EnglishEspañol
Connecticut flag

Connecticut

Connecticut Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim

Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 17, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 17, 2026. · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content

Connecticut Car Accident Laws: Fault, Insurance, and Your Claim

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Connecticut a no-fault state?

No. Connecticut repealed its no-fault auto-insurance law effective January 1, 1994 (Public Act 93-297). It is now a pure at-fault (tort) state. There is no mandatory PIP coverage, and injured drivers go directly against the at-fault driver's liability insurer rather than their own coverage first.

Is Connecticut an at-fault state?

Yes. Connecticut is an at-fault state. The driver who causes the crash is responsible for the resulting bodily injury and property damage. Injured victims file claims with the at-fault driver's liability insurer and, if needed, their own mandatory UM/UIM coverage.

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

Two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, under CGS § 52-584. There is also a three-year outer statute of repose from the date of the negligent act, regardless of discovery. Wrongful-death claims must be filed within two years of death and no later than five years from the act (CGS § 52-555). Missing these deadlines normally bars your claim.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault in Connecticut?

Yes, as long as your share of fault is 50% or less. Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar (CGS § 52-572h). Your damages award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing.

What are the minimum insurance requirements in Connecticut?

Connecticut requires minimum liability coverage of 25/50/25: $25,000 bodily injury per person, $50,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident, set by CGS §§ 38a-335 and 38a-336 (the figures originate in the state's financial-responsibility framework, formerly codified at the now-repealed CGS § 14-112(a)). Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage at matching limits is also mandatory and cannot be waived (CGS § 38a-336).

How much is my Connecticut car accident claim worth?

Your claim value depends on economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), non-economic damages (pain and suffering, disability), your percentage of fault, and the at-fault driver's insurance limits. Because Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence, any fault assigned to you reduces your award proportionally. Use our Connecticut car accident settlement calculator for a personalized estimate.

Does Connecticut require PIP coverage?

No. Connecticut eliminated mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) when it repealed its no-fault law on January 1, 1994 (Public Act 93-297). Optional medical-payments (MedPay) coverage is available from insurers but is not required. Injured drivers recover from the at-fault driver's liability insurer or their own UM/UIM coverage.

Injured in Connecticut? Get a free case review from a personal-injury attorney

If someone else's negligence caused your injury, you may be owed compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Get a free, no-obligation review from a Connecticut personal-injury attorney. Most work on contingency, so there is no upfront cost.

Updates

Repaired five Connecticut statute source links that pointed at the wrong chapter of the General Statutes.

Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes

Re-anchored the 25/50/25 minimum-insurance figures to the current, operative statutes (CGS §§ 38a-335 and 38a-336) instead of the repealed CGS § 14-112, which the article had cited three times as controlling authority.

Governing law re-checked for recent changes

Reviewed and approved by an editor

Sources and References

  1. CGS § 14-112(a) (repealed) — original financial-responsibility source of the 25/50/25 figures, now carried forward as current law by CGS §§ 38a-335 and 38a-336(cga.ct.gov).gov
  2. CGS § 38a-335 — mandatory auto liability policy provisions(cga.ct.gov).gov
  3. CGS § 38a-336 — mandatory uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage(cga.ct.gov).gov
  4. CGS § 38a-336a — optional add-on underinsured motorist coverage(cga.ct.gov).gov
  5. CGS § 52-572h — comparative negligence (modified 51% bar)(cga.ct.gov).gov
  6. CGS § 52-584 — two-year statute of limitations for negligence(cga.ct.gov).gov
  7. CGS § 52-555 — wrongful death statute of limitations(cga.ct.gov).gov
  8. Public Act 93-297 — repeal of Connecticut no-fault auto-insurance law (eff. Jan. 1, 1994)(cga.ct.gov).gov
Share: