<p>Today I hit a pedestrian with my car. The Real Deal. Police, ambulance, police report number etc. I am more than a little traumatized.</p>
<p>I was on my way back to work after driving to yoga at lunch. I was coming down a hill downtown (lights just about every block). Drizzling and wet roads. All of a sudden, at an intersection, a PERSON loomed up in front of me. I slammed on the breaks but hit him in my skid. He may have been a homeless person- hooded sweatshirt- not the typical downtown worker. (for all I know he is a country music star) I clearly had the green light- turned yellow while he was on the ground. Witnesses confirm this. I was too stunned to get out of my car. I pulled over and called 911, as others were doing also. Police came immediately along with ambulance. The guy was ambulatory (with help) and never lost consciousness. I was frozen behind the wheel. It was horrible. I kept asking if the guy was OK and the officer said that he was- might have broken something but no major injury. The officer told me the witnesses said my light was green. I have visions of Bonfire of the Vanities. I had a meeting at work in 20 minutes. I was only a block from my parking garage, so I made it. Called in the insurance claim. Only damage to my car is a cracked headlight.
Has anyone else had this happen? I hope the guy is OK. Great day…</p>
<p>Oh, MOWC – I am so sorry. I cry when I hit a squirrel. You must be so shaky and upset. Accidents are just that – accidents. Not always someone to blame. Be really good to yourself right now.
No ticket for you? What did the police say? Do you have to worry about some sort of legal issue even though the witnesses “cleared” you?</p>
<p>Oh MOWC. I have. I had a collison with a bicycle rider on Halloween morning one year. I had just dropped my kids off at school. I was coming through an intersection at a crawl with sunlight in my eyes. Kid fell off bike (or I scraped her no one seems to know.)
I accompanied her to the school. Police came. Major drama. They did not charge me but the mother went after me big time. The child was about 13, walking, never lost consciousness.
I confess I dreamed, had nightmares about it for a while. I kept playing it over in my mind wondering…
Over time it will get better. I promise. Feel free to PM me anytime.<br>
I feel you.
ebeeeee</p>
<p>MOWC,
Sounds terrible but I did contact a lawyer who told me NOT to contact the person directly. She was okay-an ambulance/medical wasn’t even needed and I did check the accident report.</p>
<p>mowc. Not your fault, witnesses to verify, guy will be okay even with a broken bone or two. I’d say best possible outcome of a potentially deadly situation. Hang in there and sit tight.</p>
<p>It sounds as if the victim was not in his right mind. What else would explain why he was in the middle of an intersection when you had the green light. Your trauma may be greater than his. So sorry. He may have been under the influence, or may have underlying mental deficiencies or untreated mental illness if he is in fact homeless. Each day will get a little easier, but it will be tough at first. Hang in there.</p>
<p>Wow. I am so glad that you and the man are OK. You did everything right, and everyone is OK: you will be fine. Take a hot bath, watch a movie, and go to sleep.</p>
<p>OMG MOWC! Are you ok??? How awful! Here’s hoping that he, you and the headlight will all be on the mend, and that the only lawyer involved in this is you! Give yourself permission to be upset, shaken and not wound competely tight for the next few days. And dont be surprised if you get the heebie geebies as you approach and traverse that intersection for a while. You’ll be hypervigilant for a while, and you might replay the accident in your head, especially as you try to go to bed. Normal stuff… all normal. Hang in there.</p>
<p>I remember when D1 was in 5th grade, and I ran over her foot with my car. I was distracted as she was getting out of the car at school, and my foot eased up on the brakes causing the car to roll forward. I drove her immediately to the ER, they took x-rays and said it was just a bad sprain, nothing broken.</p>
<p>When I returned her to school right before lunch, of course, word had gotten around and as we walked through the hallway (she’s on crutches no less) to the office for me to sign her in… no kidding, I got more sympathy than she did. Every adult who knew me and saw me (I was an active volunteer at the school, and knew most of the staff) approached me with, “Oh my gosh, I heard what happened Teri; are you OK?” They knew that my guilt was much worse than my daughter’s physical pain! I kind of felt bad for D, who I guess eventually got her share of attention… after I left the building.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s traumatic; it shakes you up for what seems like forever, but over time you will learn to place it in perspective and understand that (as other posters have said) it was an accident. You did not deliberately go about looking for an intersection where someone might appear out of nowhere so that you could get your jollies. Hang in there.</p>
<p>How awful for you! I sincerely hope both of you are o.k. Have a glass or two of wine and put in a special request with your dh for a nice massage. This wasn’t your fault.</p>
<p>Wow, that is horrible. I’m so sorry you had this experience! </p>
<p>My dad once hit and actually killed someone. It was so horrible. My dad was pretty old then, and devastated. The pedestrian was about 60, ‘jogging’, on a winter foggy night across a four lane hwy. He climbed over a cement barrier in the middle even, and seemed to come out of nowhere. The authorities told my dad it may have been a suicide. </p>
<p>I knew my dad could not have done anything about it- just like you- but its still really traumatic just the same to be the one behind the wheel.</p>
<p>{{{{HUGS}}}}, MoWC. That must have been truly awful. Hope I never experience anything of the sort. I think I would be ready for a rubber room:p. I’m so glad the man was not seriously injured. In any case, it wasn’t your fault!, as I’m sure you already know. Be tender with yourself. I second collegemom—have a glass or two of wine, and insist on a massage;)</p>
<p>We hit someone years ago. We were living in Egypt and my husband was driving a very pregnant me to the airport to go home to have the baby. 2 kids ran out from behind a large parked truck - one saw us and ran faster and the other saw us and stopped dead in his tracks. If both had run or both had stopped we would have been ok. Thank goodness my husband was driving - he managed to time it to where the 1st kid was out of the way enough to swerve without hitting him but despite swerving could not avoid hitting hit kid number 2. It was horrible. He rolled up on the hood of the car right in front of me then rolled off - but by the time my husband managed to get the car back under control and stop he was on his feet cradling his arm. We stopped as we would do here but before we could get out of the car 2 policemen drove up and told us to leave right now. It was a horrible experience. </p>
<p>It is very traumatic even when you are not at fault. {{{{hugs}}}}</p>
<p>MOWC, you have my sympathy. It’s not your fault, but I know that I would feel as you do. The counselor at my son’s middle school hit a homeless man one morning before school … he slept in the woods next to the school, and she said it looked like he jumped in front of her car on purpose (it was a cold winter & emergency rooms are warm). Even though it was not her fault, she felt so awful. It’s normal to feel bad. As others have said, you’ll feel better in time.</p>
<p>A guy who worked for me once hit a little girl on his way to work (2nd shift). She ran out from between parked cars, and he simply could not stop. She died. He had a terrible time dealing with it, and he had to have extensive counseling. Compassionate people know logically that they aren’t at fault, but their hearts feel heavy. But the bottom line is, some things can’t be avoided & they are not your fault.</p>
<p>MOWC - I grazed a 5 year old with my car a few years back. I was going down a residential street at lunch and this little boy on a bike appeared from between two cars (the street was lined with cars - I found out later there was a garage sale and his dad was working at the house next door to that.) Boy was fine and I was hysterical! I was the one to call the police and EMS because even though he looked fine I was terrified. Later his father brought him to me to apologize for scaring me so badly! </p>
<p>So I definitely know how you’re feeling tonight. You did nothing wrong, but only time will make you feel better.</p>
<p>Oh dear. MOWC, I’m glad that you are okay and that it seems as if he will be fine. Definitely not much you could have done to avoid it, with drizzle, downhill, green light, etc…</p>
<p>I hit a cyclist when I was 16. Turned right in front of him into my friend’s driveway. He flew over my hood and landed on the ground. Was totally fine and later called me up for a date, which was quite awkward because he was pretty strange. (That is to say, I did not accept the date and it was awkward turning him down because I thought then he might sue me for some injury or damages to his bike.) I hope this does not happen to you!</p>
<p>^^^ when I was a kid we were living in Nigeria and my Mom passed a cyclist and came back too soon and clipped him and knocked him off his bike. She stopped to see if he was ok and he started chasing us and threatened to hang her from the nearest tree. Needless to say we drove off. It was fairly traumatic - I am in my 50s now - so probably 45 years ago - I am still nervous when I drive past cyclists and can’t pass them unless I have space to give them a massive wide berth - like on the other side of the road almost in the ditch wide.</p>
Hope you sleep well and you feel better tomorrow.</p>
(That is to say, I did not accept the date and it was awkward turning him down because I thought then he might sue me for some injury or damages to his bike.) I hope this does not happen to you!</p>