Vermont filing deadlines
| Claim | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Personal injury lawsuit | 3 years |
| Vehicle and property damage | 3 years |
| Wrongful death | 2 years |
Personal injury accrues on discovery of the injury (512(4)).
If you were partly at fault
Vermont 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 50%.
Source: 12 V.S.A. 1036. Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.
At-fault (tort) state
In Vermont 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 Vermont
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $10,000 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. Same amounts in both the currently effective and the contingently amended (2015, No. 50) versions of 800(a). UM/UIM is mandatory and must be at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident (higher than the liability minimum) plus UM property damage up to $10,000 with $150 deductible.
Damage caps
Vermont does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases.
Dog bite law
One-bite rule (no strict liability statute).
Source: . Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Vermont?
3 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 3 years for vehicle damage (12 V.S.A. 512(4), (5); 14 V.S.A. 1492(a)). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.
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 other people's injuries and damage.
What happens if I was partly at fault in Vermont?
Vermont follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar (12 V.S.A. 1036). 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 Vermont?
$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $10,000 for property damage (25/50/10). Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.
Does Vermont cap pain and suffering damages?
Not in ordinary car accident cases.
Sources
Checked against official Vermont sources November 5, 2026.