Never leaving my office for lunch again
Please read this knowing that I am physically fine.
When I was walking back to my office today from lunch, a car hit (tapped) me in the crosswalk. It’s kind of hard to explain what happened – I am downtown, so it’s mostly one way streets. The street I was walking south on to get back to my office goes north, and the cross street goes west. Not sure if this information matters or not. My thoughts are all jumbled right now!
One car turned left (west) in front of me in the crosswalk, because he had time/space, and the car behind him went too, assuming the crosswalk was empty? I guess?
All I know is I was walking through the crosswalk (I had the walk sign – I rarely jaywalk) and this car turned around the corner headed straight for me and I thought “I am going to get hit by a car.”
It was such a scary thought to have.
He hit his brakes, tapped my left knee, pushing me a bit to the right, and I ended up throwing my lunch bag on his hood (my water bottle went rolling down the street). I went after my bottle, then back to the car, sure he was going to take off. He actually rolled his window down and said “I am so sorry – I didn’t see you there.”
Then I cursed at him, because I am classy like that, “Well thanks for not fu*cking killing me.”
Then I walked back to my office. Another pedestrian asked if I was fine. I am. Just so shaken up. Rapid heart beat, sweating, shaking. Fun fun fun.
I came back and told my coworkers and got checked out from the nurse to make sure I was fine. I am. I am just so freaking emotional right now, apparently, I could not handle this. I started crying right away. I called Steven and told him I was fine, then what happened. Ugh. I feel like such a baby and like I should have done something different. I feel like I should have punched that guy in the face. I wish a traffic cop would have been there to give him a ticket.
At least I am fine though. I mean, I have to run tonight!
Themocracy
That sounds really scary and I would be very emotional, too. I’m glad that you’re okay!
Thank you 🙂
Well that was an adrenaline rush in the worst way! Of course you feel all jumbled up and emotional! How scary!
I’m so glad you’re okay. You didn’t do anything wrong and there’s really nothing you could have done differently. It really is too bad that there wasn’t a traffic cop there, though.
I hope that driver is really shaken up and that this is a lesson to him. It’s too bad we have to be so vigilant when walking in a crosswalk with the light.
I was thinking after it happened – is this good or bad stress? LOL.
I hope he learns a lesson too. I wonder what he was doing that he did not see me. Just following that car? Texting? Sigh. I know it’s annoying to turn with pedestrians, but come on, dude.
Bad stress! Bad stress!
It always seems like just because you’re physically alright, that you wouldn’t get emotional about this kind of thing, but thats just not how it works.
I was ALMOST hit going across a cross walk once in a parking lot. It was a speed bump cross walk, so the woman had to slow down anyhow to go over it, but still wound up missing me by less than a foot. I yelled at her – and then called my ex boyfriend (we were together at the time) and he didn’t answer his phone. I was so emotional about the fact that I’d had a “near death experience” and he couldn’t even be bothered to answer his phone that I flipped out and lost it on him when he called back. It’s a terrifying situation – there is nothing wrong with being upset about it.
You know, my husband answered on what felt like the last ring and that was kind of making me feel worse. Weird that we need to reach out right away… or maybe that is normal?
I think it is normal
Oh, Kim! I am so glad you are okay. I think you handled the situation perfectly. Saying,”Well thanks for not fu*cking killing me.” was exactly the right thing. And then you got checked out be the nurse. And then you had a bit of a cry because like Erin said your adrenalin was going and it was really scary.
The first thing I thought when you said he tapped you on the knee was “But what about her running?!?!?!” Love ya, dear.
Thanks. My mom disagrees that I should have said that. Sorry mom. She said “Well, I guess that is how they talk in Chicago.” (She was teasing me. I think.)
Thanks for thinking of my running! Hee hee. You know me too well 🙂
Holy hell, that frightens me just to read it! I’m glad you’re OK.
Thank you Kelly 🙂
It’s so understandable to be shaken up. I’m glad you are ok but be gentle with yourself! After experiencing that kind of trauma it’s totally normal to be emotional.
Thanks sizzle. I think I have been so hard on me lately that this is just another thing for me to be like “what is wrong with you?” I guess I need to hear it’s okay! 🙂
Oh my God…I am so glad you are OK. That is so scary and I think you are having a totally normal reaction to what happened (including swearing at the guy!)
And I work downtown too on a corner where people run the light all the time for some reason…there are wrecks daily, people have gotten hit…and my co-worker and I were involved in a very scary near-miss situation that still puts me on edge when I think about it and makes me hyper vigilant about crossing.
Again…I am very, very glad you are OK.
Another commuter who can relate… makes me feel like less of an idiot. I hope neither of this are in this situation ever again!!!
Oh my gosh, so glad you are ok!(physically!) I am glad you are looking on the positive side and are looking forward to running tonight!
Thanks Katie! And I did have a good run 🙂 I am going to take extra care to use The Stick on the leg that was tapped 🙂
So glad to know you are alright. This is a fear I have walking/running around the city. Just today at lunch I was crossing and a guy was turning left and nearly didn’t see me (I had the signal too). He did stop in time though and smiled at me. It’s definitely not the first time I’ve nearly been hit. The city can be scary!
We live in the urban jungle! So happy your incident did not turn in to anything.
I thought of you the other day when I was near a deer in my run 🙂 (in the dark)
I believe I would have cried before even getting back to the office. I am just glad you are OK.
Oh, I was totally crying when I walked in the building.
I’m sorry and so glad you are okay too!!
My boss witnessed a car accident yesterday–everyone was okay, but she said it shook her up all day long.
I hope you feel (emotionally) better as the day goes on. I would definitely keep in touch with your body. I’ve been in 2 car accidents (neither my fault) and both times I walked away fine only to be in severe pain the next day. Sometimes you even hurt your muscles just from tensing up so hard!
I recommend a hot bath tonight if you can make the time. 🙂
Thanks Diane. I did take that hot bath (with bubbles!).
I felt a bit tight in my left knee tonight – I am hoping it does not turn in to something. But like you said, there is definitely a chance! I am going to pay extra attention to it.
You have every right to be upset! Did you happen to write down their license plate number? you should be able to file a report, he should at the very least pay a fine….
I did write it down! I have never had much luck with that information (from a hit in run in college, the cops did nothing for me). Do you think they would actually do something here?
I’m not 100% sure how they handle it in Chicago, but my brother bumped someone once when turning (in rockford). That person ended up being drunk, so they both ended up getting fines. (obviously you weren’t drunk, so you wouldn’t be responsible for anything)
I’d say it is worth giving it a shot! What do you have to lose except some time!
OMG! That is so scary! Glad to hear you are okay! I think Hal Higdon tweeted something about how much more dangerous it is to share the road out there (runners and bikers) with people doing so many other things while driving that distract them from whats in front of them. I would have probably done the same thing if I were in your shoes!!
It really is! I feel nervous running in my quiet little neighborhood… now I feel like I have to be on constant defense when I go downtown…
OH my god. You are taking it well compared to what I imagine I’d be doing! You have every right to be shaken up and flustered. I’d even recommend going home for the day. Getting hit by a car is no small thing, whether it’s a “tap” or more. It is emotionally scaring! Holy hell. Perhaps you can go home for the afternoon?
I did leave on time this afternoon! Which was nice (I had come in early). 🙂
Oh my goodness!! That’s enough to almost make you ill. Awful! What a jerk. He’s got some serious karma coming his way!
And I totally believe in Karma 🙂
ok I don’t know about punching, but I am SO glad you yelled at him. Stupid MFer…needs to learn how to drive and be cautious.
So glad you are OK!
Yeah, it is probably best I did not punch. But I will tomorrow night in kickboxing!!! 🙂
So glad that you are not hurt but an experience like that would shake anyone up. I am sorry that that happened to you.
Thanks Christina 🙂
It’s a good thing the car didn’t hit your arms, because your biceps would have totaled the car (just trying to make you laugh)! So sorry you had to go through something like this! It’s scary – you are not a baby at all!! I would STILL be in the fetal position in the middle of the road if that happened to me! And you weren’t even crossing the street Steve Style!
hahahaha! LOVE this 🙂 I have a crazy picture in my head of your biceps totally demollishing the car…
Ha! You did make me laugh!!! My dad wanted to know if I did any damage to the car. I bet I could have. Stupid Escalade.
And YOU know I don’t cross Steve Style!!!
It was an ESCALADE?!?!?!?!?!
Oh, I know how you feel! It is so scary and even if you are physically okay, it really throws you for a loop emotionally. When my youngest was just a baby I was with him in the parking lot of the grocery store, unloading my groceries into the back of the car when an old man drove his car right over the back of my foot – it totally freaked me out and I was in shock.
I’m glad you are okay physically, but I totally get where you are emotionally – it is scary and you are not a baby.
Oh my gosh! What the heck?! Did that break your foot? 🙁
Thank goodness you weren’t injured or killed! And now that I said that, make sure your knee doesn’t act up later. While you are so emotional about it (and that is very normal) you might not be aware of any pain. I would have the same exact reaction as you did (more aggressive actually). Did you get the driver information? I would still turn them into the police because next time it could be a child. Drivers need to be more aware. I take no pity on them.
Thanks – I will be cautious of my knee. All I got was his plate #, car model and make, and a general look at his face. 🙁 I feel stupid for not getting more.
Yikes! Of course you’re shaken up and jumbled. That’s a horrible thing to go through, even if you are ok. Thank heavens you’re ok. I so wish a cop were to file a report because in the moment one can never be sure if they are ok. And that jackass deserves a ticket too…and so much more…let me count the ways…
And they have those traffic cops all over the city. Sigh. Maybe I should recommend one for this intersection. Or someone to escort me across the street 🙂
Oh my, I’m glad you’re okay. Walking through the loop can be a mess sometimes and scary, I think that I would have reacted just like you too.
Thanks Britt 🙂
Oh my goodness, I’m glad you are okay! I had a lady back into my car at a preschool- it was one of those things where I knew it was happening, but it happened so fast (but also in slow motion…?) that I couldn’t do anything about it. Whew…take it easy tonight~
That is exactly what it was like and I felt powerless!
Jeez!! that is scary! I hate when people don’t pay attention. Glad you are ok though!
Thanks J 🙂
Oh man, I know exactly how you feel! The same thing happened to me while running a few years ago. The adrenaline feeling afterwards it so scary, and I totally understand why you would cry and feel so shaken up. I’m so sorry that happened to you; it must have thrown the rest of your day off!
I’m sure that guy was shaken up too, though probably not nearly as much as he should have been!
You do know how I feel! There have been a few times on my long runs lately where cars have gotten close to me on purpose and that just gets me all pumped up… and not in too much of a good way. Ugh.
I’m glad you are doing ok physically but remember to take care of yourself emotionally to!
Thanks! I will try 🙂
Still thinking about you – hope your nerves have calmed down some…
Thanks Bobbi! I did my run, took a hot bath, ate yummy Thai and watched a movie. I am feeling better! 🙂
Yikes! That’s scary! So so glad you’re okay!
Thanks Kayla 🙂
omg how scary, i’m so glad you are ok!!
Oh my gosh! That’s really scary. You could have called the cops. He’d have received a ticket since you had the right-of-way.
We saw a college kid on a bike get hit by a car once. We were at a stop-light and it turned green. He decided to cross anyway. We saw him, but the car to our left didn’t and knocked him over when the light went from red to green.
So scary! Im so glad you didnt get hurt! I think it would be wierd if you did NOT cry after that!
WOW – what a crazy story! Glad you’re ok!
Glad you’re okay! And I’m called that you swore at him. That’s ridiculous that he hit you!
And what’s up with the excuse? How about asking if you’re okay instead of saying he didn’t see you? What a stupid thing to say! He might as well have said, “I didn’t hit you intentionally!” So?! It makes me want to say, “Yeah, but you did. So that doesn’t really matter, does it?” Anyway, I’m rambling… What an idiot.
I think it’s perfectly natural that you were shook up about it. You’re allowed to cry after getting hit by a car.
OMG,how scarey. I am so glad to hear you are okay!! I cant imagine how shaken up you had to have been. I hope you are having a better day today. We were just talking about that on our run how people dont pay as much attention as they should!! I hope this guy realizes he needs to slow down and pay attention more. Glad you are okay!!
that is scary, of course you reacted so strongly!!
i’ve been nearly-hit SO MANY TIMES in crosswalks around here – when i had the right of way/green light – that i now cross the street on full alert no matter what. it’s ridiculous. the street right by my house is really wide, and i spend the whole second half of it looking over my back to see if anyone is making the left turn across traffic and is going to hit me from behind. you’d think i could just CROSS, you know, WITH THE LIGHT, and not have to actively avoid getting hit!!
I’m glad you started this post out with “I am fine” because after reading all of this, even getting tapped by a car at any speed is enough to scare anyone.
Utah drivers do not have any sort of regard for pedestrians. They simply ignore most or get highly impatient with the fact that they have to wait for someone to cross the street.
This is why as a scooter rider and a pedestrian, I am more in tune with my surrounding when I drive a car because while I know there is a rare chance that I might not see someone, I always check every way multiple times before going. Better to be safe for everyone.
EEEEEEEK!!!!! I know we never know how we’ll react until we’re in the moment, but I can see myself getting totally redneck on someone that did that to me. What you said to him TOTALLY sounds like something I’d say. lol
So glad you’re okay! ((HUGS))
OMG!!! I can’t believe I am just now reading this and hearing about it!!! I am SO glad you are ok and that you weren’t hurt! I would probably have a serious fear of walking around now!! Ugh, stupid drivers who don’t pay attention piss me off to no end! I LMwAO at Gina’s comment- good thing he didn’t hit your arm!! I REALLY am glad you are (physically) ok though!!
=^..^=
That would be so terrifying. I’m really really glad that everything was okay and you weren’t hurt. Your last line of the blog made my laugh though…At least I’m fine, I have to run tonight!! 🙂 That made me really know that you were okay — because you were still thinking about your run that evening.