Motorcycle Accident

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.

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.

A collision between a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle has sent the rider to the hospital with critical injuries. The investigation is still underway, but officers with the Melbourne Police Department say the motorcycle accident occurred around 9:35 p.m. on Friday, July 22. They report that the motorcyclist was eastbound on Parkway Drive when a westbound Honda Accord failed to yield at a green light and turned in front of the rider. Police say the rider had no time to take evasive action and struck the side of the Honda. The force of the collision threw the rider more than 20 feet.
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A motorcyclist and an occupant in a vehicle that struck the motorcyclist were killed recently in a bizarre series of accidents that claimed two lives in Volusia County. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol say the two accidents occurred on State Road 415 near Reed Ellis Road south of Osteen. The first accident occurred around 12:35 a.m. when the motorcyclist crossed the centerline of S.R. 415 and was struck by a pickup truck driven by a Sanford man. The collision killed the rider, a 48-year-old Macon, GA man, who was trapped under the 2008 Mazda truck along with his 2008 Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
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A Good Samaritan who witnessed a hit-and-run motorcycle accident in Pembroke Park that critically injured a man is outraged that someone could knowingly strike a rider and then flee the scene to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. John Roxey witnessed the accident, and he, along with another witness, trailed the hit-and-run driver, apprehended him and held him until police arrived. He wanted to make sure the driver was held responsible for his actions and did not get away with leaving the scene of an accident he caused.
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Daytona Beach Police are looking for information in connection with a hit-and-run motorcycle accident that injured two riders on the afternoon of May 8. Police say the accident occurred around 3:55 in the afternoon at the intersection of Oakridge Boulevard and Peninsula Avenue. They say a Honda Accord was heading eastbound on Oakridge and ran a red light, causing the two victims on the motorcycle to strike the side of the Accord. The pair on the motorcycle had been traveling north on Peninsula when the Accord sped through the intersection. The driver of the Accord quickly left the accident scene.
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Jacksonville Police have charged a 33-year-old Jacksonville woman with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injuries after a collision that left a 28-year-old mother of three and college student in critical condition. Police say the driver pulled her car out in front of the victim’s motorcycle in the 9900 block of Lem Turner Road, near Trout River Boulevard just before noon recently. The motorcycle accident victim was returning home after leaving a class at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
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Florida’s streets and highways have been somewhat safer for motorcyclists over the last couple of years. Recent statistics indicate that for the first nine months of 2010, there were seven fewer motorcycle fatalities than the same time in 2009 and 80 fewer fatalities across the country during that time. Bikers say that part of the drop in fatal accidents is due to increased awareness of distracted drivers. Bikers say they see more drivers talking and texting on cell phones while behind the wheel these days, but they are getting better at giving them a wide berth. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham is pleased to hear that motorcycle accident fatalities are down, but cautions that there is plenty of room for improvement in preventing motorcycle accidents and resulting injuries and deaths.
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A motorcycle accident on the afternoon of March 11 has claimed the life of a Lake City man. Florida Highway Patrol accident investigators say the man was riding his motorcycle northbound on U.S. 441 when the driver of a Ford Escort made an illegal U-turn directly in front of him. The 59-year-old victim was rushed to Shands at Lake Shore shortly after the accident where he died of his injuries. Police say the accident occurred around 5:15 p.m. when the southbound Escort driven by a 40-year-old Lake City man attempted the U-turn to head north. In attempting the turn, the driver pulled off the shoulder of the road and turned right into the path of the victim’s 2009 Yamaha. The victim had no time to take evasive action and collided with the side of the car, which caused him to be thrown from his motorcycle. Charges are pending against the driver of the Escort.
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A horrific motorcycle accident closed the westbound lanes of Interstate 4 for nearly three hours recently near Maitland. Maitland Police say that there was traffic backup from the intersection with State Road 436 in Altamonte Springs to well past the intersection with Lake Mary Boulevard. Details about the crash were still unknown, but Maitland Police say the accident began when the rider collided with a car. The impact threw the rider an undisclosed distance, and he was unresponsive when paramedics arrived at the scene. He was taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center where he was listed in critical condition.
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