Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:22
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Lol if your kid can't see a trash can he should not be riding a bike unmonitored. Next you know he'll knock down an elderly person and you've got a real problem.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:16
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
I am really sorry about your son, but this is 100% on him. Accidents happen. I hope he heals quickly
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:16
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
The trash collectors on our street put the trash barrels back everywhere except the right place. They are on the sidewalks or in the driveway. Can’t blame the homeowner.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:13
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
My trash guys leave cans all over the place, how am I responsible for that?? The mail man often yells at me though.
A stationary trash can seems like an avoidable hazard. It's not like it was around a blind curve and he couldn't see it. What would have happened if it were a person?!
A stationary trash can seems like an avoidable hazard. It's not like it was around a blind curve and he couldn't see it. What would have happened if it were a person?!
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:13
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
oh my goodness.
My kids ride their bikes around the city. Even my 7 year old knows how to be alert to cars, pedestrians, dogs darting into the street, trash cans, etc. It's a very important part of being a safe biker -- being alert to obstacles.
Do you want your kid to be safe in the future? If so, what will help more -- teaching them to be more vigilant or blaming your neighbor?
My kids ride their bikes around the city. Even my 7 year old knows how to be alert to cars, pedestrians, dogs darting into the street, trash cans, etc. It's a very important part of being a safe biker -- being alert to obstacles.
Do you want your kid to be safe in the future? If so, what will help more -- teaching them to be more vigilant or blaming your neighbor?
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:12
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
You’re the reason we have such high insurance premiums in this country. Stop trying to sue everyone for your own negligence and take some responsibility for your own actions.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:12
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Agree with previous posters. WTF, teach your kid to look where he's going.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:11
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
If your 12 year old can't avoid a stationary trash can on a sidewalk, the they should not be riding their bike in public alone. This is a very ordinary thing to happen and is completely expected. It could have been a stroller, pedestrian, dog - all of which would be moving and more difficult to avoid.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:11
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Your kid should not be riding his bike so fast on the sidewalk that he can’t avoid a stationary trashcan. You’re lucky he didn’t mow down a small child or elderly person. Better that he be the one to have broken bones from his own stupidity. You should be a much better parent.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:09
Subject: Re:Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Your 12 year old ran his bike into a trash can. Yes that is 100% his fault. Do not raise it with your neighbor.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:09
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
It could have been a child he hit. You should feel grateful that he got off with a broken leg if he was riding with that little attention.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:07
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Are you serious? It’s a trash can. Now if it was glass from something that had broken in the trash that your neighbor hadn’t picked up, I’d consider. But in your situation? An accident is just an accident and is why we have insurance.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:07
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
Your kid is an idiot. Lesson learned.
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:05
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
It's not like a trash can is invisible. Or hard to see. This post can't be real
Anonymous
05/27/2025 15:02
Subject: Child broke leg on sidewalk—should I talk to the neighbor or teach my 12-year-old to pay more attention?
I’d love your thoughts on something that happened recently. My 12-year-old son was riding his bike on the sidewalk because the road was too busy. He struck our neighbor’s trash can, which was left blocking the path, and fell, breaking his leg.
This has been a real wake-up call: I need to pay closer attention to where he’s riding and remind him to scan ahead, even on the “safe” sidewalk. At the same time, it feels unfair that a can left in the middle of a public walkway caused this accident.
Under Virginia law, bicycles are explicitly allowed on sidewalks. Still, riders must follow pedestrian rules (Va. Code §§ 46.2-903 & 46.2-904): they have the same rights and duties as walkers—yield to pedestrians, signal before passing, and obey any “no bikes” signs. Property owners must clear obstacles from the public sidewalk, even if the trash company places the can there. In Fairfax County, carts must be pulled in by the end of trash day (Friday or Saturday), but the neighbor left their trash can out for over three days.
Insurance covered almost all of our medical bills; I only paid a few small copays. We have timestamped photos showing the trash can blocking the sidewalk.
So now I’m torn: Do I focus on teaching my son to be extra vigilant, or should I have a calm conversation with the neighbor (or their insurer) about their responsibility and ask them to cover those small copays—and maybe some extra for his pain? Or does that feel like overkill since insurance already handled most of it?
Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!
This has been a real wake-up call: I need to pay closer attention to where he’s riding and remind him to scan ahead, even on the “safe” sidewalk. At the same time, it feels unfair that a can left in the middle of a public walkway caused this accident.
Under Virginia law, bicycles are explicitly allowed on sidewalks. Still, riders must follow pedestrian rules (Va. Code §§ 46.2-903 & 46.2-904): they have the same rights and duties as walkers—yield to pedestrians, signal before passing, and obey any “no bikes” signs. Property owners must clear obstacles from the public sidewalk, even if the trash company places the can there. In Fairfax County, carts must be pulled in by the end of trash day (Friday or Saturday), but the neighbor left their trash can out for over three days.
Insurance covered almost all of our medical bills; I only paid a few small copays. We have timestamped photos showing the trash can blocking the sidewalk.
So now I’m torn: Do I focus on teaching my son to be extra vigilant, or should I have a calm conversation with the neighbor (or their insurer) about their responsibility and ask them to cover those small copays—and maybe some extra for his pain? Or does that feel like overkill since insurance already handled most of it?
Thanks for any advice or similar experiences!