A prime example of why you should never ride against traffic and should wear safety gear, too.
Presumed Seattle resident and Redditor /u/ILikeToWakeBoard shared dashcam footage to the /r/IdiotsInCars subreddit showing the shocking moment a scooter rider in Seattle riding against the flow of traffic slammed into the front of his car, causing the rider to flip over before landing on the street.
OP’s thread is linked here.
You’ll have to click the photo with the red border below to see the video for yourself. (I’d embed it but, since it shows him actually getting hit, I technically can’t show it to you below.)
The accident happened as /u/ILikeToWakeBoard exited a shopping center in the 1700 block of 4th Ave S in Seattle, WA (exact location on Google Maps linked here.)
As the video shows, OP was exiting the shopping center, turning left onto 4th Ave S.
“I did my best to look both ways, but there was a sandwich board sign advertising parking for a Mariners game blocking my view north. I looked both ways, but always look at the oncoming traffic last, as they’re the first one to possibly hit me.”
All of a sudden, a scooter rider riding against the flow of traffic runs into OP’s car.
“I was going 3 mph and looking the other way, he was going 20-30, he hit me before I saw him…The scooter was in the middle of the three lane road, going way faster than any child could or should on the sidewalk.”
Not only was the scooter rider going the wrong way, he was in the middle of the road!
Here’s the scooter rider’s POV via Google Maps.
Thankfully, the scooter rider appeared not to be seriously injured and immediately stands up to shake himself off.
You’d think, myself included, that OP would be found by police and his insurance to be mostly at fault, but not so.
“The parking lot attendant said I had no chance to see him and the cops gave the scooter driver the citation.”
“He knocked off my front license plate and put a large dent in the hood, plus the scooter damaged the lower potion of the bumper cover. Nearly 4000. Insurance covered all but the deductible until they can get that from the scooter driver.”
As OP mentions, you can do everything right and still get into situations out of your control.
To scooter riders, take this video as a cautionary tale to ride safely at all times. A car against the scooter rider, you’re going to lose every time.
And, to drivers, here’s yet another reason to get a dashcam. And while you’re at it, make sure your insurance is up to date, too.
