Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood is happy to be alive, again, after the law enforcement officer was hit by a car while riding his bike for the second time in less than four years.
“This could have been a hell of a lot worse,” Chitwood said in a video shot from his emergency room bed following the March accident.
The hit-and-run crash happened in the late afternoon on March 18 in Port Orange, according to WFTV9. A red Hyundai behind Chitwood sped off after the car’s side mirror collided with the sheriff, Chitwood and local police officers said.
“I got hit and hit hard from the rear,” Chitwood said in the video, posted on the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office’s Twitter page. “I go flying off and all I can tell you is that it was a burgundy-colored car because the mirror was impaled in my back.
Chitwood was reportedly back on the job less than 24 hours after the accident.
The Hyundai driver - reportedly 20-year-old Paige Bergman - was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of a crash with serious injuries. She reportedly told police that she was using her phone to shop on Amazon at the time and thought she hit a mailbox.
Chitwood credited a local Waste Pro driver who witnessed the accident for helping nab Bergman. The driver called 911 and turned over footage from a dashboard camera on the trash truck that caught the entire accident on video.
Chitwood was previously injured in 2017 when he was struck by a pickup truck while riding a bike, WFTV9 points out. The vehicle’s driver was cited for failing to yield.
How a Villages Accident Attorney Can Help You
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car, bike, truck, golf cart or other accident in Florida, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible for the collision.
The money damages typically available in these cases include compensation for medical bills and property damages, as well as missed wages for time away from work and any long-term impact of the injuries on a person’s earning capacity. Family members can seek similar compensation in the tragic situation in which a loved one is killed in a crash.
An experienced personal injury attorney can help you navigate the legal process, understand your rights and options and maximize your compensation.
Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people injured in crashes throughout the region for more than two decades. Tim is a tenacious litigator, committed to helping people get back on their feet with the full compensation available under the law.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We are also proud to represent clients throughout the area, including in Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident attorney.
