By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
Connecticut's injury deadline runs on two clocks. You generally have 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, but no more than 3 years from the act that caused it. Wrongful death claims follow a similar pattern: 2 years from the date of death, and never more than 5 years from the act behind it. A slow-to-appear injury therefore does not buy unlimited time.
Uninsured motorist coverage is required on Connecticut policies, alongside minimum liability limits of 25/50/25 that apply to policies issued or renewed from January 1, 2018 (up from 20/40/10). Fault follows a modified comparative rule: your award drops by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if you are more than 50% responsible. At the scene, you must stop, help anyone hurt and exchange names, addresses, license and registration numbers; if you cannot, you must report the crash to police immediately. Connecticut recorded 310 traffic deaths in 2024.
Key rules at a glance
| Personal injury filing deadline | Generally 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered (or should have been discovered), but no more than 3 years from the act that caused it Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 |
|---|---|
| Property damage deadline | Generally 2 years for property damage caused by negligence, with the same 3-year outer limit. Some property claims based on other torts may have 3 years. |
| Wrongful death deadline | Generally 2 years from the date of death, and never more than 5 years from the act that caused it Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555(a) |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (51% bar): Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your fault is greater than the combined fault of the people you sue (more than 50%). Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b) |
| Insurance system | At-fault (tort) |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $25,000 property damage Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112 |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Required |
| Damage caps | Connecticut generally does not cap compensatory damages in car accident cases. Ask a licensed attorney about limits that may apply to claims against government entities. |
| Reporting a crash | You must stop, help anyone hurt and exchange names, addresses, license and registration numbers. If you cannot give this information at the scene, you must immediately report the crash to police. Police who investigate crashes with injury, death or more than $1,000 in damage to any one person's property send a report to the state within 5 days. |
Getting your crash report in Connecticut
Request a copy of the crash report from the police department or State Police troop that investigated the crash.
Checking a Connecticut lawyer
Before you sign anything, confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the official state search, and ask for the fee agreement in writing. Our guide on choosing and verifying a lawyer lists what to ask.
- License search: Connecticut Judicial Branch – Attorney/Firm Look-up
- Lawyer referral: Hartford County Bar Association – Lawyer Referral Service
310 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Connecticut in 2024, according to IIHS analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Frequently asked questions
›When does the 2-year clock start if my injury showed up later?
Connecticut generally measures 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, or should have been discovered (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584). There is also an outer limit of 3 years from the act that caused the injury, so a late discovery cannot extend the deadline past that.
›Can I still recover if I was partly to blame for a Connecticut crash?
Yes, if your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the people you sue. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and at more than 50% you recover nothing (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b)).
›Is uninsured motorist coverage mandatory in Connecticut?
Yes. Uninsured motorist coverage is required on Connecticut auto policies, so it should already be part of yours. Check your declarations page to confirm the limits you carry.
›What if I couldn't exchange information at the scene?
Connecticut drivers must stop, help anyone hurt and exchange names, addresses, license and registration numbers. If you cannot give this information at the scene, you must report the crash to police immediately (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224).
›When did Connecticut raise its minimum liability limits?
Public Act 17-114 raised the minimums to $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2018 (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112). The previous limits were 20/40/10.
Sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555 (2025, via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h (2025, via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-556 (via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112 (2025, via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-108a (via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-224 (via Justia)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 (via Justia)
- IIHS – Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
- Connecticut Judicial Branch – Attorney/Firm Look-up
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577 (via Justia)