A MAN who knocked over a 77-year-old man while using a phone was ordered by Yantian District People’s Court to pay about 20,000 yuan (US$2,958) for the old man’s injuries, Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

The lawsuit filed by the elderly man surnamed Lai asked the court to order the defendant, surnamed Ouyang, who was walking distractedly while on the phone and knocked him down, to compensate for all the expenses incurred from the accident.

The collision occurred in November 2021, when Lai was walking in a residential compound. Ouyang sent him to the hospital immediately upon knocking him over and paid part of his medical fees.

Lai stayed in the hospital for over 40 days due to a compression fracture of the thoracic vertebrae and multiple soft tissue contusions.

In court, Ouyang stated that Lai should bear primary responsibility since he was not walking on the right side of the road when the accident happened.

The court, however, rejected Ouyang’s statement since traffic rules don’t require pedestrians to walk on the right side of the road.

Moreover, CCTV footage shows that Lai was walking carefully and slowly, with his eyes looking forward. Ouyang, however, was busy looking at his phone and not paying attention when he bumped into Lai.

The court ruled that Ouyang should be held fully liable for Lai’s injuries and ordered Ouyang to pay for medical, nursing and other expenses totaling 20,769.6 yuan. (Mo Yuyan, Xia Yuanjie)