Truck driver acquitted after woman walking backward into traffic breaks toe

A woman in Keelung City has been awarded no damages after she was hit by a small truck and fractured her toe while walking backward into traffic. The Keelung District Court ruled the truck driver not guilty of negligent injury.

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The woman suddenly stepped backward, entering the truck's path. The driver, at extremely close range, had no way to react.

The incident occurred in May two years ago when the woman, identified as Ms. Cho, was standing in the middle of Xinsan Road in the Zhongzheng District, taking photos. She suddenly began walking backward into the roadway, with her right foot crossing into the path of an oncoming small truck driven by Mr. Yang.

The collision resulted in Ms. Cho suffering a fracture of the proximal phalanx of her right toe and abrasions to her foot. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mr. Yang, accusing him of causing her injuries through negligence.

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Ms. Cho suddenly stepped backward, invading the truck's driving range, and her right foot was immediately hit by the truck's front left wheel.

However, the court reviewed surveillance footage and traffic accident reports. The evidence indicated that Mr. Yang was driving slowly and straight in his lane. Ms. Cho's sudden backward step into the truck's immediate path left Mr. Yang with no time to react. A traffic accident investigation confirmed that the driver had no fault in the incident, leading the court to dismiss the negligence claim and acquit Mr. Yang.

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The traffic accident investigation determined that the driver was proceeding in his lane and could not avoid the incident when Ms. Cho suddenly stepped backward; Ms. Cho's backward movement into the roadway and obstruction of traffic was the cause of the accident, and the driver had no contributing factors.