Korean Job Discussion Forums

Seoulman69 · Joined: 14 Dec 2009

My girlfriend was hit by a car a couple of years ago and got royally screwed over.
In order to avoid this happening again I was wondering if anyone here has experience of getting justice after being hit by a car.
What happens with the police and at the hospital? How long do you stay in the hospital? Please give as much advice as possible.

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

:::face palm:::

I hate these questions.

Define "royally screwed over."

The cops here will do what they're supposed to do. Take a report, mediate an agreement. Absent an agreement, they will forward the report and information on to a prosecutor and it goes to court.

You stay in the hospital until you get better. If you want to scam the system as most Koreans do, then you stay in the hospital forever and milk the insurance company.

Seriously, you have to ask specific questions to get specific answers. How was your gf screwed over? Why are you asking about this now? Are you planning to get hit by a car or just being prepared? Or are you thinking that your gf might go after the person who hit her now?

I personally hit a kid while riding my motorcycle. It's a pretty straightforward process. Accident, get better, pay the bills, move on.

isisaredead · Joined: 18 May 2010

vDroop · Joined: 25 Aug 2010

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

maladict23 · Joined: 17 May 2011

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

First piece of advice is this - YOU ARE NOT IN THE US OR CANADA! Any accident will not be treated as like back home.

There are completely different rules here. Most Koreans will want to avoid getting police involved. They will want to try and deal with just insurance companies. So in an accident they may just want to hash it out then and there. Even without insurance some people will want to deal with blood money.

I would recommend reading the article about Blood Money at the blog "Ask the Korean"

Even if the cops come - they usually like to have both parties come to an agreement before laying charges. UNLESS it is serious.

Forget the idea that any one party is at fault. Here in Korea they might just proportion blame. Driver is given 90 percent fault and you are given 10 percent - it can fluctuate. I heard of one tale (true or not) that a guy who was hit by a BMW and the car was damaged. In the end the driver was given most of the blame, but in the end the victim had to pay out more to repair the car them he got back.

Be prepared. If you can not speak Korean, know someone who can help you that you can call. Have some numbers ready in your phone. The more problem with language the more likely the driver will throw arms up in air and go away. Have you phone ready to call people and TO record the accident. Get the plate number if you can.

Cultural dynamics - younger person is hit by older person in a car. Older person will pull the seniority card out. How dare you treat this elder with such disrespect. Even things like be male or female can be used too. Throw in being a foreigner and you are more screwed.

Always, always have your health insurance card here (little paper booklet) or at least a copy. Some hospitals will refuse you if you do not have ID or insurance.