That Time I Got Run Over

Summary

The author, Remington Write, recounts a personal experience of being run over by a car while crossing in a marked crosswalk despite having the right of way, leading to a legal settlement.

Abstract

In the article "That Time I Got Run Over," Remington Write reflects on their experience as a pedestrian in New York City, where they admit to jaywalking and aggressive street-crossing behavior. Despite this, Write was run over by a car in a situation where they had the right of way—while crossing at a green light in a crosswalk. The driver, an elderly man, initially lied to the police, claiming Write had waved him through. After the incident, which resulted in deep tissue bruising, Write pursued legal action against the driver's insurance company, eventually receiving a settlement of $12,000 after legal fees. Write concludes with advice to other pedestrians: assert your right of way at crosswalks without hesitation or the inclination to wave drivers through, while still ensuring they are going to stop.

Opinions

The author acknowledges their own negligence as a pedestrian in New York City, often engaging in jaywalking.
Despite being a cautious pedestrian at times, the author was involved in an accident while legally crossing the street.
The driver involved in the accident, an elderly man, was perceived as remorseful but also attempted to shift blame by lying to the police.
The author believes that pedestrians should not hesitate or yield to drivers when they legally have the right of way.
The author's personal injury lawsuit is viewed as a necessary step after the accident, despite the modest financial outcome after legal fees.

Here’s what I learned

Right up front, let’s be clear that I am not a good pedestrian.

I’m a very bad pedestrian because I live in New York City where traffic can be like an unfordable river. Where drivers can act as if all pedestrians are a nuisance at best, a target at worst.

So I jaywalk.

I cross in the middle of streets. And when that light changes, I’m crossing so you’d better by God stop. My partner loses sleep over my bad pedestrian ways.

And, yet, the only time I was actually run over by a car was when it was my light and I was in the crosswalk.

The driver was a very old man driving his wife to see her oncologist and he cried and lied to the police saying I waved him through. I didn’t do that but I did hesitate. I paused to make sure the old guy was going to stop. He did. He even waved for me to cross. And then he started easing on into the crosswalk.

I had my hands on the hood of his car as I realized he wasn’t stopping. Down I went and I watched as the front left tire of his sedan rolled over my leg. I still remember thinking: “This should hurt more, shouldn’t it?”

The good news and the bad news was that I only suffered deep tissue bruising.

Good because who needs serious injuries?

Bad because there wasn’t much of a lawsuit there.

Oh, stop that. Yes, I sued the old man. Or more accurately, my lawyer sued his insurance company. After nearly 18 months of “establishing a pattern of care” (bi-weekly physical therapy visits and several examinations by doctors on the state payroll), I was awarded $12,000 of which the lawyer took a third.

So when it’s your light, and it’s pretty clear that no SUV is going to blast through it (which is a pretty common occurrence around here), do not pause or hesitate.

Got that? Do not hesitate when that is your light.

Don’t do it. Don’t wave the driver through. Ok, do make sure they’re going to stop….but don’t let them see you hesitate.

You get out there and you own that crosswalk.