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Vermont car accident laws
Is Vermont a no-fault state? No. Vermont is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the injuries and damage.
Vermont gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)).
The legal minimum liability coverage in Vermont is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $10,000 for property (25/50/10).
You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the total negligence of the defendants (50% or less), with your damages reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing.
Quoted from Vermont statutes and official pages, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
The rules in one table
| Rule | Vermont | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to sue for an injury | Three years; for injuries to the person the cause of action accrues on the date of discovery of the injury | 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) |
| Deadline for vehicle damage | Three years for damage to personal property suffered by the act or default of another | 12 V.S.A. § 512(5) |
| Deadline for a wrongful death claim | Two years from the discovery of the death of the person (seven years in some homicide cases) | 14 V.S.A. § 1492(a) |
| Insurance system | at-fault | 23 V.S.A. § 800(a) |
| If you were partly at fault | modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the total negligence of the defendants (50% or less), with your damages reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing. | 12 V.S.A. § 1036(a) |
| Minimum liability coverage | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per crash / $10,000 property | 23 V.S.A. § 800(a) |
Deadlines can be shorter or longer for minors, for injuries found later, and for claims against a government. A lawyer licensed in Vermont can tell you the date that applies to you.
Next steps after a Vermont crash
How to get a Vermont crash report ($22.00 for a certified copy of a police crash report; $15.00 for a certified copy of an individual (operator) crash report; $10.00 for insurance information of a crash).
Check your deadline and a rough claim range
A filing date and a rough value range for Vermont. Both take under a minute.
Questions
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Vermont?
Three years for an injury claim (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)) and three years for vehicle damage. Shorter notice rules can apply to claims against a government.
Is Vermont a no-fault state?
No. Vermont 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 Vermont?
Vermont follows modified comparative (51% bar). You can recover if your negligence is not greater than the total negligence of the defendants (50% or less), with your damages reduced by your share; at 51% or more you recover nothing.
What is the minimum car insurance in Vermont?
The legal minimum liability coverage in Vermont is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $10,000 for property (25/50/10).
Sources
- Deadline to sue for an injury (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512
Actions for the following causes shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not after: [...] (4) except as otherwise provided in this chapter, injuries to the person suffered by the act or default of another person, provided that the cause of action shall be deemed to accrue as of the date of the discovery of the injury;
- Deadline for vehicle damage (12 V.S.A. § 512(5)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/023/00512
Actions for the following causes shall be commenced within three years after the cause of action accrues, and not after: [...] (5) damage to personal property suffered by the act or default of another.
- Deadline for a wrongful death claim (14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/14/071/01492
(a) The action shall be brought in the name of the personal representative of the deceased person and commenced within two years from the discovery of the death of the person
- Insurance system (23 V.S.A. § 800(a)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/011/00800
(a) No owner of a motor vehicle required to be registered, or operator required to be licensed or issued a learner’s permit, shall operate or permit the operation of the vehicle upon the highways of the State without having in effect an automobile liability policy or bond in the amounts of at least $25,000.00 for one person and $50,000.00 for two or more persons killed or injured and $10,000.00 for damages to property in any one crash.
- If you were partly at fault (12 V.S.A. § 1036(a)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/12/027/01036
(a) Contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any plaintiff, or the plaintiff’s legal representative, to recover damages for negligence resulting in death, personal injury, or property damage, if the negligence was not greater than the causal total negligence of the defendant or defendants, but the damage shall be diminished by general verdict in proportion to the amount of negligence attributed to the plaintiff.
- Minimum liability coverage (23 V.S.A. § 800(a)): legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/23/011/00800
an automobile liability policy or bond in the amounts of at least $25,000.00 for one person and $50,000.00 for two or more persons killed or injured and $10,000.00 for damages to property in any one crash.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.