Car Accidents and Insurance Attorneys

Whether you are seeking representation for your insureds in auto accident or other liability litigation, or seeking representation for your insurance company in first-party auto cases, the Connecticut insurance attorneys at Haymond Law have the knowledge and integrity to handle your case.

In Connecticut as in every state in the U.S., all registered vehicles are required to carry minimum liability insurance. Currently, the minimum levels are as follows:

• $20,000 bodily injury liability maximum for one person injured in an accident
• $40,000 bodily injury liability maximum for all injuries in one accident
• $10,000 property damage liability maximum for one accident

Connecticut also uses the insurance "points" system to track car accidents and moving violations. If drivers exceed a certain number of points, the state may revoke their licenses. Following is a list of violations that would require the addition of "points" to your record.

Connecticut DMV point schedule
The DMV assesses one point for each of the following infractions:

• Operating at unreasonable rate of speed
• Speeding
• Failure to drive in the proper lane
• Illegal use of limited access highway by a bus, commercial vehicle, or vehicle with a trailer
• Improper operation on multiple-lane highways
• Improper operation on a divided highway
• Wrong direction at rotary or one-way street
• Improper turn, illegal turn, illegal stopping, or failure to signal intention to turn
• Improper backing or starting
• Failure to give proper signal
• Operation of motorcycles abreast, illegal passing
• Wrong way on a one-way street

The DMV assesses two points for the following infractions:

• Slow speed, impeding traffic
• Disobeying orders of an officer
• Entering or leaving a controlled access highway at other than designated entrance or exit
• Entry upon a limited access highway at a point other than a highway intersection or designated location
• Executing a turn from the wrong lane or contrary to traffic control devices
• Failure to obey the signal at a railroad crossing
• Failure by a school bus, commercial motor vehicle carrying flammable or explosive substance, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus, or a motor vehicle used for the transportation of school children to stop at a railroad crossing
• Failure to observe parkway or expressway restrictions
• Failure to obey traffic control signal light
• Failure to obey stop sign
• Failure to obey yield sign
• Operating a vehicle through a pedestrian safety zone

The DMV assesses three points for the following infractions:

• Driving while impaired
• Failure to keep right when meeting opposing traffic
• Improper passing or failure to yield to a passing vehicle
• Passing on the right
• Passing in a no passing zone
• Failure to keep to the right on a curve, grade, or when approaching an intersection
• Failure to drive at a reasonable distance apart from other vehicles
• Failure to grant the right of way at an intersection
• Failure to grant the right of way at a junction of highways
• Failure to yield when emerging from a driveway or private road
• Failure to grant the right of way when emerging from an alley, driveway, or building
• Failure to grant the right of way to an ambulance, police, or fire apparatus
• Failure to grant the right of way to a pedestrian

The DMV assesses four points for the following infractions:

• Wagering, speed record
• Failure to drive at a reasonable distance apart from another vehicle or intent to harass
• Passing a stopped school bus

The DMV assesses five points for the following infractions:

• Operation of a school bus at excessive speed
• Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle

Insurance points are used by insurance carriers to determine the level of premiums that an insured must pay for liability coverage. In Connecticut, if you get six points on your driving record, expect a warning letter from the DMV. Get 10 or more points and your driver's license will be suspended for 30 days. Get another 10 points on your record and you'll lose your license for up to 24 months.