Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 710 – Accidents investigated; reports
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If an accident occurs upon the premises of a public utility or directly or indirectly arises from or is connected with its maintenance or operation, the following provisions apply. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
1. Accidents resulting in loss of life. If the accident results in the loss of human life, the public utility shall file a report of the accident in accordance with subsection 4 and the commission shall cause an investigation of the accident to be made immediately.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 710
- Adjourn: A motion to adjourn a legislative chamber or a committee, if passed, ends that day's session.
- Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes a corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, association, trust, estate, any other legal entity or natural person. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
- Public utility: includes every gas utility, natural gas pipeline utility, transmission and distribution utility, telephone utility, water utility and ferry, as those terms are defined in this section, and each of those utilities is declared to be a public utility. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 35-A Sec. 102
2. Accidents resulting in personal injury or property damage. If the accident results in personal injury or damage to property, the public utility shall file a report of the accident in accordance with subsection 4 and the commission may investigate if in its judgment the public interest requires it.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
3. Investigations. Investigations shall be made in compliance with the following provisions:
A. An investigation shall be held in the locality of the accident unless, for the greater convenience of those concerned, the commission orders it to be held at some other place. An investigation may adjourn from place to place as may be necessary and convenient. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
B. The commission shall seasonably notify the public utility of the time and place of investigations. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
C. The public utility shall have an opportunity to be heard during the investigation. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
D. The commission may make such order or recommendation based on its investigation as in its judgment seems just and reasonable. [PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
4. Filing accident reports. Every public utility shall file reports of accidents described in subsections 1 and 2 with the commission. Accident reports must be filed in compliance with the commission’s rules and in the manner and form designated by the commission. Accidents resulting in loss of human life must be reported immediately by telephone, facsimile machine or electronic media in a manner designated by the commission followed by a detailed written report.
[PL 1995, c. 225, §6 (AMD).]
5. Reports not admitted as evidence in an action. No order or recommendation of the commission or accident report filed with the commission may be admitted as evidence in any action for damages based on or arising out of the loss of life or injury to person or property referred to in this section.
[PL 1987, c. 141, Pt. A, §6 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 141, §A6 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 225, §6 (AMD).