SUV Heading Wrong Way Caused Fatal Motorcycle Accident

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on January 22, 2013

Florida Highway Patrol troopers say that a sports utility vehicle driving the wrong way caused a series of accidents that killed a motorcyclist. Troopers report that the accidents involved four vehicles in addition to the motorcycle and shut down 13th Street in St. Cloud, a major roadway in the city, for eight hours. They report that a 73-year-old St. Cloud woman was driving the SUV on Oct. 15 on U.S. Highway 192 — known as 13th Street in St. Cloud — when she fainted or became otherwise unable to control her vehicle. Her Chevrolet Equinox collided head-on with a westbound Harley-Davidson operated by a 54-year-old Barefoot Bay man around 3:30 that afternoon. The rider was rushed to Orlando Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead from his injuries at 5:50 p.m.

After the initial collision, the victim’s motorcycle collided with a westbound Honda motorcycle driven by the victim’s 20-year-old neighbor. This collision caused the rider and his passenger to be ejected from their motorcycle, but neither was seriously injured. After the SUV collided with the first motorcycle, it struck a Ford Expedition SUV head-on, injuring a 46-year-old St. Cloud couple. The driver of the Equinox suffered a broken wrist in the collisions. Troopers did not issue the woman a ticket, but their report said that she failed to stay in the proper lane and also failed to yield the right-of-way to the victim. Troopers did say that the woman might be cited when they receive their final autopsy report and close the investigation.

It might be difficult to say that the lady driving the SUV was negligent based on the information available. There may or may not be extenuating circumstances that could indicate whether negligence was a contributing factor in this fatal accident. A consultation with an Orlando personal injury attorney such as James O. Cunningham would likely clear up some of the uncertainties of this case from a legal standpoint. That’s why prospective clients consult with Mr. Cunningham and other Orlando personal injury lawyers. They want to know more about their rights and legal options so that they can determine what will be the best course of action for them and their families. If you have suffered an injury and would like to speak with an experienced attorney, call Mr. Cunningham today at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587) to schedule your free consultation.

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.