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

Connecticut is an at-fault (tort) state that follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar, meaning the at-fault driver pays for damages and you can recover only if you are 50% or less responsible, with your award reduced by your percentage of fault.

Is Connecticut a no-fault or at-fault state?

Connecticut is a pure at-fault (tort) state. The driver who is legally responsible for a crash bears liability for the resulting bodily injury and property damage. Connecticut was a no-fault auto-insurance state during the 1970s and 1980s, but the legislature repealed the no-fault basic-reparations law through Public Act 93-297, which took effect January 1, 1994. Since that repeal, Connecticut has not been one of the traditional no-fault states, and there is no mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) coverage.

Because Connecticut is an at-fault state, an injured accident victim goes directly against the at-fault driver and that driver's liability insurer for compensation. You do not need to clear any verbal or monetary threshold before suing for pain and suffering. Optional medical-payments (MedPay) coverage is available from insurers on a voluntary basis, but it is not required. Injured parties who are harmed by an uninsured or underinsured driver can turn to their own mandatory UM/UIM coverage for compensation instead.

How fault is shared: Connecticut's negligence rule

Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar under CGS § 52-572h. Under this system, a plaintiff can recover damages only if they are 50% or less at fault for the accident. If a court finds you 51% or more responsible, you are completely barred from recovering any compensation. If you are 50% or less at fault, your total damages award is reduced in proportion to your share of fault.

For example, if a jury awards you $100,000 in damages but finds you 30% at fault for the collision, your net recovery is reduced to $70,000. This rule means that partial fault does not automatically destroy your claim, but it does reduce your payout. Connecticut courts apply this rule to all parties in a multi-vehicle crash, comparing the fault percentages of every claimant and defendant. The statute (CGS § 52-572h) also governs comparative-fault apportionment in product-liability cases involving motor vehicles.

Minimum car insurance in Connecticut

Connecticut requires all registered motor vehicles to carry liability insurance at minimum limits of 25/50/25. That means $25,000 in bodily-injury coverage per person injured, $50,000 in bodily-injury coverage per accident (regardless of how many people are hurt), and $25,000 in property-damage coverage per accident. These minimums are set by CGS § 14-112(a) and incorporated into auto liability policies under CGS § 38a-335. The current 25/50/25 minimums took effect January 1, 2018, replacing the prior 20/40/10 threshold.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is mandatory in Connecticut and cannot be waived outright. Under CGS § 38a-336, every auto liability policy must include UM/UIM bodily-injury coverage at limits that are at least equal to the policy's own liability limits, but not less than the statutory minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. An insured who wants limits lower than their liability limits must sign an informed-consent form. Connecticut also allows policyholders to purchase optional add-on or conversion underinsured-motorist coverage under CGS § 38a-336a for broader protection. Because PIP is not required, UM/UIM is the primary safety net for victims hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

How long you have to file: the statute of limitations

Connecticut gives accident victims two years to file a personal-injury lawsuit arising from a car accident. The two-year clock generally starts running from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered, under CGS § 52-584. The same statute imposes an outer three-year statute of repose measured from the date of the negligent act or omission, meaning that even if an injury is not discovered immediately, the lawsuit must be filed within three years of the crash.

For wrongful-death claims, a separate statute applies. Under CGS § 52-555, a wrongful-death action must be filed within two years of the date of death, and no later than five years from the act or omission that caused the death. Property damage claims arising from negligence also fall under CGS § 52-584 and carry the same two-year limitation period. If a government entity or municipal employee was involved in the crash, you may also need to provide advance written notice to the municipality within a shorter window before filing suit. Consulting an attorney early after the accident protects your ability to meet all applicable deadlines.

For more background on Connecticut's limitation rules, see our Connecticut statute of limitations page.

What a Connecticut car accident claim is worth

The value of a Connecticut car accident claim depends on your economic damages, your non-economic damages, and the reduction imposed by any fault you share for the crash. Economic damages include verifiable monetary losses such as medical bills (emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, future treatment), lost wages and lost earning capacity, and costs to repair or replace your vehicle. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent scarring or disability.

Because Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence, any percentage of fault assigned to you reduces your award by that amount. A jury that finds you 20% at fault for a rear-end collision will reduce a $200,000 verdict to $160,000. Practical recovery is also limited by the at-fault driver's insurance limits. Minimum-limits policies (25/50/25) cap the insurer's per-person payout at $25,000, even when your actual damages are far higher. In those cases, your own UM/UIM coverage and any umbrella or MedPay policies become the next source of recovery.

Use our Connecticut car accident settlement calculator to model potential damages ranges based on injury severity, fault percentage, and available insurance coverage.

What to do after a car accident in Connecticut

The steps you take in the hours and days after a Connecticut car accident can directly affect your claim.

Stay safe and call for help. Move to a safe location if possible without moving injured persons. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, if there is significant property damage, or if a driver appears impaired. Connecticut law requires drivers involved in accidents resulting in injury, death, or property damage to file a report with the Department of Motor Vehicles if police do not respond to the scene.

Document the scene thoroughly. Photograph the vehicles, road conditions, traffic controls, skid marks, debris, and any visible injuries. Collect the names, contact information, driver's license numbers, and insurance information for all drivers involved. Get contact information from independent witnesses before they leave.

Seek medical attention promptly. See a doctor as soon as possible even if you feel fine initially. Injuries like whiplash, concussions, and soft-tissue damage often show symptoms hours or days later. A timely medical record ties your injuries to the crash and protects your claim.

Preserve evidence and notify your insurer. Report the accident to your own insurance company promptly and honestly. Keep copies of all medical bills, repair estimates, and documentation of lost work time. Photograph your injuries over time as they evolve.

Consult an attorney before accepting a settlement. Insurance adjusters represent the insurer, not you. A Connecticut personal-injury attorney can evaluate your full damages, advise you on comparative-fault exposure, and negotiate on your behalf before you sign any release. Most Connecticut car accident attorneys handle these cases on a contingency-fee basis, so there is no upfront cost.

For related Connecticut driving laws, see our Connecticut hit-and-run laws page.

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This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Car accident law varies by state and changes, and settlement values depend on the specific facts. For advice about a specific crash, consult a licensed attorney in Connecticut.

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Sources

• Connecticut General Statutes § 14-112(a): minimum motor vehicle liability insurance requirements: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_700.htm
• Connecticut General Statutes § 38a-335: mandatory liability policy provisions
• Connecticut General Statutes § 38a-336: uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage (mandatory UM/UIM)
• Connecticut General Statutes § 38a-336a: optional add-on underinsured motorist coverage
• Connecticut General Statutes § 52-572h: comparative negligence rule (modified 51% bar)
• Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584: two-year statute of limitations for negligence / three-year repose
• Connecticut General Statutes § 52-555: wrongful death statute of limitations
• Public Act 93-297 (eff. January 1, 1994): repeal of Connecticut no-fault auto-insurance law

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Related pages:

• Connecticut Car Accident Settlement Calculator
• Connecticut Hit-and-Run Laws
• Car Accident Laws by State: Hub
• Connecticut Statute of Limitations