By Christie Nicholson, J.D. | Legally reviewed by Amber Sheppard, Esq. | Last reviewed January 03, 2025
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Some car crashes lead to personal injury and property damage. If you're in a serious motor vehicle accident, you should familiarize yourself with Connecticut car accident compensation laws.
This article discusses Connecticut law and how it affects car accident lawsuits. It also explains how the Connecticut statute of limitations works and limits on damages.
If you still have questions about your car accident case, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Interpreting your state's car accident and auto insurance laws can be challenging. Below is a table that breaks down important aspects of Connecticut's car accident compensation laws and a detailed explanation of how these laws affect your personal injury claim.
The statute of limitations is two years for personal injury lawsuits resulting from car accidents (Connecticut General Statutes Title 52. Civil Actions § 52-577)
There is no limit on economic or non-economic damages.
The State of Connecticut has limited punitive damages in medical malpractice cases and product liability claims. In medical malpractice lawsuits, punitive damages cannot exceed court costs and attorney fees. In a product liability action, punitive damages may not be more than two times the plaintiff's compensatory damages.
Connecticut employs the 51% Bar Rule, which limits recovery when the plaintiff is partially at fault for the car crash. Specifically, the state follows the modified comparative negligence rule, which allows accident victims to recover if they are less than 51% at fault.
Note: State laws are subject to change through new legislation, higher court rulings, ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information, consult a Connecticut car accident lawyer or conduct legal research to verify your state laws.
Ideally, you can resolve your car accident claim with the insurance company. If this isn't possible, your Connecticut car accident lawyer may need to file suit. This is when Connecticut car accident laws can impact your claim.
The point of filing a personal injury is to collect damages. These damages compensate accident victims for any physical injuries and financial losses they suffer in the crash.
Types of damages you may receive in your Connecticut auto accident lawsuit include:
When you file your insurance claim, the insurance adjuster can pay or deny it. If they reject your claim, your Connecticut car accident attorney helps. They work for a settlement with the at-fault party or their car insurance company. If this happens, your settlement amount will be less than your total damages.
If a settlement isn't possible, your case will go to trial.
Generally, Connecticut does not impose a cap on personal injury damages. The only limit on damages applies in medical malpractice cases, not car accident cases.
In Connecticut, there is a two-year time limit from the date of your accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. After two years, you won't be able to file a lawsuit. Read up on Connecticut's civil statute of limitations laws to learn more about the time limits on other types of cases.
Connecticut follows a modified comparative negligence rule in car accident cases. Under this rule, you can recover damages if you are less than 50% at fault. But, you cannot collect damages in court if you are 51% or more at fault.
Consider the following scenario as an example. You are suing a driver for damages arising out of a car accident. At trial, the jury decides the total amount of damages is $100,000. The jury also finds that you were 10% at fault. Because of your comparative fault, you would only recover 90% of $100,000 of damages, which is $90,000.
Even a minor car accident can be stressful. You must work with the insurance company and file your claim on time. Hiring a personal injury attorney may help you navigate Connecticut's car accident compensation laws. An experienced attorney can seek fair compensation for damages or injuries you sustained as a result of the accident.
Contact a personal injury lawyer near you to find out about your options.
Contact a qualified attorney.
Get tailored legal advice and ask a lawyer questions about your accident. Many attorneys offer free consultations.
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