NullReferenceException when an object is in the way that is not the player

Questions & Answers
1

so I had my enemy script working to detect my player tag but what i didn’t account for was if another object/ object tag was detected. it throws me a NullReferenceException : UnityEngine.Component.get_gameObject ()… and no matter how many forum posts i read, i could not find a solution :(.

here is the script:

	void enMoveLeft () 
	{
		rigidbody.velocity = new Vector3(-moveSpeed,0.0f,0.0f);
		//checks against farthest left point of the character to the farthest left 
		//point of the platform to make the enemy turn around
		if(leftSide <= platLeft)
		{
			print ("going over the left edge!!!");	
			pos =  platLeft + ((-platLeft + platRight)/2);
			//print (pos + " = pos");
			turn = true;
		}
		//moves the player 10.0f to the left
		if(Physics.Raycast(transform.position, -Vector3.right, out hit, distance))
		{
			//if player spotted, chase
			if(hit.rigidbody.gameObject.tag == "Player")
			{
				//print ("I see you!!!");
				rigidbody.velocity = new Vector3(-moveSpeed*chaseSpeed,0.0f,0.0f);
				pos = rigidbody.position.x;
			}
		}
		else
		{
			if(rigidbody.position.x <= (pos - 10.0f))
			{
		transform.localScale = new Vector3((this.transform.localScale.x*-1), this.transform.localScale.y, this.transform.localScale.z);
				turn = true;
			}
		}
	}

and it throws me the error on this line:

 if(Physics.Raycast(transform.position, -Vector3.right, out hit, distance))

any help would be greatly eppreciated

2

if ( Physics.Raycast(transform.position, -Vector3.right, out hit, distance))
{ //first make sure a collider was hit, then check the tag.
if ( hit.collider != null && hit.collider.tag == “Player” ) //Not all colliders have rigidbodies, and tag can be accessed directly through a collider.
{
Debug.Log ( “player was hit!” );
}
}