Hit-and-Run Not Limited to Public Highways, Says Court
by
Joseph C. Maya on Apr. 12, 2017
Accident & Injury Accident & Injury Car Accident Accident & Injury Personal Injury
Summary: Blog post describing the scope of "hit and run" laws in Connecticut.
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Based on an accident that occurred on private property, defendant was properly convicted of evading responsibility because there was no legislative indication that the "hit and run" statute applied only to accidents that occurred on public highways.Defendant appealed a judgment from the Circuit Court in the Fourth Circuit (Connecticut), convicting defendant of evading responsibility in operation of a motor vehicle in violation of Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224.
Defendant backed his car into the victim's vehicle while on private property. He refused to wait for the police or to present the victim with his license and registration information. Defendant left the scene before the police arrived. Defendant was convicted of evading responsibility. On appeal, defendant argued that § 14-224 was limited to accidents that occurred on public highways. The court found no error in the trial court's judgment. The court held that on the face of § 14-224 there was no such limiting language. The court stated that it was unreasonable to conclude that the legislature intended that a person who was injured or whose property was damaged on private property would not be protected from an evil which could as easily occur on private property as on a public highway. The court concluded that the clear legislative intent was to punish evasion of responsibility whether the accident occurred on private property or on a public highway.
At Maya Murphy, P.C., our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to achieving the best results for individuals and their family members and loved ones whose daily lives have been disrupted by injury, whether caused by a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident, a slip and fall, medical malpractice, a defective product, or otherwise. Our attorneys are not afraid to aggressively pursue and litigate cases and have extensive experience litigating personal injury matters in both state and federal courts, and always with regard to the unique circumstances of our client and the injury he or she has sustained.
Source: State v. Tuckus, 4 Conn. Cir. Ct. 495, 236 A.2d 104, 1967 Conn. Cir. LEXIS 270 (Conn. Cir. Ct. 1967)
