Chiayi District Court Rejects State Compensation Claim for Rockfall Damage on Alishan Highway

Central News Agency, Chiayi City, May 26. A man surnamed Chan filed a state compensation claim against the maintenance agency after his vehicle was severely damaged by falling rocks while driving at the 36.7-kilometer mark of the Alishan Highway last September. The Chiayi District Court rejected the claim, ruling that the agency had taken concrete measures to maintain slope safety and traffic security. The decision can be appealed.

The Chiayi District Court stated that on the evening of September 20 last year, while driving at the 36.7-km mark of the Alishan Highway, Chan encountered rocks scattered in the middle of the road. Unable to avoid them and noting a lack of warning signs, his vehicle struck the rocks, resulting in severe damage with repair costs totaling NT$178,700. Chan subsequently filed a claim for state compensation against the Directorate General of Highways' Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Regional Branch, which is responsible for road maintenance.

The court noted that the speed limit at the accident site is 30 km/h. Based on an analysis of the footage from Chan's dashcam, the presiding judge determined that his actual speed at the time was 50 km/h. The court concluded that he was speeding and that if he had been driving within the speed limit and paying careful attention to road conditions, the accident could have been avoided.

The court stated that the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan Regional Branch had conducted routine patrols and strengthened inspections during holidays to prevent rockfall hazards. It was difficult to conclude that there was any deficiency in the installation or management of the road section. Therefore, the court found Chan's claim for repair costs to be groundless and dismissed the case.