Short answer. In Connecticut, you usually get two years to sue over crash injuries, with a hard outer limit of three years from the crash itself.
That’s shorter than in many nearby states, and people moving to Hartford from New York or Massachusetts often assume they have three years. They don’t.
The statute
Under CGS 52-584, an action for injury to a person or property caused by negligence, or by reckless or wanton misconduct, must be brought within two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered, or reasonably should have been discovered. No action may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission.
For a typical crash on I-84 or Farmington Avenue, the injury is sustained the day of the crash, so the two years starts then. The discovery language matters mainly for injuries that weren’t apparent right away.
What “brought” means in Connecticut
Connecticut lawsuits begin with service of process on the defendant, not just with filing papers at the courthouse. A lawsuit has to be served within the limitation period. A state marshal serves the writ, summons and complaint. Leaving it to the last week is risky.
Other deadlines that can come first
- 90 days. Written notice for a claim over a defective town road under CGS 13a-149, or a defective state highway under CGS 13a-144.
- Two years from death. Wrongful death claims under CGS 52-555, with a five-year outer limit.
- Three years. Applications for crime victim compensation through the Office of Victim Services, unless a waiver is granted.
- Policy deadlines. Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims have their own rules in your policy and in state law, and some are shorter than you’d expect.
Settlement talks don’t stop the clock
An adjuster who keeps asking for one more medical file isn’t tolling anything. If the claim isn’t resolved, the case must be served on time. Insurers know the deadline and sometimes slow down near it.
Minors
Claims for children can follow special rules, and a parent’s own claim for a child’s medical bills may run on a different clock. Ask a lawyer about the dates for your child instead of assuming extra time.
The official report and the shorter notices that sit next to the two-year period
The two-year period in CGS 52-584 runs from the date the injury is sustained or discovered, and the action generally may not be brought more than three years from the act. A death claim is generally two years measured from death, and no more than five years from the act, under CGS 52-555. Those periods stop when a complaint is filed, not when a demand letter goes out and not by settlement talks. Hartford Superior Court is at 95 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106. The civil clerk can be reached at (860) 548-2700. Official civil filing fees have included $360 for a civil case, $230 for some lower-amount cases, $95 for small claims, $125 to transfer a small-claims case and $440 for a jury, with a $5,000 small-claims limit. Confirm the current amounts on the Judicial Branch pages before you pay.
Shorter notices can expire first. A town highway-defect notice is generally due within 90 days under CGS 13a-149. A State highway-defect notice is generally due within 90 days to the Commissioner of Transportation under CGS 13a-144. UM and UIM claims can have policy notice requirements that differ from the two-year statute. Notify your own insurer of the crash promptly, and read the declarations page early.
Get the official report into the file early. The Hartford Police report office is at 253 High Street, at (860) 757-4150, open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Reports are often ready in 7 to 15 business days, and the copy fee is 50 cents a page, per the Hartford Police report page. The Office of Victim Services generally allows three years to apply, with a police report, and may pay up to $15,000 for physical injury, $25,000 for a survivor and $6,000 for funeral costs. Call 1-888-286-7347.
Comparative fault still applies under CGS 52-572h. Ordinary liability minimums are $25,000 and $50,000 for injury to the person, plus $25,000 for damage to property, and UM or UIM coverage generally has to at least match the bodily-injury limits under CGS 38a-336. Statewide Legal Services can be reached at 1-800-453-3320 for people who may qualify for free civil legal help. That hotline does not file your lawsuit and will not order the police report for you. Keep the official report, the treatment bills and any 90-day notice in one file, and get advice early if a minor, a death claim or a government defendant may be involved.
Schedule a follow-up exam and save the chart notes, even if the pain had not started yet, and skip a recorded interview until a lawyer has reviewed the facts with you. Photograph the scene and keep a file for the official report, the declarations page and every bill, so a later filing close to the two-year date is not missing the basic proof.
Questions to ask a lawyer
- What’s the exact last day to serve the defendant in my case?
- Did a town, the State, or a city vehicle play any part, and if so, what notice is due?
- Does my UIM claim have a separate deadline?
See also the deadline table and claims against towns and the State. General information only, not legal advice.