Short answer. Most Hartford crash lawsuits are filed in the Superior Court for the Hartford Judicial District, at 95 Washington Street. Connecticut’s Superior Court hears civil cases of every size, so there’s no separate county court to choose. The entry fee for a regular civil case is $360. Small claims, for $5,000 or less, cost $95.
Plenty of crash claims wrap up with no suit at all. Still, filing is sometimes the only way to keep a claim alive before the deadline, or to get an insurer to take a claim seriously.
Which court
Connecticut doesn’t have county courts. The Superior Court is the trial court for the whole state, divided into judicial districts by town under CGS 51-344. The Judicial Branch’s town list shows the district for each town.
- Hartford, West Hartford, East Hartford, Bloomfield, Windsor, Glastonbury, Manchester, Enfield and a few other towns are in the Hartford Judicial District.
- Wethersfield, Newington, Rocky Hill, New Britain and Bristol are in the New Britain Judicial District.
- Farmington, Avon and Simsbury are in the Litchfield Judicial District.
Venue usually depends on where the plaintiff or a defendant lives. A lawyer will pick the district that fits.
The Hartford Judicial District courthouse is at 95 Washington Street, Hartford, CT 06106, near the State Capitol. The main phone is (860) 548-2700.
Small claims
Small claims is a simpler process for money damages of up to $5,000, as the Judicial Branch explains. It can work for a property damage claim, such as a deductible or a repair bill, when the other driver’s insurer won’t pay. It rarely fits an injury claim, since medical costs and pain and suffering usually exceed the cap. Transferring a small claims matter onto the regular civil docket costs $125.
How a civil case starts
A Connecticut civil case starts with a summons and complaint, served on the defendant by a state marshal. The papers are then returned to court and filed with the entry fee. The Judicial Branch fee page sets the current fees. A regular civil case costs $360 to enter, a claim under $2,500 costs $230, and claiming the case for a jury trial costs $440. A person who can’t afford fees can ask the court to waive them.
Timing matters here. Under CGS 52-584, most crash suits must be brought within two years. In Connecticut, an action is generally brought when the defendant is served, not when papers reach the clerk. Waiting until the last week is risky. See the two-year deadline.
What happens after filing
- Pleadings. The other side appears through a lawyer and answers the complaint, often blaming you for part of the crash.
- Discovery. Both sides trade written questions, documents and medical bills, and take depositions under oath.
- Scheduling. The court sets deadlines and may assign a trial date well in advance.
- Settlement talks. Many cases go to mediation or a pretrial conference with a judge.
- Trial. If the case doesn’t settle, a judge or jury decides fault and damages.
A case can take a year or more. Most resolve before trial.
Arbitration and other options
Some Connecticut cases are referred to court-annexed arbitration or mediation programs. Uninsured and underinsured motorist claims against your own insurer may go to arbitration under the policy. See our UM and UIM guide.
Federal court
Hartford is also home to a federal trial court, the U.S. District Court in Connecticut. A crash case can end up there when the parties live in different states and enough money is at stake, which often happens with out-of-state trucking companies.
Free legal help
Court Service Centers in Superior Court courthouses help people without a lawyer find forms and understand procedures, but they don’t give legal advice. Our legal aid page has more options.
Deadlines and documents that belong in a Hartford filing folder
Hartford Superior Court for the Judicial District of Hartford 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 and hours on the Judicial Branch pages before you go or pay. Statewide Legal Services can be reached at 1-800-453-3320 for people who may qualify for free civil legal help.
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. A 90-day road-defect notice under CGS 13a-149 or CGS 13a-144 can expire long before a complaint is ready. Bring a copy of the police report if you have it. The Hartford Police report office is at 253 High Street, at (860) 757-4150, with the hours and 50-cent copy fee described on the official report page. Keep the report, the medical bills and any 90-day notice in the same folder as the complaint draft.
Get follow-up care in writing, and skip a recorded interview until a lawyer has reviewed the facts with you. The Office of Victim Services generally allows three years to apply, with a police report. Call 1-888-286-7347.
Questions to ask a lawyer
- Which judicial district fits my case, and why?
- How close are we to the deadline, counting time for marshal service?
- Should we claim a jury trial?
General information only, not legal advice.