Chicago has had a public education/reminder campaign about the need for cars (especially turning cars) to yield to pedestrians. Apparently the umbers of car v. pedestrian in crosswalk accidents has risen very significantly. My cop friend says it's because of suburban driving habits and cell phones (against the law while driving in the city.)
So today on my way to court I was hit by a left-turning car.
I am not hurt, have a tiny bruise on my leg and a torn stocking. The car has a dent in the hood but I think that was my umbrella and not my body. The young woman said she didn't see me, but unless she was driving with her eyes closed this can't be true; I was in the crosswalk almost to the center line. Also I'm pretty sure I saw her drop a phone before she pulled over after hitting me.
I know so many people who use the phone while driving, drive too fast and try to beat lgihts and/or pedestrians. Otherwise nice, sane and considerate people. I just don't understand it.
There isn't really any point to this post, I guess. Except I realize how lucky I was and feel like starting my own safety campaign.
I'm glad you're ok. Even though you weren't hurt, being hit by a car must have shaken you up. While driving people should just drive, not eat, drink, smoke, put on makeup or talk on the phone.
OMG Huck, I am so glad you are ok. Please take it easy. You are probably going to be pretty sore tomorrow. Did you tell the officer about seeing her drop her phone? I don't want to sound like an ass but I think she needs to be punished for this. She could have killed someone. If people start getting in trouble for this, and it hits them in the pocket book, they will stop.
With my kids, I drew a line on the ground and told them to walk the straight line as quickly or as slowly as they wanted while texting. Not one of them could do it. One of them walked into a tree. I don't know how she didn't realize she was under the tree due to the shadow that fell on her but reading txts and writing txts is just THAT distracting.
I told her that if she'd have been in a car she would have hit that tree or a person going at least 20mph.
I am ashamed to say (as a personal injury lawyer as well as a human being) that I didn't even call the police. I needed to get to federal court and knew I wasn't hurt. I did express my thoughts very, er, strongly to the young woman, as did a couple people who saw what happened. Plus, she'll have to explain the dent in the nice new car to her parents...
Thanks, all. I really am OK, just freaked at how common this is and how signs everywhere in the city don't seem to have any effect. I think people have a tendency to think that they are such smart and skillful drivers that they can take these risks.
i'm glad you are ok! I almost got hit yesterday when a car turned right just as I was stepping into the crosswalk. I have had a lot of close calls with distracted drivers.
A very close friend's mother died this way. A young girl was making a right turn on to a one way street. She only looked left and didn't see my friend's mom in the cross walk. She didn't hit with a lot of force, but friend's mom slid over the hood and landed head first on the pavement.
Huck, that is so scary. I'm really glad you're ok.
I noticed when we were in Massachusetts last year that cars would come to a screeching halt if someone was in a crosswalk - as soon as you would step off the curb, they'd stop. We thought it was because they were nice - but our friends who live there told us its because if they get caught not stopping they get a $100 fine.
Whatever works in the best interests of a pedestrian I guess.
Wow huck, talk about adding some excitement to your day. So glad you are ok and I hope that driver learned a very important lesson. I rarely talk on the phone when I am in downtown Austin, just too much going on down there to not be paying attention. If I am on the phone and I am barely paying attention to the person on the other end of the call.
I understand why you didn't Huck. You were in a hurry, you had some place important you needed to be. It would have taken awhile to get taken care of and my bet is you would have been very late. I probably would have made the same choice as you did at the time. Later I would have looked back and wished I had called the police. I hope you are feeling ok today Huck.
. I hope you are feeling ok today Huck.