Short answer. In the first days after a crash in Hartford, focus on medical care, a police report, photos, insurance notice and staying careful with what you tell insurers. Connecticut has no PIP, a two-year filing deadline and a 90-day notice rule for road defect claims, so a few early steps can protect your options.
At the scene
- See who’s hurt, then dial 911. In the city, Hartford Police usually respond. On I-84 and I-91, State Police often do.
- Move to safety if you can. Turn on your hazard lights.
- Exchange names, phone numbers, plates and insurance details with every driver.
- Photograph the cars, the road, traffic signals, skid marks and your injuries.
- Get witness names and phone numbers. People waiting at bus stops along Farmington Avenue and Park Street often see a lot.
- Ask the officer for a case number.
Connecticut law requires drivers involved in a crash that causes injury or damage to stop and give their information. Leaving can be a crime.
Day one
See a medical provider, whether that’s the ER, a walk-in clinic or your regular doctor. Some injuries, like concussions and soft tissue damage, show up a day or two later. A visit soon after the crash also ties your injuries to the crash for insurance purposes.
Tell your own insurer about the crash. Most policies require prompt notice, even if you weren’t at fault.
Days two and three
- Write down what happened while it’s fresh, including where you were going and what you saw.
- Keep a folder for bills, receipts, repair estimates and notes from doctor visits.
- Ask nearby businesses whether their cameras caught the crash, and ask them to save the clip.
- If a pothole, broken signal or other road problem played a part, note the exact spot. A written notice to the town or State may be due within 90 days. See claims against towns and the State.
The first insurance calls
The other driver’s insurer may call quickly. You can give basic facts like your name and the date. A taped statement can wait, and saying you’ll get back to them is fine. Watch for offhand lines such as “I’m okay” or “I never saw the car.” Insurers use those to assign fault under Connecticut’s comparative fault rule.
Hold off on any release or any check labeled as final until you know how serious your injuries are.
Paying for care
Because Connecticut doesn’t require PIP coverage, your health insurance is usually the first payer. If your auto policy includes MedPay, it can cover copays and deductibles. See medical bills after a Connecticut crash.
Your car
If the other driver was at fault, their insurer should pay for repairs and a rental, subject to their limits. You can also go through your own collision coverage and let your insurer recover the cost later. Before a car is repaired or scrapped, take photos of all the damage.
By the end of the week
- Request the police report once it’s ready. Hartford Police reports usually take 7 to 15 business days. See getting a Hartford crash report.
- Follow your doctor’s plan and keep every appointment. Gaps in treatment are a favorite insurer argument.
- Stay off social media about the crash.
- Talk with a lawyer if you were hurt, especially if the other driver may have been drunk or reckless. See double and treble damages.
Deadlines to keep in mind
- Two years for most injury suits under CGS 52-584.
- Ninety days for written notice of a highway defect claim.
- Prompt notice to your own insurer under your policy.
Official places and dates to put on the first-week calendar
Ask Hartford Police for the report number at the scene. The 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. Photograph the scene on Farmington Avenue, a West End block or the I-84 ramp while it still looks the same.
The ordinary injury period is two years from the date the injury is sustained or discovered, and no more than three years from the act, under CGS 52-584. A death claim is generally two years measured from death, and no more than five years from the act, under CGS 52-555. If a town or State road defect may be involved, written notice is generally due within 90 days under CGS 13a-149 or CGS 13a-144. Put that 90-day date on the calendar in the first week. Notify your own insurer of the crash promptly, because UM and UIM claims can carry separate policy notice requirements. 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.
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. 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. Hartford Superior Court is at 95 Washington Street, at (860) 548-2700.
Questions to ask a lawyer
- Should I give the other insurer a statement, and when?
- Which insurance should pay my bills right now?
- Are there deadlines in my case shorter than two years?
General information only, not legal advice.