Connecticut at a glance
Connecticut generally allows two years to sue for injury caused by negligence.[1] Injuries from a defective road or sidewalk require written notice to the town within 90 days.[2] A plaintiff whose negligence is greater than the defendants’ combined negligence cannot recover.[3] Drivers must carry at least $25,000/$50,000 in bodily injury coverage.[4]
Filing deadlines
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
No action to recover damages for injury to the person, or to real or personal property, caused by negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, … shall be brought but within two years from the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered
Source: [1]
In plain English, most negligence-based injury lawsuits in Connecticut must be filed within two years of when the injury is sustained or discovered, subject to an outer limit in the same section.[1]
Defective highways: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149
No action for any such injury shall be maintained against any town, city, corporation or borough, unless written notice of such injury and a general description of the same, and of the cause thereof and of the time and place of its occurrence, shall, within ninety days thereafter be given
Source: [2]
Shared fault
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b)
contributory negligence shall not bar recovery in an action by any person or the person’s legal representative to recover damages resulting from personal injury, wrongful death or damage to property if the negligence was not greater than the combined negligence of the person or persons against whom recovery is sought
Source: [3]
This is modified comparative fault, often called the 51% bar. An injured person who is 50% or less at fault can recover damages reduced by their share; one who is more at fault than the parties the statute compares them to cannot recover.
Auto insurance requirements
The Connecticut Insurance Department lists the minimums under C.G.S. 14-112 as “$25,000 in coverage per person per accident for bodily injury liability,” “$50,000 in coverage per accident for bodily injury liability” and “$25,000 in coverage per accident for property damage liability.”[4] Connecticut is not one of the no-fault states.[5]
What this page does not cover
This page covers the main deadlines, fault rule, damage limits and auto insurance requirements. Statutes also contain exceptions, such as rules for minors, people who are incapacitated and claims discovered later, and special rules apply to medical malpractice and workers’ compensation. Always read the full statute at the official source linked below.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a head injury lawsuit in Connecticut?
In plain English, most negligence-based injury lawsuits in Connecticut must be filed within two years of when the injury is sustained or discovered, subject to an outer limit in the same section.[1]
This page provides general information about the law from the sources listed below. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws vary by state and change over time. See our legal disclaimer.
Sources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. Connecticut General Assembly. https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_926.htm
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149. Connecticut General Assembly. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/pub/chap_238.htm
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h. Connecticut General Assembly. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2019/pub/chap_925.htm
- Connecticut Insurance Department. “What is auto insurance?” https://portal.ct.gov/cid/searchable-archive/connecticut-insurance-information/what-is-auto-insurance
- Insurance Information Institute. “Background on: No-fault auto insurance.” https://www.iii.org/article/background-on-no-fault-auto-insurance
Sources last checked: October 11, 2026
