James O. Cunningham 
Bicycle Accidents
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Camp Lejeune LawsuitsOrlando Accident & Injury Blog
Brevard County Man Charged in Connection With Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident
A Brevard County man charged in connection with a hit-and-run bicycle accident that seriously injured a seven-year-old boy riding his bicycle was arrested and taken into custody recently. Investigating officers say the boy was riding his bike near the intersection of Alma Boulevard and George Edwards Court on Thursday, May 26 when he tried to cross the road. Police say a Ford Ranger driven by the 41-year-old Brevard County man struck the boy and that the driver then fled the scene of the accident. Orlando personal injury attorney James O. Cunningham would like to remind readers that in the event of an accident, especially a hit-and-run accident, it is everyone’s responsibility to write down a description of the vehicle and driver and report the accident to police as soon as possible.
Worker Killed in Orlando Amusement Park Accident
An accident at the I-Drive attraction at the Magical Midway Thrill Park claimed the life of a worker recently after he fell while working on the ride. The accident investigation is ongoing, but early reports state that the accident occurred around 2 p.m. while he was working on the I-Drive at the Orlando-area amusement park at 7001 International Drive. The 30-year-old victim was at around 90 feet in the air and wearing a safety harness while working on the ride when he fell, according to Battalion Chief Mark Smothers with Orange County Fire Rescue. Smothers did not know why the man fell, but he said that the man fell around six feet before being caught by the safety harness he was wearing at the time of the accident.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Florida Cap on Medical Malpractice Damages
In a move that disappointed many Orlando personal injury lawyers, a federal appeals court in Atlanta has upheld the constitutionality of a Florida law that caps damages that victims can receive in medical malpractice cases. A three-judge panel of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals made their ruling recently and issued a statement that the Florida law “passes muster” of the U.S. Constitution and Florida Constitution. Their ruling came after the family of a Florida woman named Michelle McCall claimed medical malpractice was responsible for her death after childbirth in 2006. They filed a lawsuit against a doctor they claimed was negligent.
Woman Killed When BBQ Smoker Detaches From SUV and Strikes Her Vehicle
A 41-year-old Orlando woman was killed on the evening of May 31 when a BBQ smoker being towed by a sports utility vehicle in front of her detached from its hitch and struck her vehicle. The accident occurred around 10:21 p.m. on Old Winter Garden Road near the intersection with Deleon Avenue when a smoker being towed by a 1998 Lincoln Navigator became detached. The smoker then traveled across Old Winter Garden Road and collided with the driver’s side of a 1988 Ford Mustang driven by the victim. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol say that the woman died at the scene from her injuries, and charges are pending against the driver of the SUV.
Florida Bicycle Safety Law Not Widely Known or Enforced
A Florida law passed a few years ago to help protect bicyclists from becoming bicycle accident victims has received little publicity or enforcement from state and local police according to recent findings. Five years ago, state lawmakers passed a law that requires motorists to maintain at least three feet of space when passing a bicyclist. Since then, only a few hundred drivers have received tickets for violating this law, and most had no idea that such a law was on the books. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham would like to remind his readers to give riders even more room than the required three feet when passing them to reduce bicycle accidents and make roadways safer for everyone.
FHP Officers Alarmed by Rising Blood-Alcohol Levels in Drivers
A recent drunk driving accident illustrated the dangers that impaired drivers present to themselves and anyone else on the road. A drunk driver involved in an accident with a school bus in south Lake County this year had a blood-alcohol level that doctors say would be lethal to most people. The 54-year-old driver had a BAC of 0.426 percent, more than five times the 0.08 percent level that is considered legally drunk in Florida. Florida Highway Patrol officers were not surprised that the driver survived the accident, but were astonished that he survived imbibing a lethal dose of alcohol.
One Boater Dead and Another Missing in Boating Accident Near Sunshine Skyway Bridge
One boater is dead, and another is missing after a Florida boating accident near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg. The investigation into the accident is still ongoing, but officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission say that a six-year-old boy was pulled from the water late Friday, May 27, and that he is in an area hospital receiving treatment for undisclosed injuries. The body of a 44-year-old man was recovered near the scene of the accident, and a 34-year-old man who investigators believe was injured in the accident was also pulled from the water. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham cautions boaters to exercise proper safety precautions as area waterways grow increasingly crowded.
Orlando Named Country’s Most Dangerous City for Pedestrians
A recent survey confirmed a sad fact that Orlando personal injury lawyers and area residents have known for a long time; Orlando is the country’s most dangerous city for pedestrians. From 2000 to 2009, 557 people were struck and killed in pedestrian accidents in the Orlando/Kissimmee metro area, a frightening number that Central Floridians are reminded of far too often. The survey was conducted by Transportation for America, and the group cited the causes of our city’s ignominious ranking as high vehicular traffic, unsafe existing sidewalks and a lack of sidewalks in the city’s infrastructure. Most of our area was designed specifically to accommodate motorized vehicles, not pedestrians, an important factor that needs to be addressed in the short term to make our area safer for pedestrians.
Study of Toyota Recalls Finds Numerous Flaws at Automaker
A panel of analysts assembled by Toyota Motor Corporation last year to identify problems that led to the recall of more than 14 million Toyota vehicles found several flaws in the way the company addresses consumer complaints. Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater was one of seven members on the panel, and he headed the investigation that presented its findings recently. Many of the flaws the panel discovered stemmed from Toyota’s tendency to dismiss consumer complaints and a lack of clear procedure for handling safety problems. Regular readers of this blog will remember that Toyota’s safety problems involving floor mats, sticking accelerators and sudden, unintended acceleration have led to lots of auto accidents here in the U.S. and around the world that have killed and injured hundreds of people.
Woman Dies in Amway Arena Accident
A woman who suffered serious injuries while working at Amway Arena has died, according to hospital officials. An investigation into the accident is underway, but early reports claim the 53-year-old victim was struck by falling scaffolding and mortally injured while working for a subcontractor for Cirque du Soleil. Witnesses say the scaffolding fell from a forklift around 10:15 a.m. on May 3 while the victim was working near a loading dock. Coworkers saw the scaffolding begin to fall and tried to alert the victim, but she was unable to react in time. The investigation is ongoing, and charges may be filed pending the results of the investigation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.