The Accident

It was only recently that my college-age son got plowed into in an intersection a few blocks from our house. He was on his way to his (very) part-time job that he maintains to keep gas in his car and change in his pocket while in school. He had the right of way (eyewitnesses said for a solid 10-12 seconds) and the other driver clearly blew a very-red light. My son’s car got hit on the right front which spun him like a top; the impact bent the frame and destroyed the front clip of his beloved 25 year old Mazda Piñata (err… Miata). But he has quick reflexes and saw it coming, so he did some evasive maneuvering. I am satisfied based on what I saw at the scene that if my son hadn’t reacted quickly he would have been in the hospital.

The radiator was destroyed on my son’s car, so I overheard some of the police report as I showed up with my trusty log-chain to help him pull the sorry wreck home. I understand that the other driver had been swerving as he drove towards the intersection and that after the collision he stopped long enough to get out and look at the damage he caused. He then got back in his mangled car and drove away. Whether the guy was drunk or simply looking at his phone is a mystery to any of us. What isn’t a mystery is that he hit and ran. A couple of ladies sitting at the (red) light got pictures of him getting out of his car and also of his license plate, so it is hopeful that the police can track him down.

Likely this guy was one of those who couldn’t afford insurance and chose to run because he had none. Who knows; he might have even had his license pulled because of priors without insurance. Uninsured motorists seem more and more commonplace in urban areas. I suspect that the issue will continue to grow; rent, utilities and groceries continue to ratchet up in cost, but wages don’t. Unfortunately, just because you can’t afford what it takes to maintain a driving privilege doesn’t mean you can get along without it.  

The urban financial cycle is vicious and unforgiving. Lower income folks have no ability to find employment other than what is within walking distance or along transit routes. These jobs often provide little, either in benefits or salary. They often can’t afford to drive, but need to because there are no decent jobs, grocery stores or department stores close to where they live. These areas can’t support this infrastructure as crime is inevitably high and insurance (there’s that word again) for a store owner is unaffordable due to frequent theft and robberies. Busses? Sure, it’s feasible to carve 2½ hours out for multiple rides and transfers to accommodate a ½hr grocery run. But which of us would see that as a real option?

Solutions are few and far between. Public transit meets only some needs. Jobs above minimum wage typically require education that many can’t afford and are often available only in areas that urbanites can’t access without personal transportation. And as demonstrated recently, even a 4-year degree offers little additional hope of securing a reasonable job. Many grads today find themselves working at the McDonalds up the street because it’s all that was available. (Based on my recent search I can testify that many companies are looking for 25 year-olds with 30 years of work experience, master degrees and willingness to work for $12/hr.)

And so this installment of my blog offers no solutions, only questions. My son had his life put off kilter by this accident, but he got out of it uninjured and is already seeing this as an opportunity to upgrade his rolling-stock. And no- he isn’t collecting against insurance as he only carried liability on the Piñata. The other guy? Who really knows?  If the City hunts him down to prosecute, it’s kind of a blood-out-of-a-turnip deal…  Yes, his behavior was wrong and needs to change. But I’m not sure it does anyone any good to cripple him that much more by taking away what he already doesn’t have to guarantee he can’t get set straight.

© 2016 D.W. Williams