Connecticut car accident laws

Last checked 1 July 2026

Connecticut’s deadline has a distinctive two-part structure: a two-year window from when you were injured or discovered the injury, but never more than three years from the accident itself, no matter what.

Even if an injury takes time to surface, Connecticut law draws a hard line at three years from the accident — the discovery rule only stretches so far.

Connecticut car accident laws at a glance

Connecticut car accident rules, what applies and the statute

Rule	What applies in Connecticut	Statute	Detail
Deadline to file an injury lawsuit	2 years, 3-year outer limit	Conn. Gen. Stat. §52-584	Read more
Fault rule	Modified comparative negligence, 51% bar	Conn. Gen. Stat. §52-572h	Read more
Insurance system and minimums	At-fault system, 25/50/25 minimum	Conn. Gen. Stat. §38a-334	Read more
Wrongful death deadline	Two years from the date of death	See the section	Read more

Last checked 1 July 2026. Each row links to the section that explains it, with the statute.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Connecticut?

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §52-584, you generally have two years from the date the injury was sustained, or reasonably should have been discovered, to file a lawsuit — but never more than three years from the date of the accident, regardless of when the injury was discovered.

What if I was partly at fault in Connecticut?

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. §52-572h, you can recover damages if your share of fault is not greater than the other side’s (50% or less), reduced by your percentage. At 51% or more, you recover nothing — unlike Colorado and Maine, a precisely even split does not bar you.

What car insurance does Connecticut require?

Connecticut is an at-fault state. Minimum liability limits are 25/50/25: $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage matching those limits (25/50) is mandatory.

RelatedCar accident with no insuranceHow UM/UIM coverage works when the other driver can’t pay.

How this plays out in a real claim

Take an intersection collision where fault is genuinely disputed. If an insurer or court assigns you 40% of the blame, Connecticut’s rule still lets you recover 60% of your damages. But if that assessment creeps above 50%, the claim is barred entirely under Connecticut’s rule — not reduced, eliminated. That single threshold is exactly why insurers have a real incentive to push a borderline case just over the line rather than simply discount what they pay.

What mistake should I avoid after a crash in Connecticut?

Because a single percentage point at the 50% line can be the entire difference between a reduced payout and nothing at all, careless statements at the scene or to an adjuster carry more weight here than in a pure comparative state. Avoid speculating about fault, even casually, until the full picture — police report, witnesses, any available footage — is in front of you.

What if a government vehicle or agency was involved?

Connecticut layers several separate notice deadlines depending on the theory of the claim: one year to file with the Claims Commissioner for negligence by the state itself (Conn. Gen. Stat. §4-148), just 90 days’ written notice for a defective road or bridge claim against a municipality (§13a-149), and six months’ notice for a claim against a municipal employee individually (§7-465). Missing any one of these bars that specific claim even though the underlying two-year statute of limitations hasn’t run.

What is the deadline if the crash caused a death?

Connecticut’s wrongful death deadline is two years from the date of death, but never more than five years from the underlying negligent act — a separate statute of repose that can matter if death follows the crash by a long delay. The claim is brought by the executor or administrator of the estate.

Beyond the deadline and the fault rule

The statute of limitations and the fault rule above decide whether you have a claim and how much of it survives — they don’t decide what the claim is actually worth, or whether it’s worth handling yourself. For that, see our guides on what affects a settlement, who pays your medical bills while a claim is pending, and whether Connecticut law makes a lawyer worth it for your specific situation.

When should I talk to a lawyer in Connecticut?

With a hard cutoff just above 50%, how fault gets assigned in Connecticut can be the entire outcome of a claim. A conversation with a qualified lawyer is worth having if fault is disputed.