# Connecticut car accident law: deadlines, fault and your claim

> Connecticut car accident claims: the 2-year deadline and 3-year outer limit, the 51% fault bar, claims against the state and double damages.

Canonical page: https://accidentclaimfacts.com/location/connecticut/  
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026 by the Accident Claim Facts editorial team  
General information, not legal advice. Talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

## Quick answer

In Connecticut you generally have 2 years to sue for injuries or vehicle damage, counted from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, and never more than 3 years after the crash. Connecticut uses modified comparative fault: your damages are reduced by your share of the blame, and you recover nothing only if your share is greater than the combined fault of the people you sue. A driver who broke certain traffic laws deliberately or recklessly can be ordered to pay double or treble damages.

## Key facts

| Fact | Detail | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit deadline | 2 years | Outer limit 3 years; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Vehicle damage deadline | 2 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Wrongful death deadline | 2 years | From the date of death; outer limit 5 years |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault | No recovery at 51% or more |
| Claim against the state | 1 year | To the Claims Commissioner, with exceptions |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 | Per person / per crash / property |
| Fault system | At-fault | Personal injury protection: Not required |
| Traffic deaths in Connecticut, 2024 | 310 | IIHS count |
| Lawyer referral | County bar services | Hartford, New Haven and New London counties |

## Filing deadlines in Connecticut

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, a lawsuit for injury or property damage caused by negligence must be filed within 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered. There is also an outer limit: no such lawsuit may be filed more than 3 years after the act or omission that caused the harm, which in a car case is usually the crash.

| Claim | Deadline | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Personal injury | 2 years; at most 3 years after the crash | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Damage to your vehicle or other property | 2 years | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
| Wrongful death | 2 years from the date of death; at most 5 years after the crash | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555(a) |
| Most claims against the state | 1 year to present it to the Claims Commissioner | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148 |
| Claim against a bar or liquor store | Written notice within 120 days; lawsuit within 1 year | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 30-102 |

For an injured child, the rule is strict: § 52-584 has no exception that pauses the deadline for children. That is different from states such as California and Texas, which pause, or toll, the deadline while the injured person is a child.

Claims against the government depend on who was involved. If a state employee was driving, a person hurt through the negligence of a state official or employee driving a motor vehicle owned and insured by the state can sue the state directly. Otherwise, most other claims against the state must be presented to the Office of the Claims Commissioner within one year after they accrue, and never more than three years after the event. Claims against a town or city, or over a defective road, have their own notice rules; a licensed Connecticut attorney can tell you which apply and when notice is due. These rules are exceptions to sovereign immunity.

> **Warning:** Insurance talks do not pause any of these deadlines. Because of the outer limit, a late-discovered injury does not buy unlimited time.

## How fault is shared in Connecticut

Connecticut's comparative negligence statute, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b), reduces your damages by your percentage of fault. You can still recover as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the people you sue. Your share of fault is compared with the combined fault of all the defendants you sue, not each one separately.

> **Example:** A jury finds you 40% at fault for a crash and two other drivers 30% each. Your 40% is less than their combined 60%, so you can recover, with your proven damages reduced by 40%. At 51% fault, you would recover nothing.

Because the comparison is with all the defendants together, who is named in the lawsuit can matter. Try the [fault-rule explainer](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/tools/fault-rule-explainer/?state=ct&fault=20#fault) to see how Connecticut compares with other states.

## Insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut drivers must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per crash for injuries, plus $25,000 for property damage. Connecticut is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their insurer, pays for the losses.

- **Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage:** Required: $25,000/$50,000.
- **Personal injury protection:** Not required.

The Insurance Information Institute estimates that 11.8% of Connecticut drivers were uninsured in 2023, below the national estimate of 15.4%. Our guide to [uninsured driver accidents](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/uninsured-driver-accidents/) explains how these claims work. The Connecticut Insurance Department takes consumer questions at (860) 297-3900; 1-800-203-3447 (Consumer Affairs).

## After a crash in Connecticut

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224, a driver involved in a crash that causes injury, death or property damage must stop, give help where needed and give their name, address, license number and registration number; if that is not possible, they must report to the police.

For a crash handled by the State Police, a free online Accident Information Summary is available for 30 days after the crash, but it is not the official report. To get the official report, buy a simple report online through BuyCrash, or request other reports through the State Police Reports and Records Unit's online portal. Requests through the Reports and Records Unit carry a non-refundable search fee of $16, charged even if no report is found. If a town or city police department handled the crash, ask that department. Our guide to [police reports](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/claim-process/police-report/) explains how insurers use them.

## Special rules in Connecticut

### Double or treble damages for reckless drivers

Connecticut has an unusual rule for the worst driving: a jury may award double or treble damages if the other driver deliberately or with reckless disregard broke certain listed traffic laws, such as those on speeding, reckless driving, drunk driving, following too closely or hand-held phones, and that was a substantial factor in the harm. The injured person must specifically plead the violation in the lawsuit, and the decision is up to the jury or judge. Owners of rental and leased cars are generally not liable for these extra damages.

### Bars and liquor stores

Under Connecticut's dram shop law, a seller who sells alcohol to an intoxicated person can be liable to someone that person then injures. Recovery from the seller is capped at $250,000, whether one person or several were hurt. The injured person must give the seller written notice within 120 days of the injury (longer if the person died or was incapacitated) and sue within 1 year. See our guide to [drunk driver accidents](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/accidents/drunk-driver-accidents/).

## Crashes on Connecticut roads

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety counted 310 crash deaths in Connecticut in 2024. That is 8.4 per 100,000 people, below the US rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people. Speed stands out: 41% of the deaths were speeding-related, against 29% nationally. Only 13% happened on rural roads, and IIHS estimates that 32% of the passenger vehicle drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher.

## Finding a lawyer in Connecticut

The Connecticut Bar Association runs a [Find a Lawyer directory](https://www.ctbar.org/public/find-a-lawyer-ct), and its [page on hiring a lawyer](https://www.ctbar.org/public/pro-bono-legal-aid-services/find-lawyer) lists lawyer referral services run by county bar associations: Hartford County at (860) 525-6052, New Haven County at (203) 562-5750 and New London County at (860) 889-9384. Read how [lawyer referral services](https://accidentclaimfacts.com/choosing-a-lawyer/lawyer-referral-services/) work before you call.

Before you hire anyone, search the Connecticut Judicial Branch's [Attorney Firm Look-up](https://www.jud.ct.gov/attorneyfirminquiry/AttorneyFirmInquiry.aspx), which lists attorneys admitted to practice in Connecticut along with their license and discipline history.

## FAQ

### What is the statute of limitations for a car accident in Connecticut?

Generally 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, and no more than 3 years after the crash. A wrongful death claim has 2 years from the date of death, with an outer limit of 5 years after the crash.

### Is Connecticut a no-fault state?

No. Connecticut is an at-fault state, and personal injury protection is not required. Every policy must include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

### Can I recover damages if I was partly at fault in Connecticut?

Yes, as long as your share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the people you sue. Your damages are reduced by your percentage. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.

### Does Connecticut give injured children more time to sue?

Not under the main injury statute: § 52-584 has no exception that pauses the deadline for children. A child's claim generally faces the same deadline as an adult's, so you may want to ask a lawyer early.

### What are double or treble damages in a Connecticut car accident case?

A jury may award two or three times the damages when the other driver deliberately or recklessly broke certain traffic laws, such as speeding or drunk driving laws, and that was a substantial factor in the harm. The injured person must specifically plead it.

### How do I get a Connecticut State Police accident report?

You can buy a simple report online through BuyCrash, or request other reports through the State Police Reports and Records Unit's online portal. A non-refundable search fee of $16 applies to those requests.

## Sources

- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes chapter 926](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_926.htm) — limitation periods, § 52-584
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes chapter 925](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_925.htm) — wrongful death and actions against the state
- [Connecticut Insurance Department, Auto insurance](https://portal.ct.gov/cid/consumer-information-center/auto-insurance) — minimum and uninsured motorist coverage
- [Connecticut State Police, Reports and records](https://portal.ct.gov/despp/division-of-emergency-service-and-public-protection/reports-and-records/reports-and-records) — crash report requests and fees
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 52-584](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-52/chapter-926/section-52-584/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 52-555(a)](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-52/chapter-925/section-52-555/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 52-572h(b)](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-52/chapter-925/section-52-572h/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 4-148(a)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_053.htm), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 30-102 (2025)](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-30/chapter-545/section-30-102/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 14-224 (2025)](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-14/chapter-248/section-14-224/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Connecticut General Assembly, General Statutes § 14-295 (2025)](https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-14/chapter-248/section-14-295/), checked October 29, 2026
- [Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws](https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx), checked October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Background on: No-fault auto insurance](https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance), checked October 28, 2026
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state), checked June 1, 2026