"Child Suddenly Runs Onto Road, Can It Be Avoided? ... Parents Demand Medical Expenses"

Between Cars Waiting at a Signal
A Child Suddenly Runs Out
"Do I Have to Pay for Medical and Phone Repair Bills?"

A child suddenly ran onto the road and collided with a vehicle. [Photo by Han Moon-cheol TV, YouTube channel capture]

A driver expressed frustration after being asked for medical expenses and cellphone repair costs by the parents of a child who suddenly ran onto the road and collided with the car.

On the 24th, a video titled "A child suddenly running out while jaywalking! But the child's guardians demand medical and cellphone repair costs" was posted on lawyer Han Moon-cheol's YouTube channel 'Han Moon-cheol TV.'

The informant, Mr. A, was driving on a two-lane road on the 20th when he collided with a boy who suddenly ran out between cars waiting at a red light on the opposite side. The video clearly shows the moment the child, who collided with Mr. A's vehicle, drops the water bottle and cellphone he was holding and falls to the ground. Fortunately, the child did not appear to be seriously injured and picked up the fallen water bottle and cellphone before leaving the scene.

"Pay hospital bills and repair costs for broken cellphone"… Child’s parents make absurd demands

A child suddenly ran onto the road and collided with a vehicle. [Video source: YouTube channel 'Han Moon-cheol TV' capture]

However, the child's parents, who witnessed the situation, approached Mr. A and demanded payment for the child's medical and treatment expenses, as well as the repair costs for the cellphone broken when the child fell. Mr. A expressed his frustration, saying, "I collided with a child who suddenly ran out in a situation where visibility was difficult due to cars waiting at a red light. Is it right that I should bear the child's hospital and cellphone repair costs?"

In response, lawyer Han Moon-cheol explained, "In the past, before dashcams were common, such accidents often resulted in an unfair 50:50 liability, but now courts are likely to view this as an 'accident the driver could not avoid,' meaning the dashcam-equipped car (Mr. A) is probably not at fault." He added, "Even if the driver had stopped step by step, it seems the accident could not have been avoided, so it would be best for the child to receive treatment through health insurance," concluding that Mr. A is not at fault in this accident.

Netizens who watched the video reacted with comments such as "What nonsense when he should be compensated," "The parents have no conscience," "They should be bowing down to the driver," "We should be thanking the driver for driving carefully without speeding," "Are they trying to make a quick buck off their kid?" "How could anyone avoid that?" "Even the Avengers couldn't dodge it," and so on.