So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this? (joking title)

EDIT: I should say now that I'm not talking about blackmailing or suing for damages. This is already a legal case where the police are involved and she's looking at serious repurcussions. I'm talking about the Korean practice of traffic offenders "settling" by paying the victim off in return for them dropping the charges that are already in place.

 A while ago I got hit by a van, suffering a partially torn ligament and some scrapes and bruises. Police are involved and her auto insurance is paying my bills. 

But most Koreans have told me that I should be getting some money out of this. I still have to give my statement to the police (going on thursday morning) and I'm wondering what I should do. Should I call the driver directly, saying I'll drop the charges if she pays me? Or should I go through legal services to sue her?

Is this something I should sort out before I give my statement to the police? or after? 

And is there any offerers of free legal advice in Busan? Thanks.

 I think this post is going

 I think this post is going to raise some interesting and very heated comments.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

Well, I suppose it comes down to one of two questions.

1/ Did she deliberately run you down?

2/ Was it an accident?

If it was 1/ she obviously didn't do a very good job, so you should have some sympathy  for her, after all, she is a woman driver.

If it was 2/ I suggest you go round to her house and demand money, and hopefully, I pray that it happens, her husband will smack you in the mouth, big time. Insult to injury.

I gather from your mail your are reasonably new out here, and at a guess, tried to walk like you do in (enter your country name here), with the obvious results.

Don't bring your (enter your country name here) " how can I screw people for cash" methods here.

You have already been recompensed for the injuries by her insurance Company, let it go at that.

Don't forget, you may be on the receiving end next time, and no doubt, YOU will then be whining that someone is trying to shake YOU down, and what should you do. 

By the way, watch out on Thursday, she may be back for the killing. 

 

 

I think you just need to do

I think you just need to do the honest and right thing instead of using this as a 'get rich quick' scheme.

I also agree with a lot kilhallon  said.

got hit by a car

I'll break it down for you simple. If you have already gone through the insurance, and the insurance is covering your bills NO you are NOT intitled to any other form of compensation. The individual payouts only happen when people are trying to avoid going through insurance or the police. How the Korean insurance system works is they will pay your hospital bills no questions, the ONLY time extra compensation from another party's insurance is paid out is when you are hospitalized for no less than 3 weeks. Also, should you work out some form of compensation (aside from hospital related bills) that should have been discussed and settled by the day after the accident at the very latest. If you were able to cite reason for compensation as in you will be unable to work, and thus lost wages etc. you would have a stronger plea for an extra ammount of cash. Submitting your police report will have absolutely nothing to do with the ammount the insurance company is going to shell out. As you've said they are already paying your bills etc. which would indicate that the insurance company has concluded their investigation and that the female driver was deemed 100% at fault. I guess that having to ask how to conduct a shakedown means that you've never actually took part in one on either end (you're canadian, right? lol)

Dude, on an aside, its hard enough for us foreigners living here dealing with a bad rap most of the time, just because your friends tell you that you are entitled to bleed this woman (and trust me, if the roles were reversed, they would string you up for everything you've got) doesn't mean that you should. All that I can say to that is be the better man. And trust me, unless your korean is fluent and you have a indept knowledge of not only korean culture and dialect but of Pusan culture and dialect, threatening a lawsuit if they don't pay will result in them laughing in your face. aside from the fact you will garner absolutely no support from anyone.

I hope this post helps you decide your course of action.

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

 Wow people. Allow me a minute to explain.

First off: the thread title was in a  joking manner. Secondly, I'm not talking about suing her because I can. I don't want to sue her. But here's the thing, when you mow someone down with your minivan and then crash into a billboard(still not sure how I didn't end up wedged between the two) in front of 2 dozen witnesses, you end up facing some pretty serious legal problems. Koreans I've talked to have said she's definitely looking at serious repercussions, including likely Jail time.

Now I have no quandary with her going to prison, as I don't like getting hit by cars, but all the Koreans I have talked to have told me that the common practice by Korean drivers is to pay off victims so they'll drop the charges (one friend of mine has done just that after hitting an old lady). This isn't trying to screw people for cash, this getting something for your troubles while sparing the person that committed the act prison time. 

So again, This isn't a shakedown. I'm not trying to screw her with anything other than a get out of prison/fines/revocation of her license option.  This is what Koreans regularly do (the drivers that is)

And I wouldn't call the common Korean practice of paying off victims to avoid legal repercussions a case of bringing my (enter your country name here) " how can I screw people for cash" methods here. My Country is Canada by the way, and I've always found the notion of being sue happy to be a rather bizarre American trait.

 I was just asking to see if anyone on here had some insight in to the practice, and whether this is something I should do before or after I give my official statement. 

I'm sure if you asked her, she'd tell you that paying some money beats getting charged for careless driving resulting in bodily harm. Actually, there's probably no need for me to come here asking, as she's already likely planning to do this (and desperately hoping I'll take the money to spare here the legal nightmare). I just wanted to be respectful of legal practices, cultural differences and common decency, despite what some other readers have assumed. 

So... Yeah, any advice?

 

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

"First off: the thread title was in a  joking manner"

Nothing in the title or the OP indicates this. This is binary and we cannot read minds and the printed word is not always clear about the poster's emotions or state of mind.

"Now I have no quandary with her going to prison, as I don't like getting hit by cars, but all the Koreans I have talked to have told me that the common practice by Korean drivers is to pay off victims so they'll drop the charges (one friend of mine has done just that after hitting an old lady). This isn't trying to screw people for cash, this getting something for your troubles while sparing the person that committed the act prison time. 

So again, This isn't a shakedown. I'm not trying to screw her with anything other than a get out of prison/fines/revocation of her license option.  This is what Koreans regularly do (the drivers that is)"

So now you want to do things the Korean way when it is in your favor? Sounds like hypocrisy to me. I do not see how her having to pay either the government or you as helping her. Either way she is paying so if you have control over the charges or even influence why not do the right thing and just drop them so she and all Koreans can see that foreigners are not out for a quick buck, only want money,and try to hurt Koreans whenever possible.

Doing what is right doesn't mean you get to benefit, a lot of times it means you make the sacrifice.

"Actually, there's probably no need for me to come here asking, as she's already likely planning to do this (and desperately hoping I'll take the money to spare here the legal nightmare). I just wanted to be respectful of legal practices, cultural differences and common decency, despite what some other readers have assumed. "

No you don't but you did and you can't unring that bell because the advice you got is not what you wanted to hear. As far as I am concerned if you shake this woman down then you are worse than pond scum but it is your choice and my opinion about you doesn't matter. You are the one that has to live with yourself and keep in mind if you make a mistake, do not expect others to be lenient on you since you did nothing for her.

Think about how you would want to be treated if you were in her shoes... hopefully you will come to the right decision.

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

"So now you want to do things the Korean way when it is in your favor? Sounds like hypocrisy to me."

Wait... When didn't I?

Either way man, As helpful as your post ignoring my questions and calling me pondscum are, the notion that that the right thing to do is drop the charges is asinine. She could have killed me and she definitely deserves to be penalized. I'm just choosing to go the route that has a positive effect in the end.

Thanks though the angry illogical rant though...

 

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

Really your title could have been a little more thoughtful(mindful) but I can def see this from your point of view. This woman is a reckless driver (like most Koreans)...And no I don't think that is an overstatement...She deserves to pay out the nose for this or go to jail. Some people need a slap in the face to realize that they are behaving irresponsibly. So yeah man, take whatever you deem fit to reimburse you for your troubles.

 There was a similar post a month or so back and the guy was talking about how he wishes he would have sued for more money after being hit by a car. He's had back problems for 7 years and he was only payed for his stay in the hospital.

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

Hey Angel. There's no problem about that, as the police were called immediately. I gave my official statement today, but they'd already photographed the scene and did all the... policy things. I got to see the file on the accident. Pretty cool.

Now that I've given my statement, I'm assuming they'll prosecute, though there was only so much we could communicate with my low level Korean and the cops lower level english.

Perhaps now it's fully in the law's hands and it's too late to try the "buy your way out of legal punishment" option. If that's the case it's ok, as I certainly would like to see her get nailed by the law. Just thought getting some dough out of it would have been nice too. 

 

And Nebularpulse, It turns out I'm a moron. That post a month ago was by ME! I just completely forgot that I made it. There was even some helpful info in it too.

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this?

You've mentioned that your Korean friends have mentioned that you should be receiving more compensation for the accident. I think your best course of action is to get advice from them as they seem to think they have an understanding of the system. At the very least, one of them could go to the police station with you to find out if you have further options. While asking on foreigner boards can often result in good advice, I think in this case you should get the advice from the people who told you you can get more money.

Re: So I got hit by a car... How do I make money off this? ...

Please  reply to this more, as I am interested in the details about what I get reimbursed LEGALLY through the insurance company.

My situation:


June 2 I was driving and a car pulled out of a parking lot at a high speed and T-boned me.  Police found him 100%  at fault.  I have a broken leg (in 4-5 places, including my ankle), the bone broke the skin, and I am in the hospital a minimum of two weeks, where I can't work.


According to what I have found out so far, the insurance company pays all bills, 80% of my income average from the past year.  However, are there any other pain/suffering payments, or anything to that sort?


I'm not trying to get rich, just trying to get what I am entitled to.


Thanks all.