So...I almost got run over.

[The Gravekeeper]

Today I was walking around downtown running errands when some twit almost ran me over while I in the middle of the clearly marked crosswalk while the light indicating that I had the right of way was clearly still flashing. Luckily he was just turning out of a parking lot and didn't have much speed behind him, but still...yikes.

His excuse? "I didn't see you! I was looking to the left!" I was walking from the left when his van starting pushing me. Again, I'm happy as hell that I was hurt (I just kind of got pushed), but still p**sed that this guy wasn't paying as much attention to his surroundings as he should have been.

Could I have been paying more attention myself? Probably, yeah. We all could be. But I think it's reasonable to expect drivers to see you when you're literally right in the middle of their path and to expect them to stop for a pedestrian in the middle of a marked crosswalk.

[Mr. DS]

.........by a reindeer    Seriously, glad you're ok.

[dean]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXMjaxtE6LI

Remember safety first!!!

[Paquita]

I'm glad you're OK!  That must have been scary!

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I'm glad you're OK!  That must have been scary!

Indeed! Thank God it wan't worse!   

A note on the Left side-I remember my Driver's Ed teacher saying that the Left has a natural blind-spot for drivers. If I remember right, this is because of the natural right-eye dominance that most humans possess as a result of being right handed and doing almost everything else righty.

That could have been why it happened. If Gravekeeper was coming from the Left
and the driver was also looking Left, he may not have noticed as a result of the Blind-Spot effect.

No matter what the case, again, thank God that noone was truly hurt.

[The Gravekeeper]

Hopefully the driver will be more attentive from now on, because I sure will be! I mean, all that came of this was a bit of panic and a slightly sore arm (nothing broken or even bruised; just a little sore today). If he'd been going much faster than he was, or I'd slipped on a patch of ice or something, well...yeah, I'm just glad that nothing serious came of it.

[vanlutz]

Glad you're OK. I hope he was sincerely apologetic, and not just flippantly "I didn't see you". Some motorists believe you should watch out for them, even when you have the right of way.

I had a woman hit me. She's stopped looking to her left because she was going to make a right on red. I knew she was going to hit me, but kept walking. She knocked into me, so I slammed my hands on her hood. She jams on her brakes and she looked like she was going to drop dead. Do you think she'd say "Sorry". Nope, not a word. If she'd have gone a little faster, I'd have been able to really hit her hood with my body, and sue her ass.

Just a story of caution to anyone who really gets hit by a car (knocked down or anything by bumped). GO TO A HOSPITAL. Have them pull over, call the cops... Stiv Bators (Dead Boys / Lords of the New Church) felt fine after being hit by a car in Paris. He died later that night from internal injuries.

[Paquita]

Just a story of caution to anyone who really gets hit by a car (knocked down or anything by bumped). GO TO A HOSPITAL. Have them pull over, call the cops... Stiv Bators (Dead Boys / Lords of the New Church) felt fine after being hit by a car in Paris. He died later that night from internal injuries.

I've told this story before, but I was hit by a car, and flew through the air and landed on my back.  I DID go to the hospital, even though I only felt sore, and the diagnosis - backne .

The driver that hit me was very sorry though.  I actually saw him a year later while we were both walking and he picked me up and hugged me and told me how happy he was that I was OK.  It was a little startling since I didn't really remember him at first.

[retrorussell]

Could I have been paying more attention myself? Probably, yeah. We all could be. But I think it's reasonable to expect drivers to see you when you're literally right in the middle of their path and to expect them to stop for a pedestrian in the middle of a marked crosswalk.

You can think it all you like, but the sad reality is you really have to be extra careful even if you have the right of way (out of concern for your health).  I always wait a second and look to my left when crossing a street after the "WALK" sign appears.  Cars often fly through lights right after they change.  It's especially not worth it to think "I hope they hit me so I can sue their @$$".

[Raffine]

I'm glad you're OK!  That must have been scary!

Indeed! Thank God it wan't worse!   

A note on the Left side-I remember my Driver's Ed teacher saying that the Left has a natural blind-spot for drivers. If I remember right, this is because of the natural right-eye dominance that most humans possess as a result of being right handed and doing almost everything else righty.

That could have been why it happened. If Gravekeeper was coming from the Left
and the driver was also looking Left, he may not have noticed as a result of the Blind-Spot effect.

No matter what the case, again, thank God that noone was truly hurt.

Right!

[Cthulhu]

THat sucks.
I know that feeling...your heart won't stop racing for at least 20 minutes...
Glad that you're okay, buddy!