Settlement Approved in Fatal South Carolina Wedding Night Crash Lawsuit

A Sobering Reminder for Insurers: What a Wedding Night Tragedy Teaches Us About Liability, Limits, and Public Trust

The insurance industry often finds itself at the intersection of heartbreak and responsibility. Few stories illustrate this more powerfully than the South Carolina wrongful death case stemming from a 2023 crash that killed bride Samantha Miller on her wedding night. While the headlines center on tragedy, the underlying legal and insurance implications offer important lessons for carriers, agents, and risk professionals navigating an increasingly complex liability landscape.

A Case That Captured National Attention

In April 2023, Samantha Miller and her husband, Aric Hutchinson, had just left their wedding reception near Folly Beach when their golf cart was hit by a rental car driven by Jamie Komoroski. Authorities reported that Komoroski had been drinking earlier in the day and was traveling 65 miles per hour on a narrow road limited to 25. The collision threw the golf cart roughly 100 yards. Miller died at the scene. Hutchinson survived significant injuries.

Nearly two years later, the civil proceedings between Hutchinson and Komoroski’s insurer, Drive New Jersey Insurance Company, reached a final resolution.

The Settlement and Its Implications

A Charleston County judge approved the settlement agreement that authorizes Drive New Jersey Insurance Company to pay $160,000 to Miller’s estate. After legal fees and expenses, Hutchinson will receive $104,500. The agreement closes all remaining civil claims between Hutchinson and Komoroski.

Separately, in 2024 Hutchinson secured an $863,000 settlement from several other parties, including three Folly Beach bars, a car rental company, and an additional auto insurer. The combined settlements reflect a layered liability environment where multiple entities share exposure in alcohol related incidents.

Criminal Accountability and Public Perception

Komoroski pleaded guilty in December 2024 to multiple charges, including reckless homicide and felony DUI causing death and great bodily injury. She received the maximum sentence of 25 years.

Pull Quote:

“This case underscores how quickly a series of negligent decisions can cascade into life altering consequences.”
Chief Solicitor involved in the criminal proceedings

For insurers, high visibility criminal outcomes often shape public expectations around civil settlements. Even when policies pay their full limits, the public may perceive payouts as insufficient relative to the loss. That perception gap is an ongoing communication challenge for the industry.

Why This Case Matters for Insurers

This tragedy highlights several enduring issues that insurers must continue to confront:

• How carriers evaluate and price liquor liability and negligent entrustment exposures

• The growing scrutiny of claim outcomes in socially charged cases

• The importance of clear communication regarding policy limits, exclusions, and realistic recoverable damages

The Bigger Picture: Liability in an Era of Heightened Risk

As courts, regulators, and the public intensify their focus on alcohol related incidents, insurers face rising pressure to modernize underwriting models, strengthen risk mitigation partnerships, and refine policy language that was drafted long before today’s social and mobility patterns.

Pull Quote:

“We are entering a period where liability expectations are evolving faster than many insurance programs are.”
Risk management analyst commenting on recent liability trends

Cases like this do not just close with a settlement. They ripple outward into claims strategies, underwriting recalibrations, and broader conversations about accountability.

Looking Ahead

The insurance industry cannot prevent every tragedy, but it can continue to adapt. From reviewing liability limits for high exposure risks to collaborating with businesses that serve alcohol, insurers have opportunities to influence safer environments and clearer expectations.

The story of Samantha Miller is a heartbreaking reminder of the real world stakes behind every underwriting decision and every claim file. For professionals in the insurance sector, it reinforces the importance of diligence, transparency, and continual improvement in how we manage risk and protect communities.