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Connecticut car accident laws
Is Connecticut a no-fault state? No. Connecticut is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Connecticut gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Connecticut is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the combined negligence of the people you are suing (more than 50%).
Quoted from Connecticut statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Connecticut | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered (or should have been discovered), and never more than three years from the date of the negligent act or omission | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, and never more than three years from the date of the negligent act or omission | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years from the date of death, and never more than five years from the date of the act or omission complained of | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555(a) |
| Claims against a government body | For injuries caused by a defective road or bridge, written notice must be given within 90 days of the injury (to the municipal clerk, or to the Commissioner of Transportation for state roads). Other municipal negligence claims have separate notice rules not checked here. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149 (municipal roads); § 13a-144 (state roads) |
| Insurance system | at-fault | Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the combined negligence of the people you are suing (more than 50%). | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $25,000 property | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112(a) |
| Dog bites | strict liability. The dog's owner or keeper is liable for any damage the dog does to a person's body or property, unless the person was trespassing, committing another tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357(b) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Connecticut can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Connecticut crash
How to get a Connecticut crash report (Accident Information Summary (preliminary, not the official report): free. Official State Police report: $16.00 non-refundable search fee under CGS 29-10b whether or not a report is produced; BuyCrash and online payments may add convenience fees.).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Connecticut. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Connecticut?
Two years for an injury claim (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584) and two years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Connecticut a no-fault state?
No. Connecticut is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Can I recover if I was partly at fault in Connecticut?
Connecticut follows modified comparative (51% bar). If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the combined negligence of the people you are suing (more than 50%).
What is the minimum car insurance in Connecticut?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Connecticut is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property (25/50/25).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_926.htm
No action to recover damages for injury to the person, or to real or personal property, caused by negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, or by malpractice of a physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, advanced practice registered nurse, hospital or sanatorium, shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered, and except that no such action may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission complained of, except that a counterclaim …
- Deadline for vehicle damage (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_926.htm
No action to recover damages for injury to the person, or to real or personal property, caused by negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, or by malpractice of a physician, surgeon, dentist, podiatrist, chiropractor, advanced practice registered nurse, hospital or sanatorium, shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered, and except that no such action may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission complained of, except that a counterclaim …
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555(a)): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_925.htm
Sec. 52-555. Actions for injuries resulting in death. (a) In any action surviving to or brought by an executor or administrator for injuries resulting in death, whether instantaneous or otherwise, such executor or administrator may recover from the party legally at fault for such injuries just damages together with the cost of reasonably necessary medical, hospital and nursing services, and including funeral expenses, provided no action shall be brought to recover such damages and disbursements but within two years from the date of death, and except that no such action may be brought more than…
- Claims against a government body (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149 (municipal roads); § 13a-144 (state roads)): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_238.htm
No action for any such injury shall be maintained against any town, city, corporation or borough, unless written notice of such injury and a general description of the same, and of the cause thereof and of the time and place of its occurrence, shall, within ninety days thereafter be given to a selectman or the clerk of such town, or to the clerk of such city or borough, or to the secretary or treasurer of such corporation.
- Insurance system (Triple-I, Background on: No-fault auto insurance): www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance
Twelve states and Puerto Rico have no-fault auto insurance laws. Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania have verbal thresholds. The other seven states—Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota and Utah—use a monetary threshold. Three states have a "choice" no-fault law. In New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, motorists may reject the lawsuit threshold and retain the right to sue for any auto-related injury.
- If you were partly at fault (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b)): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_925.htm
(b) In causes of action based on negligence, contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or the person's legal representative to recover damages resulting from personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property if the negligence was not greater than the combined negligence of the person or persons against whom recovery is sought including settled or released persons under subsection (n) of this section.
- Minimum liability coverage (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112(a)): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_246.htm
proof of financial responsibility to satisfy any claim for damages by reason of personal injury to, or the death of, any one person, of twenty-five thousand dollars, or by reason of personal injury to, or the death of, more than one person on account of any accident, of at least fifty thousand dollars, and for damage to property of at least twenty-five thousand dollars.
- Dog bites (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357(b)): www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_435.htm
(b) If any dog does any damage to either the body or property of any person, the owner, keeper, or both, shall be liable for the amount of such damage, except when such damage has been occasioned to the body or property of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.