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My boss gave me a lift home from work. In a street quite near ours she ran over a cat, both wheels. She didn't stop or anything. Didn't seem to care much. Didn't slow down, either before or after. Is that normal?
Thank you for all of the replies. It's weird, isn't it, and it's not just me that thinks so! I don't think of her as really that mean, so I think I need to give her a chance to talk about it. But it's my boss, so I'm wary for a whole lot of reasons. Like, what if she does just say, 'so, what?' I'd still have to work for her.
It wasn't really her fault. But if she slowed at the start then she wouldn't have gone over it when it ran across our side of the road. But, then again, that could have caused a different crash.
The worst thing was feeling the bumps on my side of the car as it went under her wheels. I feel like she should do something, but I don't know what. I don't know what we could have done, if we'd stopped after? But I still think we should have.
I'm glad that you understand that this is not a simple situation and that there may not have been many options.
1st, it's entirely possible that they did not see it in time.
2nd. Trying to avoid it may well have caused a more serious traffic event. I've seen people total their and another car (with serious injuries to people) by trying to avoid hitting an animal.
3rd. There is not much anyone can do to avoid hitting animals that dart into the road. Yes, I and many others try our best to avoid them if there is no other traffic; but, often that does not matter.
Then the driver is left with the knowledge that the probably just killed a small animal (or pet); and if not dead now will likely be shortly.
The driver also needs to focus on being a safe driver, or they may find themselves in another accident (I've seen that happen too).
Despite everyone who is objecting to the concept: those of us who live in areas where avoiding and hitting animals on the road is somewhat routine come to an understanding that its just a normal unfortunate part of driving; and almost instantly mentally move on without any further thoughts.
I wish you well with this,
I am pleased to say that I don't routinely crush people's pets whilst driving nor have I ever before had the opportunity to leave one lying in the road not really sure if it was alive and in pain or dead. So I'm still struggling with this, personally. We live in very different environments. I do get that.
I can live with the fact that I was bumped over someone's cat, without any consent. And the cat had more than a little blame to share in that fact. But an acknowledgement of it being a horrible experence for at least two of us might have been good. That's what I'd really expected, even if she couldn't have faced going back..?
Like 'OMG, poor thing!'
'Fuck it!', and nothing else, is just too ambiguous. In my view.
Sure, I get that. Fuck it was what my boss said. But, I've come round to thinking she probably meant fuck the situation, rather than fuck the cat.
I guess I'm kind of moving on, myself. But I still don't like to think of that first thump, especially, just down by my feet!
To be fair, I didn't say a whole lot about it myself. Maybe my boss thought it was me that was odd. Who knows.
Must be kind of useful to be able to live with shit you can't actually do a whole lot about.
It is not avoidable in all cases, but she clearly seems to lack empathy or interest in the animal she has run over, or she is very good at controlling her reaction to such events and does not show you how she really feels about them.
If it's really important to you to know what she thinks about it, rather than living with the echo of "Fuck it!", then I would talk to her about it.
However, I would say that it is not normal. I know enough people who, unlike me, are not city people and get into the situation of an animal crossing the road several times a year, and they can always avoid an accident of the sort.
I can't understand how some here can think to themselves "Just happens. I don't care" just because others in their town do the same and the law prescribes little or nothing for them in this regard. That doesn't justify anything. Just as it does not justify such a thing just because it does not affect one's life.
This kind of justification shows a high degree of disrespect for life as well as human arrogance. Just because a cat has no idea what a car is, misjudges the danger and gets run over by the driver, it did not choose to die. It is not solely responsible for its death, but also the human behind the wheel.
Otherwise, it wouldn't matter if you ran over toddlers and babies if they ran into the road. After all, they have decided to run onto the road and biologically they are small animals.
Thank you. That really sums it up well, I think. And, in the end, I am probably better off not knowing what she thinks. Because, whatever her reasons, she chose not to stop (or even to slow down) at any point at all, despite knowing that she might have left a horribly injured animal just lying in the road in her wake. My test is going to come next time she offers me a lift.
To be clear about one thing: although I said that the cat was in part to blame, I didn't in any way mean that I thought it wanted or chose to be squashed. The point was that it was on the opposite side of the road to us (though clearly visible) and at the last minute it made a dash in the wrong direction, right under our wheels. It was all very surprising, as well as upsetting. Personally, I think I would have slowed, to pass it - but that might not have been a good idea, and it could still have ended up bad given that ill-fated dash for safety!
I would definitely have stopped after, though. But I would probably also have slammed the brakes when it ran out and I do know that my boss was right not to do that!
I didn't think you meant that. I was reading the other comments too and there was someone who claimed that pet obviously decided to be squashed. You'll likely know who I mean, if he hasn't edited his post by now and that phrase can't be found anywhere anymore.
nope, and the best case scenario is that she didn't think anything of it because she thought it was a possum or rat or squirrel.
Maybe you should talk to her about it. If she was clearly aware it was a cat, she's got a serious lack of remorse or severe apathy towards life, which is bothersome either way.
Not normal at all. I consider it a huge red flag when people don't care at all if they hurt or kill animals. It shows they lack empathy. I know it was an accident and there are times it's not avoidable, but I don't think it's normal to not have any reaction to it.
No, it's not normal at all. Personally I would probably cry in that scenario, but even if she doesn't like animals or has low empathy levels, this was just cruel. Perhaps you're working for a psychopath lol.
No. There is nothing illegal about hitting stray or random animals on the road.
I try to avoid them... but, it happens multiple times a year be it birds, rabbits, raccoons, cats, dogs that chase cars, etc. Even deer on occasion (we don't have moose or elk here). Deer often damages the car badly - I got extremely lucky last year that all I needed was a new license plate holder; but my previous 2 deer collisions resulted in major damage and one car was totaled.
I'd say its pretty normal for people to not care about small animals they hit.
https://bernsteininjurylaw.com/blog/accidents-and-animals-pet-hit-and-run-laws/
pets vs wild animals is the difference since pets are property
and if you hit a wild animal you aint gonna get insurance money without a police report
I just did a search on US laws on this issue.
It appears that Florida has an unusual law here.
Livestock is generally legally protected, and you must report that.
In many states the owners of dogs that chase cars can be held legally liable for damage to the car and its occupants as dogs are required to be controlled properly.
Most states appear to hold people responsible for where there pet is... and people who hit animals who dart into the road are not liable for their injuries and deaths.
But, I guess everyone should check the laws in their individual state.
In my state police often no longer respond to animal or even minor car accidents unless the car is not drive-able or people are injured. There are no police reports in most cases. People self file an online report with the Department of Transportation, and the insurance companies work from that.
My wife is currently dealing with that after being rear ended while stopped at a stop light in Milwaukee (911 directed both parties to exchange insurance and license information and for each to file the online report).
You think that's normal? You're fucked in the head if you think running over an animal and not caring about it is normal. And I thought you out of everyone would think it isn't normal, olderdude.
It's not possible to avoid hitting animals that run onto roads... even if you try because you often see them too late to do anything about it.
Anyone who lives in or drives rural areas a lot knows that.
I was concerned my 1st few times... but, seeing that its happens at least multiple times a year... everyone I knows is totally used to it and just moves on.
Now I will admit that it is rare in cities and larger towns. But once you get onto rural roads... totally common and normal just to keep moving on unless it was very large and damaged your vehicle or a farm animal (then you need to tell the farmer and report that).
I KNOW it isn't possible to avoid hitting animals, dickhead. You said "I think it's pretty normal to not care about running over small animals". Okay, I get being desensitized to it, but how can you just not care? That makes no sense. And it only matters if the animal damages your car? That's fucked up all the way.
Why let yourself get distracted from safe driving for something that you have no control over and does not affect your or anyone else's future to any degree?
Are you also concerned about the fly's people swat and other insects you squash when they land on or bite you?
This is what two of my friends said. I'm slowly coming round to it. Basically you are actually advised to run over cats, rabbits, squirrels etc so as not to cause mayhem and alternative deaths. But you can choose to stop after, or go back. And maybe she did go back, right after she dropped me off. Who knows. Until it happens to me... maybe I'll be pathetic, too!
I once hit a bird that flew into the grill of my car, then I took it home and buried it my garden.
I don’t see how talking to her about it now will help. Maybe you need to let it go since she’s your boss.
People react differently. Maybe she didn't want to express emotion in front of her subordinate.
Lol did we have the same boss? One boss I had once ran over a cat and said she thought it's a stray so it should be okay 🤦♀️
My friend said something similarly weird, when I asked her about it. 'But it was in the road, right?'
People just seem to say stuff to make it ok. Like, if it's a type of animal that no-one much likes, then it doesn't matter if you drive right over it?
She just said, 'fuck it!'. The trouble is, you can take that in different ways. I really need to talk to her more. But I'm worried she'll actually not care one bit. Because I'd still have to work for her. But maybe I'm being really unfair to her, by not talking.
I'm curious: How many people answering this post live in cities and how many live in smaller towns and rural areas.
It is not possible to avoid hitting small animals in rural areas and is a very common occurrence. People are used to it and just move on. Larger animals that damage your vehicle are much less often.
I'd estimate that I hit at least 10 animals a year driving the roads and highways outside of cities and larger towns.
Totally normal for us that don't live in cities.
You sir are pretty cold hearted with that view point.
I live in the country about 14km to the nearest town and it has 'A' traffic light! Closest town of any considerable size is about 80km away.
We have many wild animals that run across the road especially at night and early morning. For the last 10 years I've driven that 80km to work and back 5 to 6 days a week. I've hit maybe two wild animals.
I've seen a bunch live and dead on the road even came up to a dog that had just been hit (the person didn't stop, but I did) poor dog was dazed and still standing in the middle of the road. He wasn't going to survive that was obvious but I did keep him from getting hit again. His owner finally came out got him and they took him back home to bury him.
Wild animals are one thing, but dogs and cats that are obviously pets, it's really just cold to hit and not care.
Also if you are hitting 10 animals a year then, mpo, you should surrender your license because you are obviously not watching the road or aware of what going on on the road ahead of you.
I'm also a commercial driver and have traveled some pretty desolate areas. Cows, sheep, donkeys, horses, as well as deer and all the smaller animals are on the road at night. I don't want to hit them and 95 percent of the time I didn't. You can normally take action (safe action) to avoid them sometimes you can't. That's what high beams are for, to see that extra distance and sides of the road but you have to use them, and be looking as well as paying attention.
If I hit that many animals in my commercial vehicle even without damage the company would have a problem with cleaning the vehicle and either send me to a class or fire me.
I avoid as many as I can; and I know all about night driving and animals (I cannot count how many nights where I have driven all night, not to mention the ones I leave at midnight + all the ones where I don't get home until well into the wee hours).
I also know about farm animals, and I cannot count how many times I have stopped at farms and told them their cow, pig, horse, etc. was out. I do that, and always have. They always thanked me.
But, that does not change that you cannot prevent hitting a number of them; and I just consider it part of normal life now (in my 1st couple years of driving I did not; but that was many many decades ago).
Now perhaps where I live has more wild animals than some other parts of the country.
I do my best to avoid; but it's nothing I can control beyond that and it has no effect on my future. So I don't worry about it. That also means it does not distract me from safe driving.
I do understand hitting an animal if you can't safely avoid it, especially if you are driving a combination vehicle (truck or vehicle with trailer) they can be harder to safely swerve and take evasive action and longer to stop.
However, that doesn't justify not caring. I don't and won't run over an animal already dead in the road if I can safely Straddle it or avoid it. I don't like the feeling or thoughts as the tires hit the poor thing. When I was younger I hit a small animal and one of the bones punctured the tire, so besides just caring about life of all God's creatures, there are practical reasons not to hit them.
I'm sorry, I still feel that 10 a year is excessive and you should stop driving at night, slow down, put your phone down, or take a driving course. If you still hit a lot then you should just stop driving because one day it's going to be a person, motorcycle, another vehicle, or even a bicycle that 'just darted out in front of you.'
To not care is just cold. It's the feelings that make you drive safe not road laws. I've told fellow motorcyclists, when you are riding at 100+ kph and look down, if you are not somewhat apprehensive about hitting or scooting on that rough surface then you may want to rethink riding.
It's those feelings that keep you riding/driving safe and aware of your environment.
I guess it's okay to abuse animals too, right? Hey, as long as you don't get caught, abusing or killing an animal shouldn't matter because it won't ruin your future.
Darefu, you've said it all I guess. I thought the part where he said he hits 10 animals a year was laughable. How the fuck does someone hit 10 animals a year!?