Connecticut car accident statute of limitations: two years, three at most
The Connecticut car accident statute of limitations is two years, three at most. Call free to check.
Connecticut runs two clocks at once. You have two years from when the injury is sustained or discovered, but never more than three years from the crash itself, under section 52-584. A late-showing injury can stretch the first clock. The second one is a hard stop.
The deadlines in Connecticut
| What | Time limit | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit | Two years from injury or discovery, three years max | C.G.S. 52-584 |
| Car or property damage lawsuit | Two years, three years max | C.G.S. 52-584 |
| Shared fault | Barred if more at fault than all defendants combined | C.G.S. 52-572h |
| Minimum liability cover | $25,000 / $50,000 / $25,000 | C.G.S. 38a-335, 14-112 |
| Defective road claim against a town | Written notice in 90 days | C.G.S. 13a-149 |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | Two years from death, five years max | C.G.S. 52-555 |
Connecticut rules that move the deadline
Serving the papers in Connecticut has a small cushion. A suit is saved if the papers reach a state marshal before the deadline and are served within 30 days, under section 52-593a.
Time also stops while the person you are suing is living outside Connecticut, for up to seven years, under section 52-590. If a pothole or broken guardrail played a part, the town needs written notice within 90 days.
The 51 percent rule in Connecticut
Connecticut lets you collect as long as your negligence was not greater than the combined negligence of the people you sue. A tie still pays. Your award is then cut by your percentage, under section 52-572h.
Since your fault is weighed against everyone you name, bringing in every careless driver can matter.
Connecticut insurance and your claim
Connecticut is an at-fault state. Policies must carry at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash and $25,000 for property. Section 38a-335 ties those limits to section 14-112.
Every policy must also include uninsured and underinsured motorist cover at least that high, under section 38a-336. When the other driver carries only the minimum, your own policy may add to it.
When to call a Connecticut car accident lawyer
Call right away if a road defect was involved, since 90 days passes quickly. Otherwise, call well before the two-year mark. An attorney has to draft the complaint and get it to a marshal on time and waiting on a discovery argument is risky. The call is free and the lawyer is paid only if you win.
Other states: New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey or every state on one page.
Connecticut car accident statute of limitations questions
What is the deadline to sue after a car accident in Connecticut?
Two years from the date the injury was sustained or discovered and never more than three years after the crash.
Can I sue in Connecticut if I was partly at fault?
Yes, if you were not more at fault than the defendants combined. Your award drops by your share.
How long does a family have for a wrongful death case in Connecticut?
Two years from the death and no more than five years from the crash, under section 52-555.
Is Connecticut a no-fault state?
No. The driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurer, pays for the harm.
Before the clock runs out
Connecticut weighs your fault against everyone you sue, so naming the right people changes the math. Call before you sign a release and a lawyer will check the offer and your deadline free.
Call about my deadline(833) 716-6705
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