Fatal Wrong Way Crash in Orlando

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on February 27, 2018

A 73-year-old male was killed when his car struck an oncoming vehicle last Sunday. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the two-vehicle crash happened on State Road 19 at Lake Smith Road in the early evening. For a yet-unknown reason, the 73-year-old was driving his Chevy pickup truck in the wrong direction when he struck the oncoming Chrysler van head on. Both individuals were transported to nearby hospitals. The 77-year-old was pronounced dead at Florida Hospital Waterman, while the 55-year-old was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.

Wrong-way drivers often results in a head-on collision, such as the one in the case at hand. Head-on collisions are the most dangerous type of auto accident, due to the significant amount of energy that is displaced when the two cars decelerate following the head-on impact. As seen in the case at hand, the result is often severe injuries – or even death.

Because of the dangerous nature of head-on collisions, they have been the subject of numerous intense studies. The goal of this research is to allow regulators to pass new laws aimed at reducing the number of wrong-way accidents. Through these studies, we now know that some of the most common causes of a wrong-way accident include:

• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Driving while distracted (i.e., texting while driving)
• Dangerous road conditions (such as poorly marked lanes, lack of proper signage and construction zones)
• Getting lost and being unfamiliar with the surrounding area

Any of these causes would be considered negligent – if not illegal – actions. If this negligent act (driving the wrong-way) leads to an accident that leaves another person injured, the injured victim has the right to seek compensation from the negligent driver. This compensation is meant to cover such losses as:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical treatment
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering

If you or a loved one have been injured by an Orlando wrong-way driver, you have the right to seek compensation. To ensure you get the compensation you deserve, contact the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham, P.A. today.

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.