Bill > S1036

This bill proposes to amend Chapter 231 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding a new section that establishes a rebuttable presumption of negligence in accidents involving large motor vehicles and vulnerable road users. Specifically, the bill creates a legal presumption that a defendant (the driver) is negligent in accidents where a large vehicle (classified as class 3 or above by the Federal Highway Administration, weighing over 10,001 pounds) collides with a vulnerable road user, unless the defendant can prove otherwise. To rebut this presumption, the vehicle must be equipped with specific safety features including lateral protective devices, convex mirrors, crossover mirrors, and backup cameras. "Vulnerable road users" is a term defined in Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which typically includes pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and others who are more at risk in traffic compared to occupants of motor vehicles. The bill aims to enhance safety and place additional responsibility on operators of large vehicles to prevent accidents with more vulnerable individuals on the road.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1036