Can You Sue After Hitting a Utility Pole in Columbus?
Utility poles are responsible for more auto deaths than many realize. Likewise, they can break causing exposure to injuries from electrical lines. According to the Department of Transportation, almost 1000 deaths were primarily caused by utility poles between 2016 and 2018. Vehicles in Columbus crash into utility poles each year, and these accidents can rob families of their loved ones in horrific fashion. Can you sue for a traffic accident involving a utility pole in Columbus?
Honda Accord Cut in Half by Utility Pole in Columbus
When a vehicle reaches a certain velocity, catastrophic injuries are almost guaranteed after impacts with utility poles. Utility poles are specifically designed to withstand storms and serious impacts – and this means that a lightweight vehicle suffers tremendous damage after coming into contact with one of these immovable objects. The principles of physics behind these accidents were illustrated in shocking fashion recently in Columbus.
On Boxing Day of 2023, 10 WBNS reported that a Honda Accord had been completely bisected by an impact with a utility pole. Police say that the driver of the Accord crossed the median before striking a concrete divider, veering off the road, and striking a utility pole head-on. The vehicle was moving so fast that the pole essentially sheared the Accord in half. Photos from the crash scene showed the destroyed vehicle in two separate pieces.
Miraculously, the driver survived the crash. However, he was rushed to the nearest hospital in “critical condition” – suggesting that his injuries may be life-altering and permanent.
Drivers May Still Have the Opportunity to Sue after Striking Utility Poles
If you strike a utility pole, you might assume that you cannot sue. Your vehicle might have been the only one that crashed, and you might think that this represents a “single-vehicle accident.”
However, negligent drivers sometimes cause motorists to veer off the road in order to avoid collisions. For example, you might have spotted an intoxicated driver driving toward you on the wrong side of the road. Perhaps you swerved off the road in order to avoid a collision – causing you to impact a utility pole. The drunk driver would still be to blame for this accident, even if they never came into contact with you. Another situation might involve confusing signage or poorly maintained roads. For example, you might have hit a pothole before veering into a pole.
Find a Qualified, Experienced Auto Accident Lawyer in Columbus
If you have been searching for a qualified, experienced auto accident lawyer in Columbus, look no further than Brian G. Miller CO, L.P.A. Over the years, we have assisted numerous injured plaintiffs and surviving families of deceased crash victims. We know how dangerous and deadly utility poles can be – and it may be possible to file injury lawsuits after these types of accidents. To learn more, be sure to book a consultation at your earliest convenience.
Sources:
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/roadway_dept/strat_approach/brochure/docs/FHWA-SA-21-024_Utility_Pole_Crashes.pdf
10tv.com/article/news/local/sullivant-avenue-crash-single-vehicle/530-6db0d8e5-7c43-4a3e-b977-84d9f813c2a2
