Treatment Costs for Pet Dog with Broken Spine Reach Tens of Millions
Perpetrator Claims "Pet Dog Is Not Subject to Compensation"
Netizens are outraged by the heartbreaking story of a couple who welcomed a stray dog into their family and raised it with love.
Last January, husband Mr. A and their pet dog 'Jjeolmi' went out for a walk by car but were severely injured after being hit by a drunk driver. Mr. A sustained serious injuries requiring 48 weeks of treatment, and the dog became paralyzed in the lower body.
In a desperate situation where pregnant wife Ms. B has to take responsibility for the treatment of her husband and Jjeolmi, as well as future living expenses, the perpetrator's side reportedly stated, "We cannot pay for the dog's medical expenses. That is what the law says." Ms. B appealed, "Even if the law says so, the drunk driving was done by the perpetrator, so I don't understand why we have to bear all the damages."
A dog named Jjeolmi, who was paralyzed in the lower body after being hit by a drunk driving vehicle. Photo by Instagram imzeolmi
According to the Siheung Police Station in Gyeonggi Province, at around 10:15 p.m. on January 26, at a three-way intersection in front of Okgu Park in Jeongwang-dong, Siheung City, a G80 vehicle driven by a man in his 50s crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Sportage vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
Following this, four additional vehicles including a G70 passenger car in the first and second lanes around the Sportage collided, resulting in a six-vehicle pileup. Six people were injured in the accident. The most severely affected was the G70 driver, who was Mr. A. At the time of the accident, the drunk driver was reportedly in a state of intoxication equivalent to license cancellation level.
Ms. B said, "As soon as I reached the stable period of my pregnancy, I discharged Jjeolmi and have been nursing him diligently," adding, "My husband is still hospitalized. Besides the initially severe injuries, other problems keep arising, so he will likely be unable to work and require continuous treatment for at least a year."
She continued, "Our baby will be born soon, and the living expenses, along with the exponentially increasing surgery, treatment, and rehabilitation costs for Jjeolmi, are becoming a huge burden for us." It is reported that Jjeolmi's medical expenses have already reached about 29 million won.
Insurance Company States "Cannot Pay for Pet Dog's Medical Expenses"
In this situation, the perpetrator's insurance company has stated that it cannot cover Jjeolmi's medical expenses. Under civil law, pets are legally classified as 'property,' and insurance compensation is calculated as 'property damage' rather than 'personal injury.'
The method for calculating property damage compensation is divided into 'repair costs' and 'replacement value.' Since replacing a pet dog is not applicable for Mr. A and his wife, the medical expenses fall under 'repair costs.' Repair costs can only be compensated up to 120% of the value immediately before the damage, regardless of the amount. For pets, the pre-accident value is based on the 'purchase price.'
The problem is that Jjeolmi is a 'stray dog.' Since there is no purchase price for a stray dog, there is effectively no amount that can be compensated. Ms. B said, "The perpetrator's insurance company says they cannot pay for Jjeolmi's medical expenses and suggests filing a lawsuit," adding, "Regardless of the law, if they have any conscience, they shouldn't ruin someone's life like this and then just ignore it."
She said, "Jjeolmi was a stray dog. Someone abandoned him, and eventually he came to us," adding, "The first hospital we took him to suggested euthanasia, but no matter what happened, we could not give up on Jjeolmi." She emphasized, "We are grateful that he is alive and will continue to provide generous support for his rehabilitation."
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