Falling Utility Pole Results in Tragic Death in Aiken County

Justice has been served for the family of a South Carolina teacher who was tragically killed by a utility pole after a truck ran over and got caught on a drooping line, causing the pole to fall on the woman. A wrongful death settlement was reached and will award her surviving family $30 million as a result of a lawsuit filed by the woman’s family.

In August 2023, the power pole, which was estimated to be at least 60 years old, hit the woman on the head, resulting in fatal injuries.

On that fateful day, a truck snagged the power line, pulling it like a rubber band, causing the poles to break. One was launched into the air and it tragically hit the woman, a social studies teacher at at a local high school.  Despite the efforts of first responders and doctors, she later died at a local hospital  The lawsuit revealed that the exact age of the utility poles is unknown because records are no longer available. However, markings on them haven’t been made in more than 60 years, so they were believed to be at least that old.

The electric company, Dominion Energy, and communications company Comporium worked with the family and their legal team to reach a reasonable settlement in an effort to avoid the pain of a trial.

As a result of the settlement, the victim’s family hopes that companies will use the tragedy to devote more attention to inspecting and replacing aging utility poles to ensure that members of the public are not harmed.

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The failure to properly maintain, secure, and/or replace power poles and utility lines can qualify as negligence under South Carolina law. Utility companies need to provide regular maintenance on lines and poles, since they can cause injuries at any time.

A loved one’s death can cause unbearable grief and many financial damages. The Columbia wrongful death lawyers from Simmons Law Firm can assist you during this difficult time. We’ll help you deal with all the legal ramifications and investigate any potential claims that may exist. Schedule a consultation with our office to learn more. Fill out the online form or call (803) 779-4600.

Source:

apnews.com/article/utility-pole-teacher-killed-lawsuit-dominion-comporium-2b837f8048c122f815c029e3091c295f