Connecticut Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a Connecticut personal injury or dog-bite claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
There is no formula that predicts a settlement. This tool uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a Connecticut personal-injury attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. Most personal-injury cases settle out of court; most attorneys work on a contingency fee (commonly around a third, but the rate is set by your agreement and some states regulate or cap it), and an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. What this calculator does is apply the multiplier method, the rough starting point insurers and attorneys use: it adds up your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It is a way to understand value, not a guarantee.
It then applies Connecticut's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
Connecticut's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b) allows a plaintiff to recover only if the plaintiff's negligence "was not greater than the combined negligence" of the defendant(s) (including settled/released parties). Because recovery is permitted at exactly 50% but barred once the plaintiff's fault is GREATER than 50% (i.e., 51% or more), Connecticut is a modified-comparative "51% bar" state. Below the bar, damages are diminished in proportion to the plaintiff's percentage of fault (§ 52-572h(b), (f)). Applies to negligence actions; recklessness/intentional torts are treated differently.
Damage Caps in Connecticut
No cap on general personal-injury (negligence) damages in Connecticut — economic and non-economic damages are uncapped. Connecticut has NO statutory cap on medical-malpractice noneconomic damages. Punitive damages in ordinary common-law tort actions are limited by Connecticut common law to the plaintiff's litigation expenses less taxable costs (effectively attorney's fees and costs), rather than an open-ended multiplier; certain statutory causes of action (e.g., CUTPA, product liability under § 52-240b) provide their own enhanced/punitive measures.
Dog-Bite Liability in Connecticut
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22-357 imposes strict liability: the owner or keeper of a dog is liable for damage the dog does to the body or property of any person, with no need to prove the owner knew the dog was vicious or was otherwise negligent (no "one bite" requirement). Exceptions: no liability where the injured person was, at the time, committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog. A child under seven is presumed not to have been trespassing or tormenting/abusing the dog (the owner bears the burden to rebut). The Connecticut Judicial Branch law library (jud.ct.gov) expressly labels § 22-357 as 'strict liability.'
Deadline to File a Claim in Connecticut
Connecticut generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 2 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584: a personal-injury action for negligence (or reckless/wanton misconduct or malpractice) must be brought within TWO years from when the injury is first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), AND in no event more than THREE years from the date of the act or omission complained of (three-year statute of repose). Note: claims against the state/municipalities and wrongful-death (§ 52-555, 2 years from death, 5-year repose) have separate timing rules. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Connecticut is a modified-comparative-negligence state (51% bar): a plaintiff recovers reduced damages if their fault is 50% or less, but recovers nothing once their fault exceeds 50% (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h).
- Standard personal-injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the injury, with an outer 3-year repose limit from the negligent act (§ 52-584).
- Dog-bite/animal-attack claims are governed by a strict-liability statute (§ 22-357): owners and keepers are liable without proof the dog was known to be dangerous, subject only to trespass and teasing/tormenting/abusing defenses.
- A child under seven is statutorily presumed not to have been trespassing or provoking the dog, making the strict-liability statute especially favorable to young child victims.
- General PI damages (economic and non-economic) are uncapped in Connecticut; there is no med-mal noneconomic cap, and common-law punitive damages are generally limited to the plaintiff's litigation expenses (attorney's fees and costs).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my Connecticut injury claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under Connecticut's modified comparative negligence (51% bar) rule. The real value depends on the facts, the insurance available, and negotiation — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Does my own fault reduce my Connecticut settlement?
Yes. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b) allows a plaintiff to recover only if the plaintiff's negligence "was not greater than the combined negligence" of the defendant(s) (including settled/released parties). Because recovery is permitted at exactly 50% but barred once the plaintiff's fault is GREATER than 50% (i.e., 51% or more), Connecticut is a modified-comparative "51% bar" state. Below the bar, damages are diminished in proportion to the plaintiff's percentage of fault (§ 52-572h(b), (f)). Applies to negligence actions; recklessness/intentional torts are treated differently.
How long do I have to file in Connecticut?
Generally 2 years from the injury. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584: a personal-injury action for negligence (or reckless/wanton misconduct or malpractice) must be brought within TWO years from when the injury is first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), AND in no event more than THREE years from the date of the act or omission complained of (three-year statute of repose). Note: claims against the state/municipalities and wrongful-death (§ 52-555, 2 years from death, 5-year repose) have separate timing rules.
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a Connecticut personal-injury attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a personal-injury claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.