Injury from Avoiding Off-Leash Dog... "Owner 100% Liable"

A court ruling has determined that a dog owner must pay 100% compensation for damages to a pedestrian who was injured after falling while trying to avoid a dog without a leash.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A court ruling has determined that a dog owner must pay 100% compensation for damages to a pedestrian injured after falling while avoiding a dog without a leash.

On the 15th, Judge Heo Yong-gu of the Daegu District Court Civil Division 21 announced a partial victory for plaintiff A (62), who filed a damages lawsuit against the dog owner after being injured when she fell trying to avoid a dog without a leash.

On April 11, 2018, at around 8:30 PM, A was injured with an eight-week recovery period after falling while avoiding a dog running toward her.

The dog, a Schnauzer breed approximately 50cm tall and 50cm long, ran outside without a leash while its owner, B, was parking and opening the car door.

In court, B argued, "The adult plaintiff overreacted by being startled and falling upon seeing a very small puppy," and added, "Since the dog neither bit nor physically contacted the plaintiff, at least 50% fault should be attributed to the plaintiff."

However, the court sided with A, stating, "It is a normal reaction for a 62-year-old woman to be startled, step back, or sit down when noticing a dog running at night, and even if she did not take defensive action, this cannot be considered the plaintiff’s fault or a cause of increased damages."

The court ruled, considering A’s pre-existing medical conditions before the accident, that the defendant must pay the plaintiff approximately 37 million KRW, corresponding to the full amount of pure medical expenses and consolation damages.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.