One of our latest posts on our Connecticut Injury Resource Guide deals with a Connecticut law protecting vulnerable users injured while on Connecticut roadways.

 

These individuals are deemed to be more vulnerable than the general population, as these people can suffer serious physical injury or death, if involved in an accident, given their particular situation.

 

The statute which took effect on October 1, 2014, provides additional protections for people that are defined as being vulnerable which include but are not limited to:

• pedestrians;
• bicycle riders;
• highway workers;
• skateboarders and roller skaters;
• people in wheelchairs or motorized chairs and;
• other protected members of society.

The law can be found at Connecticut General Statute Section 14 – 300i.

 

The protection afforded to these vulnerable individuals extends to state or public highways, roads, streets, avenues, alleyways, driveways, parkways, or any other places open to public travel or other use. Any person who, while operating a motor vehicle, fails to exercise reasonable care and causes the death of or serious physical injury to such a vulnerable user shall be fined not more than $1,000.

 

Because of the vulnerability of these individuals, motor vehicle operators should be especially careful when driving in and around these people. Due to their inability to move as quickly as a more able body individual, they are more prone to be seriously injured or even die if they are struck by a motor vehicle.

 

You should exercise extreme caution when operating a motor vehicle around any of these protected individuals that could include pedestrians, people on bicycles, people in wheelchairs, or motorized scooters because by the very nature of their surroundings they are more prone to serious injury because of the lack of protection.

 

If you are someone that you know has been involved in a serious motor vehicle accident as a vulnerable user of Connecticut roadways or if you have been injured through the negligence or fault of another then you should contact an experienced Connecticut personal injury lawyer at the earliest possible moment as there may be issues that need to be investigated, videotapes might need to be reviewed and witnesses might need to be interviewed.

 

Please contact us today so that you do not prejudice or case by virtue of waiting too long and possibly running the risk of damaging or completely destroying your case. We take these cases on a contingency fee basis and advance the costs to develop your case so that it does not cost you any money out of your own pocket. We want you to concentrate on getting better so we take all of the financial risks.