Woman Critically Injured in Palm Coast Bicycle Collision
Bailey Anne Cagliuso, 26, of Palm Coast was critically injured on October 21st, when she attempted to exit her driveway on her bicycle. As she pulled onto Felshire Lane just before 7 p.m., she was struck by a southbound car driven by Kiara Hemby, 18, of Orangeburg, S.C., according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Cagliuso was taken to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach with life-threatening injuries, investigators said.
While a leisure bike ride rarely ends with life-threatening injuries, this case goes to show how quickly and easily bike riders can be critically injured when sharing the road with motor vehicles. Limited sight lines, slow reaction times, and other factors are complicated by the inherent lack of protection that riding a bicycle imposes on cyclists. Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles reports that in 2007, over 4,800 bicycle accidents resulted in 4,303 injuries and claimed the lives of 121 bicyclists. When a car strikes a bicycle, the rider often suffers severe injuries that commonly include:
- Broken bones
- Compound fractures
- Broken hips
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Concussions
- Severe back injuries
As with any type of injury, medical care and rehabilitation can be very expensive and medical bills from your injuries can quickly climb into the thousands of dollars or more. Anytime a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle while they are walking, running, riding a bike, a skateboard, or even roller-blading, they are entitled to compensation to help with the steep costs of hospital stays, medication, lost wages, and rehabilitation regimens.
If you or someone you care for has been injured while riding a bicycle, or was otherwise involved in any kind of pedestrian accident, Florida accident lawyer James O. Cunningham can help. For well over three decades, Mr. Cunningham has been representing the interests of pedestrian accident victims, including countless clients who have been injured while riding a bicycle. To schedule a free consultation, contact his law firm or call 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
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.