C.G.S. § 14-222a – Negligent Homicide with a Motor Vehicle

Connecticut has a wide range of criminal statutes which deal with situations where a motor vehicle accident causes the death of another person. C.G.S. § 14-222a is the least serious of the crimes that relate to vehicle accident deaths. Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle requires only ordinary negligence - which is defined as taking action that a reasonably prudent person would not do.

This is a lower level of negligence that is required in the related and more serious offense of C.G.S. § 53a-57 misconduct with a motor vehicle, which requires the accused have acted with criminal negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle results in death. Criminal negligence is described as a gross deviation from the standard of care a reasonably prudent person would follow. Misconduct with a motor vehicle is a more serious felony-level offense than C.G.S. § 14-222a negligent homicide with a motor vehicle which is only a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine.

When motor vehicle accidents occur, the deceased individual could be a passenger in your, a pedestrian, or another motorist. If the state can prove that you were negligent in causing the accident that caused a death, you could be charged with this offense. In just about every case where there is a fatal car accident, the police will apply for an arrest warrant for negligent homicide with a motor vehicle if they can establish that someone was negligent in causing the accident. Often the "science" of accident reconstruction is not very scientific, and usually defense attorneys retain more qualified and experienced experts to refute the determinations of the police.

To win a conviction for a violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-222a, the state's attorney has to prove the following elements of the crime:

1. The defendant operated a motor vehicle in a negligent manner;
2. As a result of an accident someone dies

A man accidentally goes through a stop sign without looking and passes directly into the path of a bicyclist who has the right of way. The bicyclist is thrown over the hood of the car and suffers serious injuries and later dies at the hospital. The man could be convicted of a violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-222a because he was negligent in not looking carefully before proceeding through the stop sign, and his negligence caused the death of another person.

A man loses control of his car in a rainstorm and hydra-planes, causing him to spin out and hit another vehicle on I-95. The other vehicle loses control and runs into a tree on the side of the road, and the car bursts into flames. A passenger in the other car dies. The man could be convicted of a violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 14-222a because he was negligent because he was operating his vehicle at an unreasonable rate of speed for the conditions then prevailing, and the accident caused the death of another person.

Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-57 - Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle

Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-56b - Manslaughter with a Motor Vehicle in the Second Degree

Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-60d - Assault in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle

In order to prove that you are guilty of this offense, the police need to prove that your negligence caused an accident that results in the death of another person. Most local police departments investigate a handful of fatal auto accidents a year, and the "scientific" methods they use are junk science. Most of the conclusions they reach can be rebutted by more qualified expert witnesses that specialize in accident reconstruction and have more experience than the local police.

Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle in violation of C.G.S. § 14-222a is an unclassified misdemeanor for which you can face up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Also, you will face a license suspension.

For questions about Connecticut General Statutes § 14-222a negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, or to discuss your case confidentially with Attorney Allan F. Friedman, do not hesitate to call us at (203) 357-5555, or you can contact us online for a prompt response. We have offices conveniently located in Stamford and Norwalk.