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Electric scooter kid went flying after hitting my car door

306 replies

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:06

I was just about to get out of my car - door opening onto the pavement - this afternoon, not dark by any stretch of the imagination, although the car door does have a light that stays on even when ignition off.
I had seen a girl (I think I know her, she's 8 or 9) go zooming past "up" the road - wearing black, on her no-doubt Christmas present, large electric scooter.
I pushed the door open, not fully, an was about to get out when I heard a skidding sound and she hit the car door and went flying onto the ground.
When I look afterwards, the tyre marks were about 2/3 of the way across the pavement, closer to my car. Had the door been fully opened, it would have been badly damaged, I think - or she might have been.
She rolled on the ground but didn't hit her head (no helmet) and seemed to want to check her scooter thoroughly herself.

I didn't say sorry - more like "Oh God!" - and checked she was OK, briefly saying that she was very difficult to see, but that's all, even though I think a whole lot more.
This will no doubt come back to me as "she was knocked off her scooter by that woman up the road" etc - but AIBU to think it was her own fault, even allowing for the fact she is a young child?

OP posts:
fetchacloth · 26/12/2024 20:06

BigAnne · 26/12/2024 19:56

Try giving that response to the police when they visit you. You have committed a road traffic offence.

Correct. The driver is responsible for the passengers' behaviour.

TwinklyAmberOrca · 26/12/2024 20:06

Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 19:16

So you want a child to be aware but not the adults responsible for a two ton machine, eh ok then.

Well if a child isn't old enough to be aware that riding an electric scooter on the pavement il illegal and that a car door might open then they need to be supervised.

I have two 9 year olds and I do let them ride on the pavement but I supervise them and make them aware of things like parked cars and doors that might open.

What's a 2 ton vehicle got to do with it? It's a car door. If it was a person walking past then there would have been no issue. The issue was the speed of the scooter.

ThisTeaIsBad · 26/12/2024 20:04

Nogaxeh · 26/12/2024 19:59

This happens to cyclists a lot. People not looking properly and opening doors into their path.

Does the OP think the girl on the scooter should have anticipated her opening her door?

Normally when I see a car parking and I am passing I do anticipate that someone will be getting out. I was also always taught (as a child doing cycling proficiency many years ago and as a driver) that when passing parked cars you should, where possible, allow enough room for doors to open.

Electric scooters are an absolute menace and have no place being on a path.

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 20:04

Nogaxeh · 26/12/2024 19:59

This happens to cyclists a lot. People not looking properly and opening doors into their path.

Does the OP think the girl on the scooter should have anticipated her opening her door?

See my previous post about cyclists.....

She shouldn't really have been there at all..... but it could be argued that her parents should have given her some instruction about the risks and responsibilities, not just going as fast as she can down a public pavement where the houses are only set back about eight feet.

And if she was too young to be instructed, she was too young to be unsupervised, I suspect.

OP posts:
LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 20:01

Pickles2025 · 26/12/2024 19:55

as a cyclist and yes they should not be on the pavement but i do wish drivers would use their mirrors first to see if anything is oncoming then if after that an accident happens you can say you looked etc as ive had it on the road side, car driver suddendly opens door fully wide and as a cylist i was taking it steady and its like omg , wheres your road sense especially from drivers when its daylight

Edited

I'm not clear on your post....
I ride a bike, as I have said, daily ---- and always take great care passing parked vehicles, for fear of someone getting out of their car and maybe they haven't seen me approaching. I give a very very wide berth, and slow down, and even look for movement in the car, or brake lights/indicators etc. I can do all of this because I am an adult, old(er) and a road user.

(And I got my Cycling Proficiency Test! - back when there was such a thing...)

The kid on the scooter is none of those things, and if she does not have the awareness, should not be on the scooter - and certainly not near me I hope.
And definitely not, when they are illegal, and there was not a parent in sight.

OP posts:
Nogaxeh · 26/12/2024 19:59

This happens to cyclists a lot. People not looking properly and opening doors into their path.

Does the OP think the girl on the scooter should have anticipated her opening her door?

Pickles2025 · 26/12/2024 19:58

BigAnne · 26/12/2024 19:45

@LoveMyPiano your car shouldn't be parked on the same side as oncoming traffic.

for the uk unless its changed : According to Rule 248 of the Highway Code you MUST NOT park on a road at night facing against the direction of the traffic flow unless in a recognised parking space. “Parking on the wrong side of the road at night can lead to heavy fines,

BigAnne · 26/12/2024 19:56

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:53

True - but also, imagine a passenger having got out, and not checked the mirror though (I don't imagine my elderly mother would, as she has never driven and does not understand - or care about - cars at all).

Try giving that response to the police when they visit you. You have committed a road traffic offence.

Pickles2025 · 26/12/2024 19:55

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 18:12

I couldn't wait for her to pass, she came zooming down behind me.
I didn't deliberately open the door into "her path"... I had seen her go past and out of sight; she must have turned round to come back.

as a cyclist and yes they should not be on the pavement but i do wish drivers would use their mirrors first to see if anything is oncoming then if after that an accident happens you can say you looked etc as ive had it on the road side, car driver suddendly opens door fully wide and as a cylist i was taking it steady and its like omg , wheres your road sense especially from drivers when its daylight

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:53

BigAnne · 26/12/2024 19:45

@LoveMyPiano your car shouldn't be parked on the same side as oncoming traffic.

True - but also, imagine a passenger having got out, and not checked the mirror though (I don't imagine my elderly mother would, as she has never driven and does not understand - or care about - cars at all).

OP posts:
TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 26/12/2024 19:52

Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 19:45

Seriously you are now reaching. If you hit a child with a metal door she is going to come off with potentially life altering injuries because you didn't have the cop on to look properly,! She didn't buy the scooter that's on her parents.

But you are not coming across as well as you seem to believe!

Really this is where the supervising parents step in?

And the protective gear she’s wearing comes into play?

And the laws regarding motorised vehicles kick in?

None of this is on the OP. The parents should’ve been watching.

Tiswa · 26/12/2024 19:51

The whole thing is you can park correctly look correctly and still be caught out because of the speed at which e scooters come along a pavement - they are dangerous and not allowed - precisely for this reason (amongst others) this isn’t hitting a oedistroan or even a cyclist

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:49

Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 19:45

Seriously you are now reaching. If you hit a child with a metal door she is going to come off with potentially life altering injuries because you didn't have the cop on to look properly,! She didn't buy the scooter that's on her parents.

But you are not coming across as well as you seem to believe!

The child was NOT hit with a metal door - her scooter hit the door, she fell off.
I am sure she has fallen over plenty of times, if anything, the door slowed her down!
And I did "cop on" to look properly. She should not have been where she was really.

OP posts:
Marblesbackagain · 26/12/2024 19:45

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:39

Two tons moving (and all that that means) vs. two tons stationary are still two different things in terms of danger though. The main thing that was moving was the scooter with a kid on it (and she is not a delicate child).
Would you like THAT hitting your knee and crushing it into a car door?
My car is also not a tank, but the door did not give way or get damaged....
Her falling was the better outcome, even for her, I think - as there is a very very rigid Bus Stop pole on the other side of the pavement to where I parked.

Seriously you are now reaching. If you hit a child with a metal door she is going to come off with potentially life altering injuries because you didn't have the cop on to look properly,! She didn't buy the scooter that's on her parents.

But you are not coming across as well as you seem to believe!

BigAnne · 26/12/2024 19:45

@LoveMyPiano your car shouldn't be parked on the same side as oncoming traffic.

MrsGhastlyCrumb · 26/12/2024 19:44

Runningoutofthyme · 26/12/2024 18:13

Always wise to check in the mirror to see if anything is coming before opening the door

...is the correct answer.

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:43

OneTC · 26/12/2024 19:38

Advanced staying still

Mind you, they did not make allowances for these things in the course/test - should imagine they do now. But generally, anything around you when driving, should be considered a Hazard. (Before anyone says, she appeared at speed and in a place she was not expected to be...)

OP posts:
chocolatespreadsandwich · 26/12/2024 19:42

Miloarmadillo2 · 26/12/2024 19:03

The parents could be prosecuted for allowing the child to ride one on public road or pavement, riding without a licence (have to have a driving licence to ride the legal ones) and without insurance. So if there is any comeback from idiot parents I’d report it to the police and let them deal with it. In fact since it’s an accident involving your vehicle maybe you should be reporting it anyway?

Agreed. Child should not be on an escooter. It's a profoundly stupid thing to buy for a child.

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:41

Washingupdone · 26/12/2024 19:37

Lovemypiano My dash cam is supposed to record impacts even when the key is out; I might check - as now I am worried about the Police

Have you checked your cam yet?

Can't find the data cable... still looking.

OP posts:
bumblebee1000 · 26/12/2024 19:40

tough, shouldnt have been using it !

LoveMyPiano · 26/12/2024 19:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Two tons moving (and all that that means) vs. two tons stationary are still two different things in terms of danger though. The main thing that was moving was the scooter with a kid on it (and she is not a delicate child).
Would you like THAT hitting your knee and crushing it into a car door?
My car is also not a tank, but the door did not give way or get damaged....
Her falling was the better outcome, even for her, I think - as there is a very very rigid Bus Stop pole on the other side of the pavement to where I parked.

OP posts:
OneTC · 26/12/2024 19:38

Upstartled · 26/12/2024 19:14

Surely an advanced door opening course would be more appropriate?

Advanced staying still

Washingupdone · 26/12/2024 19:37

Lovemypiano My dash cam is supposed to record impacts even when the key is out; I might check - as now I am worried about the Police

Have you checked your cam yet?

Jennyathemall · 26/12/2024 19:37

Upstartled · 26/12/2024 18:33

You've turned this incident into a whole conversation that hasn't happened in which you are treated unfairly? That's really weird.

Yep I thought the same. Pre emptive posting.

chocolatespreadsandwich · 26/12/2024 19:36

TheirLastRolo · 26/12/2024 18:29

To be honest anyone who buys their 8 year old an electric scooter, let's them ride it unsupervised without so much as a helmet is unlikely to be someone who is amenable to discussion.

I hope you're alright though.

Agreed.

It's a sign of a parent without any intelligence or care for their child