By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
Every driver in a Vermont crash that injures anyone or causes total property damage of $3,000 or more must mail form VC-004 to the DMV Commissioner within 72 hours. Insured owners and drivers must also give injured people and property owners their insurer names and policy numbers within 5 days.
Claims against the State of Vermont are capped at $500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence under the Tort Claims Act, which otherwise treats the State much like a private person for its employees' negligence. Injury and vehicle damage suits generally have 3 years, with injury claims accruing when the injury is discovered. Wrongful death claims have 2 years from discovery of the death, with longer periods in some cases. Vermont uses a modified comparative fault rule that bars recovery above 50%. Uninsured motorist coverage is required, with liability minimums of 25/50/10. Vermont recorded 59 traffic deaths in 2024.
Key rules at a glance
| Personal injury filing deadline | Generally 3 years after the claim accrues. For personal injuries, the statute says the claim accrues on the date the injury is discovered, which in most crash cases is the day of the accident Source: 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) |
|---|---|
| Property damage deadline | Generally 3 years for damage to your vehicle or other personal property Source: 12 V.S.A. § 512(5) |
| Wrongful death deadline | Generally 2 years from the discovery of the death, with longer periods in some cases, such as when the defendant was out of state or the death involved a homicide Source: 14 V.S.A. § 1492(a) |
| Claims against a government entity | Vermont's Tort Claims Act makes the State liable for its employees' negligence much like a private person, but caps the State's liability at $500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence. We did not find a special notice-of-claim deadline for claims against the State in that chapter. Towns and cities may have their own rules, so check before relying on the general deadline. Source: 12 V.S.A. § 5601 |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (51% bar): Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can still recover as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the defendants. If you are more than 50% at fault, you recover nothing. Source: 12 V.S.A. § 1036 |
| Insurance system | At-fault (tort) |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $10,000 property damage Source: 23 V.S.A. § 800(a) |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Required |
| Damage caps | No general cap on damages in car accident cases between private parties. Claims against the State of Vermont are capped at $500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence (12 V.S.A. § 5601(b)). |
| Reporting a crash | If a crash injures anyone or causes total property damage of $3,000 or more, each driver must mail a written report (form VC-004) to the DMV Commissioner within 72 hours. Owners and drivers with liability insurance must also give injured people and property owners their insurer names and policy numbers within 5 days. Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1129 |
Getting your crash report in Vermont
Crash reports investigated by the Vermont State Police are requested through the Vermont DMV in Montpelier (802-828-2000), not the State Police online records portal. Crashes handled by a town or city police department are requested from that department. Official request page
Checking a Vermont 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: Vermont Judiciary – Attorney Licensing (list of attorneys in good standing)
- Lawyer referral: Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service · 1-800-639-7036
59 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Vermont in 2024, according to NHTSA FARS (2024).
Frequently asked questions
›Do I have to mail a crash report to the Vermont DMV myself?
Yes, if the crash injured anyone or caused total property damage of $3,000 or more. Each driver must mail form VC-004 to the DMV Commissioner within 72 hours (23 V.S.A. § 1129).
›What information must I share with the other people involved?
Owners and drivers with liability insurance must give injured people and property owners their insurer names and policy numbers within 5 days (23 V.S.A. § 1129). This is separate from the 72-hour report to the DMV.
›How much can I recover from the State of Vermont?
The State's liability is capped at $500,000 per person and $2,000,000 per occurrence (12 V.S.A. § 5601(b)). Towns and cities may have their own rules, so check before relying on the general deadline.
›When does the 3-year deadline start for a Vermont injury claim?
The claim accrues on the date the injury is discovered, which in most crash cases is the day of the accident (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)). Vehicle damage claims also generally have 3 years (§ 512(5)). Wrongful death claims generally have 2 years from discovery of the death (14 V.S.A. § 1492(a)).
›How do I get a Vermont State Police crash report?
Request it through the Vermont DMV in Montpelier (802-828-2000), not the State Police online records portal. Crashes handled by a town or city police department are requested from that department.
Sources
- 12 V.S.A. § 512 (Vermont Legislature)
- 14 V.S.A. § 1492 (Vermont Legislature)
- 12 V.S.A. § 1036 (Vermont Legislature)
- 12 V.S.A. Chapter 189 – Tort Claims Against the State
- 23 V.S.A. § 800 (Vermont Legislature)
- 23 V.S.A. § 941 (Vermont Legislature)
- 23 V.S.A. § 1129 (Vermont Legislature)
- Vermont DMV – Crashes
- Vermont DPS – Police reports and public records
- Vermont Judiciary – Attorney Licensing
- Vermont Bar Association – Find a Lawyer
- NHTSA FARS – State crashes and all victims