Sanitation worker in his 20s hit by reversing car, then told he was 20% at fault

A sanitation worker in his 20s who suffered serious injuries after being struck by a reversing vehicle while collecting garbage at an apartment complex has spoken out, saying an insurer told him he bore 20 percent of the fault for the accident.

According to JTBC's "Sageon Banjang," a crime and incident affairs program, the incident occurred in April 2024 in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, when the worker, identified only as A, was hit by a reversing car while on his garbage collection route.

A was about to board his collection vehicle when a car near the apartment entrance suddenly reversed, trapping him between the two vehicles. The car then lurched forward, struck a pillar and attempted to reverse again before colleagues nearby intervened and brought it to a stop.

A sustained fractured ribs, damage to his liver and kidneys, and broken teeth, receiving a six-week medical prognosis. His leg artery had also ruptured, requiring transfer to a hospital in Busan, where doctors told him his leg might need to be amputated if the bleeding could not be controlled, he said.

He spent about a month hospitalized and underwent roughly six months of outpatient treatment, with medical bills alone exceeding 10 million won ($7,230).

The dispute arose during the compensation process. The insurer offered a settlement of 3 million won plus 400,000 won in consolation damages while arguing that A was 20 percent at fault, citing his alleged failure to pay attention to his surroundings and to move out of the way when the vehicle reversed.

The insurer also reportedly declined to cover some costs, including nursing care, lost wages during his recovery and future treatment for lingering aftereffects.

"I haven't even received a proper apology, and now I'm being told I'm partly to blame — it's deeply unfair," A said. He is currently pursuing legal action.

Attorney Son Su-ho said that while an insurer may argue contributory negligence in civil proceedings, whether a court would actually recognize such a claim is a separate matter, adding that the specific circumstances and any footage from the time of the accident would need to be examined closely.