Woman Injured by Streetlight in Pingxi Awarded NT$160,000 in Revised Ruling After Initial NT$4.66 Million Compensation

According to Central News Agency reporter Liu Shih-yi in Taipei, a woman surnamed Pan filed a state compensation claim after being struck by a falling streetlight at the entrance of Jing'an Suspension Bridge in Pingxi District. She claimed to have suffered hearing impairment as a result. The first-instance court awarded her over NT$4.66 million. However, the High Court ruled today that there was insufficient evidence linking her hearing loss to the incident and revised the compensation to over NT$160,000.

Additionally, Pan's husband, Mr. Huang, was also injured in the same incident. The first-instance ruling awarded him over NT$260,000, a decision upheld by the second-instance court.

The plaintiff couple claimed that on September 15, 2021, while touring Pingxi District in New Taipei City, they were walking near the Nanshan entrance of Jing'an Suspension Bridge when a streetlight maintained by the Pingxi District Office suddenly fell, striking both of them. They sustained injuries including concussion syndrome, cervical contusion, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Pan further claimed she developed "bilateral conductive hearing loss."

The couple filed a state compensation claim totaling over NT$7.24 million. The first-instance Keelung District Court found a substantial causal relationship between the district office's failure in streetlight maintenance and the accident, ordering the office to pay Mr. Huang NT$267,939 and Ms. Pan NT$4,667,459.

The case was appealed, and the Taiwan High Court conducted the second-instance review. The court affirmed the compensation for Mr. Huang but ruled that Ms. Pan's claim of hearing loss could not be definitively linked to the incident. Medical records indicated pre-existing conditions such as acute otitis media, acute sinusitis, and earwax impaction, which could independently cause hearing difficulties and low-frequency hearing loss.

The court noted that one hospital had issued a diagnosis without reviewing Pan's prior medical history or conducting professional medical tests, rendering its diagnostic letter insufficient as evidence against the district office.

Furthermore, a forensic evaluation by National Taiwan University Hospital concluded that no causal relationship could be established between the streetlight incident and Pan's conductive hearing loss.

As a result, the second-instance court revised Ms. Pan's compensation to NT$163,019, covering medical expenses, transportation costs, and mental distress. Ms. Pan may appeal; however, Mr. Huang and the Pingxi District Office may not, making their portions of the ruling final.

This case highlights the importance of rigorous medical evidence in state compensation claims and the responsibility of local governments in maintaining public infrastructure.