Just hit a pedestrian and am very shaken up.

[Rick Lee]

And she's six mos. pregnant. I was making a right turn out of a shopping center parking lot in my 330i. It was one-way traffic and so I was watching left until a space opened up. When I got to the street there was no pedestrian near me. But I had to wait for a while and just kept watching left. When an oncoming Hummer had his right signal on, I waited until I saw him commit to the turn and then started to go. I didn't even get my right foot onto the accelerator before I heard a woman scream "STOP!!!!" and slap her hands on my hood. What a shock.

I couldn't back up because of the cars behind me. So I told her I'd be right back, turned into traffic and circled back into the parking lot through another entrance. She looked fine, didn't go down, but was shaken up. I tried to comfort her and asked if she wanted me to call 911. She nodded. So I did. Three fire engines and a cop car were there in under 5 min. They took her away on a stretcher. Cops were very cool, said they weren't citing anyone and didn't think anyone had done anything wrong. One cop said to me, "Hey, she needs to look too when she's crossing the street." No marks on my car other than her hand prints and where her belly rubbed the dust on my hood. Cops said not to call my insurance and to just wait until this lady or her lawyer or insurance contacted me.

Words can't describe the shock and butterflies I felt. I didn't even get her name and she didn't fill out an accident report before they took her away. Cops said not to worry about it. What do I do now?

[Rikao4]

hope she's not married or dating a Lawyer

Rika

[SpartanToJo]

Was she in a crosswalk?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by SpartanToJo

Was she in a crosswalk?

No. It was kind of a weird intersection. The sidewalk ended and there was no crosswalk anywhere. In fact, I think I was probably already sticking a few inches into the street and she had to go in front of me in the street.

[jyl]

Sounds quite unlikely any consequences, if there are then that's what insurance is for.

When pedestrians and cars mix, both should be watching out. Crossing in front of a car which is clearly about to pull out from a driveway is not smart. Most people would have the caution to cross behind the car.

[legion]

Wow. I hope she is okay.

I hope you're okay too Rick. That is a scary feeling.

There is a family at the end of my street who has 3-4 young kids (8 and under). The kids like to sit at the top of the driveway on their bikes/skateboards/scooters and try to "beat" oncoming cars across the street to the opposing driveway. I've never seen an adult watching them. The first time a kid pulled this (came out from between two cars) I slammed on the brakes and was rather shaken. The kid was visibly enjoying the excitement he caused. Now I check that driveway for kids every time I drive past.

[LakeCleElum]

Rick - Sorry this happened. I was hit by a car once under the identical circumstances. Transported to the hospital and released. Drivers insurance gave me $5,000 to sign a release.

I bicycle a lot and and have almost been hit many timess at intersections of the trail I ride. I know you're a good driver and meant no harm, but something we can all learn from.......

[kach22i]

A few years ago I had a pregnant woman pushing a stroller with a baby in it walk right in front of my 911 in a parking lot.

I going about 15 mph (or less) and was watching for people walking out of the hotel entry (vinyl record show). These two women were just standing at the back of a mini van just gabbing to each other, neither look in either direction and I was less than 20 feet away when they darted for the hotel doors.

I hit the brakes with a jolt, they never even knew I was there and did not look over as I stopped just a few feet away. I was freaking out.

I think that with the engine and noise in the back of the car, the typical acoustic "heads up" factor just is not there.

[the]

You should have shot her, then there'd be no witness.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by the

You should have shot her, then there'd be no witness.

Damn, too slow.

[911boost]

I almost backed over a guy and a little kid in Hawaii a couple of weeks ago in my rental Impala. Damn, that thing had horrible rear view mirrors.

I was a bit upset though.

Bill

[Rick Lee]

Well, I have no idea if this lady was paying attention or not. I did not see her at all until I heard her scream "STOP!". She wasn't there when I first looked right, but I was watching left after that for a while. I've been to this shopping center plenty of times and have never seen any pedestrians on that sidewalk. It's a few hundred yards from I-17 and the sidewalk ends where I hit her, so there's not much foot traffic there.

[gprsh924]

I basically did the same thing a couple of years ago when I was picking up the 924 from a shop and trying to turn out onto a super busy road. The nose of the car was in the street, I was looking left all day, and when I started to go, there was suddenly a guy leaning over my hood. Unfortunate situation and we both probably should have made one last look to the right before we went. But then we would have had to check back to the left because that is where the traffic would come from. Then back to the right again for pedestrians. It would be a never ending cycle. As drivers, we can only do so much. If, as a pedestrian, you think that it is a good idea to attempt to walk in front of a car that has its front end hanging into an intersection that it is trying to turn into and who's driver is not looking at you and is not aware of you in any way, then you are probably going to get what is coming for you.


In my situation, the guy started to yell at me about bumping into his leg at 0.2 mph. My dad then got out of the car he was driving and started to yell back at the guy for being an idiot and trying to walk in front of me while I was trying to turn, rather than simply walking behind the car. The sidewalk was at essentially the middle of the car, making it equidistant for the guy to walk front or back.

[nostatic]

that'll teach you to drive the cage...

[the]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Well, I have no idea if this lady was paying attention or not. I did not see her at all until I heard her scream "STOP!". She wasn't there when I first looked right, but I was watching left after that for a while. I've been to this shopping center plenty of times and have never seen any pedestrians on that sidewalk. It's a few hundred yards from I-17 and the sidewalk ends where I hit her, so there's not much foot traffic there.

Could it possibly have been a setup?

[Superman]

I hope all is well with her, and with you.

[Pazuzu]

I walk to work, and dodge cars 3 or 4 times each day. Despite what the laws might say, it is the pedestrian's responsibility to not be in front of a 3000+ pound vehicle. Period. The pedestrian can clearly tell when the driver does or does not see them (unless they're on the phone, texting, eating...I forget most people are stupid).

I will not walk in front of a car unless I an 100% sure that they saw me, and I saw them see me. Same goes for parking lots.

I understand you being shaken up, but I would have yelled at her.

[drew1]

Rick,

Sorry that happened. I know you're concerned about her & her condition. You did a good thing in calling 911.

I hope it doesn't get me banned, since this isn't the religion forum, but I just said a prayer for the woman & her unborn child. I also asked that you be comforted & taken care of. I think some might not like this, but from your posts, you seem like a pretty good boy, & all of this will be in the Lord's hands.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

I will not walk in front of a car unless I an 100% sure that they saw me, and I saw them see me. Same goes for parking lots.

I will often walk with my keys in my hand and find that holding one arm stretched out and jingling the keys will help more than waving both arms or shouting to get their attention.

[TerryH]

No eye contract and she walks right in front of your car. She had to purposely walked in front of your car when she could have walked as easily behind it? Your car was covering the walkway? She was either daydreaming or stupid. There's always the possibility she staged it.

Tell her to name the kid with the dented forehead Porsche and you won't press charges.