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.