A woman who was hit by a car while crossing a road in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig said she didn’t want to settle when she signed a document.
On Nov. 6, Nicole Mercado was crossing the intersection of 5h Avenue and Rizal Drive in BGC when a black SUV that was turning left hit her.
The accident was captured on a video uploaded by JoyRide rider KupsyMoto on Facebook. The video has gone viral, garnering 13 million views and more than 13,000 comments on Facebook.
In a Facebook post, victim Nicole Mercado said she signed a document not knowing that it was already a settlement agreement.
“Ibinalita na nagpa-areglo daw ako. Hindi ko naman gusto magpa-areglo talaga sadyang hindi ko na lang alam kung ano pinapasulat nila sa akin sa traffic bureau dahil wala na ako sa sarili (It was reported in the news that I settled. I really didn’t want to settle, it’s just that I didn’t know what the traffic bureau asked me to write because I wasn’t in myself that time),” she wrote along with a link to the video of the accident.
Screenshots from a video showing the accident in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig (Screenshots from KupsyMoto on Facebook)
Mercado added, “Hindi ko alam na kasunduang areglo na pala iyon. Sobrang unfair lang kasi ayaw mag compensate ng maayos nung driver (I didn’t know that it was already a settlement agreement. It was so unfair because the driver refused to compensate right).”
She said the driver refused to pay for the days that she would not be able to go to work because of what happened.
“Ayaw bayaran ang mga araw na hindi ko maipapasok sa work. Grabeng emotional trauma at physical pain ang napala ko sa nangyari ([The driver] refused to pay for the days that I won’t be able to go to work. There is so much emotional trauma and physical pain that I experienced because of what happened),” she said.
Mercado said she may no longer continue working in BGC because of her trauma.
“Baka hindi na rin ako makakatuloy pa sa pagta-trabaho sa bgc dahil na-trauma ako at hindi ko na kaya bumalik. Sobrang unfair talaga at ang gulo ng justice system sa Pilipinas (I may no longer continue to work in BGC because of my trauma and I can’t go back. It’s so unfair and the justice system in the Philippines is messy),” she said.
About the video of her accident, she said, “Sobrang sakit pa rin sakin makita itong video. Nati-trigger ako at bumabalik sakin 'yung traumatic na naranasan ko. Hindi ko alam kung makakaahon pa ako sa nangyaring ito. It’s too painful for me to watch this video. I’m triggered and the traumatic experience comes back to me. I don't know if I can get over this).”
Netizens who commented on her post urged the victim to file a case against the driver.