Careless driving leads to hundreds of injuries and multiple deaths each year in the state of Connecticut. Pedestrians and cyclists are constantly at the mercy of mindful drivers, knowing that just one mishap could have disastrous consequences. To encourage drivers to pay attention and remain responsible, the state has a newer law that establishes fines for drivers who cause injury to another person due to careless driving.
Public Act 14-31, also known as the Vulnerable User Law, was put into the state law books on October 1, 2014. This law requires that a fine be imposed on the drivers of vehicles that cause serious injury or death to any described “vulnerable users” who were using reasonable care while on their commute. The cap for this fine has been set at $1,000.
The main purpose of this law is to raise driver awareness and encourage people to remain responsible while utilizing the roadways. The top advocates for the law was a non-profit group whose mission is making the state a safer place for bicyclists and pedestrians. This group notes that nearly 11,000 pedestrians and cyclists were killed on Connecticut roadways from the years 2006 to 2012. The group claims that, unless evidence of driving under the influence or hit and run is shown, the driver is rarely held accountable for their actions that resulted in the accident.
This law will hopefully diminish the number of people who are impacted by negligent drivers. If you have more questions about pedestrian accidents, it may be beneficial to speak to an experienced attorney.
