Connecticut filing deadlines
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | 2 years |
| Vehicle and property damage | 2 years |
| Wrongful death | 2 years |
Discovery rule with a 3-year repose from the act or omission (52-584).
If you were partly at fault
Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were more at fault than the other side (51% or more). At exactly 50% you still recover half.
- With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
- With 55% of the fault, you would recover $0, because the rule bars your claim.
Recovery allowed at exactly 50%; damages diminished by plaintiff's percentage of negligence.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-572h(b). Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.
At-fault (tort) state
In Connecticut the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.
Minimum car insurance in Connecticut
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required.
Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person.
Damage caps
Connecticut does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases. Punitive damages: Common law punitive damages are limited to litigation expenses (attorney fees and costs). Statutory: double or treble damages may be awarded against a driver who deliberately or with reckless disregard violated certain traffic statutes (Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-295); product liability punitive damages capped at 2x compensatory (52-240b).
Dog bite law
Strict liability statute. Covers any damage, not only bites, and applies to keepers as well as owners. Exceptions: victim was committing a trespass or other tort, or teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. Children under 7 are presumed not to have been trespassing or teasing.
Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. 22-357(b). Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Connecticut?
2 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 2 years for vehicle damage (Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-584; Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-555(a)). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.
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 other people's injuries and damage.
What happens if I was partly at fault in Connecticut?
Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar (Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-572h(b)). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were more at fault than the other side (51% or more). At exactly 50% you still recover half.
What is the minimum car insurance in Connecticut?
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.
Does Connecticut cap pain and suffering damages?
Not in ordinary car accident cases.
Sources
Checked against official Connecticut sources November 5, 2026.
- Connecticut statute of limitations: Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-584; Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-555(a)
- Connecticut comparative fault: Conn. Gen. Stat. 52-572h(b)
- Connecticut insurance system: Conn. Gen. Stat. 38a-335(a)
- Connecticut minimum liability insurance: Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-112(a); 38a-335(a); UM/UIM: 38a-336(a)(1)
- Connecticut dog bite liability: Conn. Gen. Stat. 22-357(b)