Court rules in favor of cyclist injured while trying to avoid dog

/ Korea Times file

If you were riding in a bicycle lane and fell and were injured trying to avoid a dog, who is responsible for the damage?

A court has ruled that dogs should not be allowed on bicycle lanes and that owners walking dogs must have them on a leash.

According to Uijeongbu District Court on Saturday, the victim, 20, identified only as A, was riding at Jungnangcheon in Uijeongbu in June last year. The cyclist fell after stopping suddenly to avoid a dog that ran on to the bicycle lane. The rider suffered a head injury and other injuries that took eight weeks to heal.

A reported the dog’s owner, a woman, 59, identified as B, to police.

B was indicted and fined 1 million won.

B then requested a trial, claiming she was without fault, but the judges’ panel also said the accident was B’s fault and fined her 1 million won.

B has now appealed against the ruling.