whats the rule? 9-ball

    player bangs into a group of balls. it is a legal hit and a ball is
pocketed. during the shot, the 5 ball shoots back towards shooter and
hits his hand before he could move it. the ball slows down and stops in
front of pocket. it most definitely would've rebounded up table and
scattered 2 or 3 other balls if it doesn't touch shooter.
     the ruling by the TD was that the shooter keep shooting as the
balls lay.
     it just seems unfair that shooter gets to benefit from his own
error, even though it was non intentional. he continued and ran out and
eventually won a very tight race.
    any thoughts?

jhawkr