Got hit by a car this morning. This was peoples reactions

I'm a police officer and I will offer you some advice. One file a police report immediately. I could charge the driver with hit and run for not properly providing aid and fleeing. Two you need your exact location you were hit and see if cameras are around. LA, NY, and Chicago are notorious for that crap. I would have no problem throwing as much charges as I could at the driver.

get over yourself wrote:

amkelley wrote:

I've never been hit by a car in 30+ years of running on public roads (lucky me!) but on a number of occasions I have crashed on potholes, loose sand, etc., mostly when running in the dark or near-dark. I've never been hurt to the point where I couldn't get home under my own power, but on the few occasions when a passing motorist has seen me crash, they've always at least stopped to ask me if I'm OK before moving on. Perhaps it helps that I'm a woman, and not perceived as a threat by anyone.

You think you've never been hit because you're a woman? Lol. Runners and cyclists get hit because the driver didn't *see* them. Not because of their gender.

Geezus you just make yourself look stoopid as sheet.

She didn't say she has never been hit because she is a woman but people have stopped and offered assistance when she has fallen, PERHAPS because she is a woman and not see as a threat.

I hope you don't hold an important job. But then again, how could you with thinking skills like that.

Make sure you're wearing a reflective vest when running in the mornings & evenings. I know they're dorky looking, but so very worth it.

I also use a small clip-on LED blinking light (on my outside waist) as well.

You need to make yourself as visible as possible.

Bruised and Battered wrote:

Hmmm..... wrote:

Yeah, probably wouldn't let some sweaty scraped up skinny dude in my car at 6AM either. At least you were only a half mile away.

You should have taken down the guy's plates. That was stupid.

If I was thinking clearly I would have gotten his plates. But I was kind of in shock from being hit like 10 seconds ago, and he took off so quickly didn't have time to think it through

You still need to file a police report. Left hand/right hand turners are far more likely to damage pedestrians, that those driving straight.

Remember kids, it is safer to JAYWALK. You gotta trust me on this.

OP - were there cameras mounted on the intersection traffic lights?

You still got to report this......irregardless.....for statistical purposes.

Look Out for You! wrote:

Make sure you're wearing a reflective vest when running in the mornings & evenings. I know they're dorky looking, but so very worth it.

I also use a small clip-on LED blinking light (on my outside waist) as well.

You need to make yourself as visible as possible.

I will second this.

Where I run, there are not a lot of good areas to run, ie bike paths, wide shoulders, roads are extremely narrow, etc. Because of this, it's rare when I run at night and don't have on a reflective vest, blinking light and headlamp. I want to make sure I am seen but also have a mentality of they aren't going to see me, so I better be paying attention at all times. Does it probably slow my times a bit? Sure, but I prefer to be safe.

A few years ago, I was running at night (on the roads) and on a short out and back section had a car pass me. I turned around when the section ended and headed back and then noticed this car kind of creeping along behind me so I got off the road and onto the sidewalk . Car still kept creeping along.

After it was like this for about 45 seconds to a minute, the driver honked. Given I was in a pretty nice area, I wasn't too worried so I stopped and the car caught up to me. I was about to throw my hands up like "What do you want?!" when the window rolled down and a lady says "I just wanted to say thank you for being so easy to see. It's really nice to see someone so reflective". I was kind of stunned and replied with something to the effect of "you're welcome. I try to be as visible as possible" and she goes "I'm an ER doctor and it's truly shocking the number of people that I see come in who are hit by cars at night while out exercising and almost all of them have nothing reflective on."

messi wrote:

Bruised and Battered wrote:

If I was thinking clearly I would have gotten his plates. But I was kind of in shock from being hit like 10 seconds ago, and he took off so quickly didn't have time to think it through

You still need to file a police report. Left hand/right hand turners are far more likely to damage pedestrians, that those driving straight.

Remember kids, it is safer to JAYWALK. You gotta trust me on this.

OP - were there cameras mounted on the intersection traffic lights?

You still got to report this......irregardless.....for statistical purposes.

There were no camera's at the intersection.

And as far as reporting it when I explained what happened to the operator at the station she said an officer would be with me shortly. 30 minutes later the officer came out and talked to me. The officer did not invite back to his office and told me this was a waste of both of our time. I had the cars model, make, color, the intersection and time of the event. He said there would be no follow up by them and the report would be put in a file and never looked at again. I told him twice I still wanted to file a report and both times he made no move to go back to the office and explained to me again how this would accomplish nothing and I was wasting both of our times.

After that I gave up. I got his name and whatever identification # he gave me, not sure the proper term, just so I can say who the officer was who told me off in case it ever comes back on me for whatever reason. But at this point I really don't want to pursue it further. The driver was a complete A-hole and I think he deserves some citation for recklessness and negligence but I'm not out for blood. I've felt better as the days gone on, will probably miss a few days of running but could be much worse.

And for those suggesting I should have been more careful or aware I agree and will be more so in the future. The guy was slowing as he approached the intersection so I assumed he saw me. He accelerated at the last minute as he made the turn, clearly didn't see me. I almost managed to get out of the way still but not quite. Obviously Car beats runner and even if I was in the right that still holds true and I shouldn't have assumed he saw me. That doesn't let him off the hook though.

So you know the colour, make, model and intersection? Just go down there 20 minutes before the same time and camp out on the corner. I guarantee he will come around again. Take a picture of the plates this time and confront him if you can. Tell him (white lie) you've filed the report and they only needed his plate to begin a hit and run investigation. Tell him you are reasonable and don't want to get caught up with lawyers, police etc. Ask what he is willing to pay to settle this right now. If it's in the neighbourhood of 5-10k take it. If not file the report and charge him (I guarantee he will pay)

Sounds like from the attitude of the police officer that you found the guy who hit you.

As someone who grew up in a smaller town in northern cal and now lives in so cal I'm sad to say this is about par for the course down here.

The liberal parts of California preach social justice and decry the ignorance of the rest of the country. But if you ever need help and it in any way inconveniences them they won't give you the time of day.

Meanwhile the "simpleton and heartless" conservatives I was raised around will go out of their way to help someone in the time of need. Who really cares about others and who just spouts their crap they don't hold themselves accountable to.

I'd honestly cut the driver a little more slack as he was probably in shock and scared too. Who knows he may have felt bad a few minutes later and come back to help and you were gone, not sure how long before you resumed running. But to me the reaction of the people at the gas station was inexcusable, but totally believable knowing socal. I don't know how you drive away from someone in trouble asking for help and sleep at night.

messi wrote:

[quote]Bruised and Battered wrote:

Left hand/right hand turners are far more likely to damage pedestrians, that those driving straight.

Remember kids, it is safer to JAYWALK. You gotta trust me on this.

For sure. It's not a big city thing either. People just don't look. I've learned to just assume no one sees me unless they actually wave me on, even if I have the right-of-way.

boomheadshot wrote:

My primary rule when running in the dark:

Always assume a driver doesn't see you and let them make the first move-even if you have the right of way at an intersection. Regardless of who is wrong or right, you're going to lost that fight every time.

Even if it's not dark I still do this. So many drivers just don't pay attention so you have to be careful when you're on the roads. "Right of way" is overrated- the car will always REALLY have the right of way, if you know what I mean.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

messi wrote:

[quote]Bruised and Battered wrote:

Left hand/right hand turners are far more likely to damage pedestrians, that those driving straight.

Remember kids, it is safer to JAYWALK. You gotta trust me on this.

For sure. It's not a big city thing either. People just don't look. I've learned to just assume no one sees me unless they actually wave me on, even if I have the right-of-way.

^^THIS^^.

In order to protect yourself, you have to run with the attitude that NO driver can see you and/or all drivers are crazy. It's not entirely true, of course, but there are too many distracted drivers out there who are texting, talking, or just in a big hurry to take any chances.

Also, the justice system and public opinion are usually very lenient when it comes to drivers who injure or even kill runners, pedestrians, or cyclists on the road. The driver always claims "It was an accident, I couldn't see him" as a defense, and if he doesn't have a previous record, he's likely to go free.

A few years ago (and we talked about this on letsrun when it happened), a 16-year-old girl in my area was texting while driving her family SUV, plowed into a runner, and killed him. She was let off with a wrist slap. When her name appeared in our local paper, people were outraged that they would try to "ruin her life over one little mistake." Meanwhile, this girl went on to college, played sports, and moved on with her life as if nothing had ever happened. Her victim wasn't so fortunate.

So wear your reflective gear, run against traffic, and be sure to be hyper-vigilant on the roads.

get over yourself wrote:

amkelley wrote:

I've never been hit by a car in 30+ years of running on public roads (lucky me!) but on a number of occasions I have crashed on potholes, loose sand, etc., mostly when running in the dark or near-dark. I've never been hurt to the point where I couldn't get home under my own power, but on the few occasions when a passing motorist has seen me crash, they've always at least stopped to ask me if I'm OK before moving on. Perhaps it helps that I'm a woman, and not perceived as a threat by anyone.

You think you've never been hit because you're a woman? Lol. Runners and cyclists get hit because the driver didn't *see* them. Not because of their gender.

Apparently that was unclear. Being a woman has nothing to do with not being hit (I assume most drivers are not deliberately attempting to hit runners). Rather, the willingness of drivers who have seen me crash to help is likely because I am a woman.

Careful how you word it. You said he ran a red light while turning right. Most states have laws that allow vehicles to turn right on red. Were you on the sidewalk and designated crosswalk with a signal that permitted pedestrian crossing or were you on the shoulder and crossing without proper signal?

This could be your fault. Following it, he stopped, you said you were ok. If you felt wronged you should have, as soon as you had access to a phone, report the incident to police with location and vehicle description.

At the very least officers could return the next day around the same time the incident occurred to try and ID the vehicle. (Presuming it was his regular route to work).

MattyK wrote:

I'm a police officer and I will offer you some advice. One file a police report immediately. I could charge the driver with hit and run for not properly providing aid and fleeing. Two you need your exact location you were hit and see if cameras are around. LA, NY, and Chicago are notorious for that crap. I would have no problem throwing as much charges as I could at the driver.

^^^This

If you require medical treatment, your insurer may want someone to go after and will ask how you got hurt and why you did not pursue an investigation.

Go file a report is my advice.

That dopey cop you talked to should be reprimanded, imo.

Bruised and Battered wrote:

Hmmm..... wrote:

Yeah, probably wouldn't let some sweaty scraped up skinny dude in my car at 6AM either. At least you were only a half mile away.

You should have taken down the guy's plates. That was stupid.

If I was thinking clearly I would have gotten his plates. But I was kind of in shock from being hit like 10 seconds ago, and he took off so quickly didn't have time to think it through

You should have smacked him.

And as far as reporting it when I explained what happened to the operator at the station she said an officer would be with me shortly. 30 minutes later the officer came out and talked to me. The officer did not invite back to his office and told me this was a waste of both of our time. I had the cars model, make, color, the intersection and time of the event. He said there would be no follow up by them and the report would be put in a file and never looked at again. I told him twice I still wanted to file a report and both times he made no move to go back to the office and explained to me again how this would accomplish nothing and I was wasting both of our times.

Interrupted poker game....

Pro Mag wrote:

In the Pacific NW this "slow-and-go" is known as the "California stop".

we call them the same thing in california

You have now been run over literally and figuratively.

You let a guy who just hit you go without getting any information. You just told him you were okay. That gave him the green light to just drive off.

Then you let a cop just brush you off and tell you it is a waste of time to file a report.

Stand up and quit letting people walk (and drive) all over you, milque toast.