Court Orders 70,000 Yuan (Approx. 13 Million Won) Compensation
"The Person Walking Behind Should Have Maintained a Safe Distance"
A woman in China has been ordered to pay over 13 million won in compensation for injuries after colliding with a pedestrian who suddenly stopped while walking. This incident has sparked a heated debate over responsibility in China.
A woman who was looking at her phone while walking in China collided with a person ahead of her and was ordered to pay 70,000 yuan in compensation. SCMP
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on May 16 (local time), a 29-year-old woman surnamed Wang was walking in Qingdao, Shandong Province, while looking at her phone when she collided with a pedestrian ahead of her. The pedestrian, a 59-year-old woman surnamed Liu, reportedly stopped briefly to answer a phone call while walking.
When Liu stopped suddenly, Wang, who was following behind, was unable to avoid her and collided with her. As a result of the accident, Liu suffered a hip fracture and was diagnosed with a level 10 disability. Liu then filed a lawsuit against Wang, claiming a total of 188,000 yuan (about 26 million won) for medical expenses, nursing care costs, and disability compensation.
Wang argued that the collision would not have occurred if the person in front had not stopped suddenly. However, after reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence, the court ruled that "just like with cars, the person walking behind should have maintained a safe distance," and ordered Wang to pay 70,000 yuan in compensation.
After the news broke, Chinese netizens engaged in a heated debate. One netizen commented, "People are not cars; this seems like an unreasonable application of the law." Another said, "How can you avoid someone who stops suddenly? I feel sorry for the person walking behind." On the other hand, some defended Liu, saying, "The person behind should be careful," and "It's the fault of not watching the road ahead."
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