The child ran out in front of me!!!
By mychattime
@mychattime (1013)
May 22, 2009 4:22pm CST
It was a few weeks ago and I was at a friends with my hubby and son, I had to pop and get something and took the car. I'd gone about 300yards from the house and whack a kid hit my car. Oh how awful my worst nightmare come true, I stopped and apologized and the woman was adament it wasn't my fault (which it wasn't), anyway I pulled the car over from the middle of the road and phoned my hubby, a long story cut short, the paramedics and police arrived, the kid was fine and as soon as he was checked out was out playing again on his own (no supervision), I was obviously in big big shock, when we finally got to our home all I kept saying was 'it was awful, how awful', my son is close to the age of the kid I hit. Anyway the car was damaged so we phoned the insurance and we have to pay the excess and they are unable to claim it back as a child was involved, I explained his mother saw the whole incident as she was still in the parked car and they said it didn't matter. My husband and a friend visited the woman and explained the situation, she was very verbally abusive and said the police had said in front of witnesses I was to short to be driving the car, we spoke to the police about this allegation and they said what I thought it was rubbish they would never say that! So we ended up paying for something that really wasn't my fault, the child ran from behind the parked cars! Crazy hey??? I'm ok now but haven't driven my hubbys car since and don't intend to for a very long time!
1 person likes this
1 response
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
22 May 09
I am sorry this happened to you but the law is the law and well you were the one driving and you should have been in control. Courts would say that you should have been able to see the child as you are the adult and driver and avoid the accident. That is one of the responsibilities of driving, to be aware of things going on around you.
Again i am sorry this happened to you.
@bamakelly (5191)
• United States
22 May 09
I would have to say that you do make a good point here. I have always heard of an operator needing to be in control of their vehicle at all times.
I understand that accidents happen however the law is the law as you have stated here.
I am also sorry for this lady but there might be a lesson learned here for the future.
@meandmy3 (2227)
• United States
22 May 09
It is hard to see everything and I know that if I were you I would have done the same thing and gone to the family, especially seeing how the child was not hurt. Heaven forbid had the child gotten hurt.
The parents should have had a better eye on the child, however as I know children get away from you so fast and can dart out at a moments notice. Some things you can not avoid. You just pray that nothing happens and you are never the person that is behind the wheel when an accident happens.
'
I am glad you and the child were okay.
@mychattime (1013)
•
23 May 09
Yes I understand the driver is responsible for the vehicle however when a child runs out from brhind parked cars I am not prepared to take full responsiblility and even the mother who was sat in the car having just parked said it was not my fault it was her childs fault and he has been told over and over again about running out into the road without looking, yes I agree abiut being observant but there is no way I would have seen him, he ran from inbetween 2 parked cars I thank god he wasn't hurt and the lesson I have learnt is not to drive round that area again as I know for a fact he is still running out accross the road withoout looking. All children run out from time to time but to do it over and over again is in my mind bad parenting.
