Holy Frack, my car was hit by a runner! (Read 391 times)

Running while talking on a phone? I can't imagine being able to do both equally well. lol Glad she was ok, overall.

I was leaving Costco.  The sidewalk is about 5-6 feet from the street.  I stopped before the sidewalk to look for pedestrians and cars, there was a runner WAY down the sidewalk, about a block away, pulled forward to pull out and a car came around the corner so I stopped. 

At this point my car is still in the driveway, but across the sidewalk.  Just sitting there.  Not moving.  Behind the first oncoming car was a few more cars and then there were some the other direction so I had to wait.  When out of nowhere WHAM.  The runner slams into the side of my car. 

She was apparently running, while talking on her phone and arguing with her boyfriend and wasn't paying any attention at all and just ran smack into my car.  This was the 3rd Costco entrance she had to cross, she is lucky she wasnt creamed by an SUV.

My car is unhurt.  The runner bruised her arm and hip and dropped her phone.  The phone may never recover

That is AWESOME.  I'm glad no one was hurt.  I have so many questions.

I've many times run into things that I saw coming. I once hit a steel post holding up a a street sign so hard it skinned my forearm, elbow to wrist. In broad daylight, not looking at my phone or listening to music or anything. Apparently I just misjudged how much space my body takes up.

I do this all the time.  I also have to do some matrix moves dodging things because I cannot judge distance...

I've many times run into things that I saw coming. I once hit a steel post holding up a a street sign so hard it skinned my forearm, elbow to wrist. In broad daylight, not looking at my phone or listening to music or anything. Apparently I just misjudged how much space my body takes up.

I run into walls while navigating my own house - total space cadet.  I was biking with a friend last weekend and watched her TEXTING while riding down the bike path, weaving in and out of her lane. I was speechless.

 

I haven't full on run into a car, but I have several times been taken out by the hitches sticking out into the sidewalk on the predawn runs. Right in the shins

Trailer hitches are wicked.

Back to the runner though, I wonder if legally you'd be responsible if they hit you, even though they were obviously at fault and being a moron.  I mean, technically you're in the sidewalk, where they have the right to be and you need to yield.  I would hope that a decent cop would not cite you but actually cite the runner (if it had come to that) but I bet if there was real damage to the runner, a good lawyer could get them some money at your car insurance's expense.

Outside of a marked and controlled crosswalk (controlled is a key word), what applies is generally along these lines in most jurisdictions:

"Every pedestrian has the duty to obey traffic laws and to reasonably observe traffic conditions. Generally speaking, pedestrians should not begin or continue their forward course across a street if they are aware of the approach of a vehicle."

I would hope that a decent cop would not cite you but actually cite the runner

Yes, they will. They may wait a few weeks until you're home from the hospital...but citations get issued.

but I bet if there was real damage to the runner, a good lawyer could get them some money at your car insurance's expense.

Quite the contrary. The car insurer will aggressively seek damages from the runner to cover the cost of repairing any damages to the vehicle -- they ain't paying for something caused by someone else running into their covered auto. (For example, $9300 to repair a Buick's grill, hood, windshield & roof ). What may interest you is that the runner's auto insurance provides coverage for the damages caused by the runner.

 

In most communities there are laws against parking across/blocking sidewalks. Many homeowner associations also have regulations against it. Something to look into as it seems to be a chronic problem

Right - The municipal Model Traffic Code for your town should clearly define the violation of "Blocking a sidewalk or pedestrian access/right-of-way". Check online or contact the city Court Clerk's Office/Traffic Violations section.  Complaints are most likely fielded by the local Police Department.  But now that this jeep's habits are known, it will hopefully be easier to avoid.

And, encountering a trailer hitch at night (or anytime)? OUCH!