Electric scooter kid went flying after hitting my car door

[LoveMyPiano]

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?

Have I?
(I am weird though, admittedly.)
If it's the child I think it is, I wouldn't be wrong to do so.
But I just don't want to (have to) engage with her or her family, even though I feel bad.

I pay a great deal of attention - although mistakes can and do happen...
I am incredibly careful, and Advanced Driver, can drive a variety of vehicles - and also use the road by bike and horse. The scooters are a terrible hazard, wherever they are, and ridden by little kids are a hazard x 1000!

Years ago, a friend of mine (young man a bit older than me) got out of the passenger side on the traffic side when being dropped off. He got hit by a passing vehicle (probably going faster than it should at that location), killing him instantly.

At no point was there any indication that the OP wasn't paying attention.

Well, she hit a child with her car door, so she clearly wasn’t paying attention.

They are considered to be motor vehicles and therefore need a licence, insurance, lights etc. A nine year old definitely doesn‘t have an AM licence. And of course motor vehicles must not be driven on pavements

One less NED on the streets if she was injured tbh. F around and find out

Current Title Electric scooter kid went flying after hitting my car door

Should be Electric scooter kid went flying after I opened my car door without looking properly and she crashed into it.

You're welcome 🙄

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.

As it's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements and shopping centres.

It is only legal to use e-scooters on private land such as your garden, but you must have permission from the landowners.

Insp Jack Stabler from the Road Policing Unit said: “Whilst we understand why people may want to buy them for Christmas it’s important you are aware of the laws and that you comply.

“If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences

“These aren’t toys and can cause serious injury to riders or other path or road users if ridden irresponsibly.”

If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences.

The child wasn't hit by the door the child crashed into the open door. it's not like she deliberately opened it intending to hit the child. Given how fast electric scooters can go the child could have been a good distance away before the OP opened her door and she couldn't slow down quick enough to stop.

The incident probably isn't your fault. But 8/9 year old kids are not mature enough to give a balanced account to their parents. Especially if they think they might get in trouble. I really think you should have taken her home to explain your side of the story, because if the kid says something vague like I was hit by a car then there'll be a visit from the police coming.

Nice way to refer to an 8 yo girl who fell off her scooter.

You should do the Dutch reach when you open the door. That's the point of it rather than for setting off.

Surely if you are opening the door and getting out you are looking out behind the door? I do.

You were lucky she wasn't seriously injured. No she shouldn't be speeding along but that would be very poor consolation.

The Darwin commentator about a child is disgusting!

Maybe I should have - but at the time, I might have gone off a bit - and it wouldn't have been good.
She seemed to want to get away from me.
I really don't want to be responsible for her though, given previous things that have happened.

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.

(Had something "similar" happen with cyclists a few years ago - and even though I reported it to the Police, they still showed up a week later....)

@Upstartled when a family lets their 8 year old ride an illegal e scooter down a pavement without even a helmet, I know everything I need to know about the kind of people they are

We had to dive out of the way of a group of 3 people riding these on the pavement last night while we were walking the dog. They were all dressed in all black and no lights or helmet and going really fast The one at the front was Mum followed by two 8 or 9 ish year old boys. She said "sorry" as they zoomed past. I said "you will be when they get hurt" not as under my breath as I had thought to which I got a load of verbal abuse.

Oh right, well, I check everywhere I can when I set off driving (very necessary here), and check the absolute best I can when getting out of the car, as I am opening onto the pavement and very aware. Should I really have to take account of something coming along/appearing at that speed, in almost camouflage and ridden by someone without any kind of "road" knowledge?

Well that’s it isn’t it. When you open a car door on to the pavement you are looking for pedestrians. Not cyclists or scooters riders. This walking. Op saw no walkers in her immediate area so she opened the door.

I think that they think (as do the kids themselves) that they are invincible!
They act as though nothing they do is wrong, or unsafe, or inconsiderate or even totally dangerous - to them, and to others.

Clearly the answer to that is yes, you should!

I hate those things, they are so dangerous and banned in many places, and rightly so. Plus I think they are actually illegal on pavements too?

The parents are irresponsible for buying it and letting the 8 year old have free reign on it ( and without a helmet?) for this very reason. It could have ended much worse, but thankfully it wasnt. Definitely not you at fault OP, those things are so fast, so even If you saw her, you can easily misjudge how fast she was actually going.

@Littletreefrog And yet, YOU should not have had to move. But when you say anything, it just gets worse.

On the pavement?

Although in fact, I thought I had...,. I'm not Clark Kent.

E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.
As it's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters, it’s illegal to use them on the road or in public spaces such as parks, street pavements and shopping centres.
It is only legal to use e-scooters on private land such as your garden, but you must have permission from the landowners.
Insp Jack Stabler from the Road Policing Unit said: “Whilst we understand why people may want to buy them for Christmas it’s important you are aware of the laws and that you comply.
“If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences
“These aren’t toys and can cause serious injury to riders or other path or road users if ridden irresponsibly.”
If anyone is found to be riding an e-scooter on a public road or footpath the e-scooter could be seized, your present lost and you will be reported for offences.

Yes! A toddler could run out or be on scooter. Of course you do, didn't this used to be part of the driving lessons. It was in Ireland 30 odd years ago and there's faster items I. The footpaths now.