Korean Job Discussion Forums

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

So I just had an accident and it has been a pretty strange experience. not a horrible one, but a strange one.

I don't know how they assign fault. In my case the taxi driver admitted 100% fault to avoid me going to the police, yet the insurance guys are saying I am 70% at fault because I wasn't driving slow enough.

They didn't ask me any questions and since the taxi driver was admitting fault and I thought it would be pretty cut and dried. I would have assumed 25% of the fault for making a driving error, but it was the taxi that made the illegal move that caused me to make a mistake (yes, I screwed up), yet the taxi driver was clearly in the wrong because he was the one making an illegal u-turn.

The cops showed up, but acted more like frat boys (nice enough, but really not doing their job), the taxi driver kept yapping, trying to take my phone to talk to my wife, trying to move my bike and the insurance guys just took some pictures, but never took proper statements or anything. I was trying to explaing things, but was in a bit of pain an unable to express myself clearly while both the police and the insurance people seemed unable to manage the situation. My wife wold me to act hurt so they would pay more attention to me, but I was just trying to get things sorted out.

Anyway, since the taxi driver admitted fault, we left and went to the hospital to get checked out. The taxi driver came with us and paid...rather than allowing it to go through insurance. My wife was trying to get me to stay in the hospital for 3 days even though I was only bruised up...all I wanted was to it down and wathc some TV on my sofa...now I can't seem to go back to the hospital because I have been declared uninjured...I just want some physio for my sore back, sprained knee and swollen nuts...that's it...but apparently that is not the way things work in Korea...you have to stay in the hospital until you are sure you are perfect...or some such nonsense.

My motorcycle shop now says that my bike will cost 5 to 6 mil to repair. My bike is only worth about 8 mil new and I only paid 4 mil for a used one. I just want the replacement value, but instead they are going to put 5 mil into a used bike that is only worth about 3 mil at this point...

andrewchon · Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 11:39 pm Post subject:

What sort of damage is 5-6 mil to fix on a bike?

blue.sky · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Location: a box on the 15th floor

Did 3 tow-trucks arrive before the poilce?

Assigning % blame is a standard thing between insurers here regardless - it's similar in many western countries. Taxi drivers must have a squeaky-clean history to get a taxi license so maybe he was worried about that?

Also, all those guys wandering about in their pajamas with drips on wheels smoking Malboros are probably in your exact same situation. You should listen to your wife and milk the system - appearance & perception is more important than the reality

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008

If you leave the hospital within a certain time period you forgo the treatment, from my experiences you have to stay in the hospital and recieve the treatment there...you will also get paid a daily fee for each day. You also have to sign in and out if you leave the hospital and if your gone more than a few hours every day you lose the claim....
Its a wierd system aye lol.

this is just how it was explained to me, it was wierd....I was ok and didnt want to stay in hospital with the cure all (an iv)

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

ililnine,

I'm gettin the bike done up. That's the nice part of it. I'm not going to have to pay anything which is nice too, but it has been a bit a of a strange experience. I'm not entirely sure what is going on.

The taxi driver admitted fault to avoid trouble with the law but for some reason I have to pay if I go back to the hospital. Which is a drag because I only started to get achy today and I'm a little worried about one little thing...A good doctor would know that not all injuries present themselves at the scene of an accident, especially if some minor internal damage leads to something worse down the road...but still I don't seem to be able to claim any further medical bills. Nothing majour, but I had hoped to get something checked free of charge.

My bike shop was first on scene too. They have been pretty good, so I'll give them the ball and see what they do. Haven't been to the Honda shop in years.

I'll have to go in tomorrow and see what the hell 5 mil gets me.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

You should have stayed at the hospital.

Glad you're OK though.

earthbound14 · Joined: 23 Jan 2007 Location: seoul

Unposter · Joined: 04 Jun 2006

I hope everything is okay, Earthbound.

I would definately goto the hospital and see what they say. With insurance and all, it may not be that expensive and regardless, in this case you are better safe than sorry.

I would definately go to a hospital you can trust, such as one of the larger ones.

In a worse case scenario, cost wise, you can always talk to a lawyer though certainly you will have some a couple of difficulties... no police report and leaving the hospital. But, it still could not hurt to talk to a lawyer. Though, I have heard, don't know if it is true, but Korean lawyers almost never offer free consultations and unlike the U.S., they are not required to do pro bono work.

Chris_Dixon · Joined: 09 Jan 2008