The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 19 : Highways
Chapter 009 : Repairs, Maintenance, and Improvements
Subchapter 008 : TOWN LIABILITY FOR NEGLECTING REPAIRS
(Cite as: 19 V.S.A. § 985)-
§ 985. Injuries from defective bridges and culverts
(a) If damage occurs to a person, or his or her property, by reason of the insufficiency or want of repair of a bridge or culvert that the town is liable to keep in repair, the person sustaining damage may recover in a civil action. If the damage accrues in consequence of the insufficiency or want of repair of a bridge erected and maintained by two or more towns, the action shall be brought against all the towns liable for the repairs. The damage and costs shall be paid by the towns in the proportions in which they are liable for the repairs. The court may issue execution against any or all towns for their proportion only, provided that the liability to any town shall not exceed $75,000.00 or, where insurance is carried, the maximum policy liability limits, whichever sum is greater, on account of injury to or death of a person and damage to his or her property.
(b) Towns and other corporations shall not be liable for damage to a person or his or her property by reason of the insufficiency or want of repair of a bridge or culvert while traveling on the highway or bridge in violation of the provisions of Title 23 regarding motor vehicle use. (Added 1985, No. 269 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
