Insurance Requirements

Connecticut operates under an at-fault insurance system, meaning the driver responsible for a crash is financially liable for resulting damages. Injured parties pursue compensation from the at-fault driver's insurer, file a lawsuit directly against the at-fault driver, or both.

Minimum required coverages

All drivers operating a vehicle in Connecticut must carry the following minimum coverage under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-112:

• Bodily Injury Liability: $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident
• Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident
• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM): $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident

These minimums are commonly expressed as 25/50/25 with matching 25/50 UM/UIM. At these levels, coverage can be exhausted quickly in serious crashes. Higher voluntary limits are advisable for most drivers.

Note that Connecticut is one of a small number of states where UM/UIM coverage is not simply offered and declined; it is required by law under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 38a-336. Every Connecticut auto policy must include at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident in combined uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

Medical Payments (MedPay)

MedPay is available as an optional add-on covering medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault, up to the policy limit. It pays without waiting for a fault determination and can cover deductibles and co-pays that health insurance does not address.

Rideshare coverage requirements

For drivers working for Uber, Lyft, or similar platforms, Connecticut law establishes coverage requirements based on driver status:

• App on, no ride accepted: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident for bodily injury; $25,000 for property damage
• Ride accepted or passenger onboard: $1,000,000 in liability coverage

Which policy applies depends on the driver's status at the time of the crash.

Penalties for non-compliance

Driving without required insurance in Connecticut carries consequences under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-213b:

• Fine: $100 to $1,000 for operating without required insurance
• License and registration suspension: Until proof of insurance is provided and applicable fees are paid
• Policy lapse reporting: Connecticut insurers must report canceled or lapsed policies to the DMV, meaning a coverage gap can trigger administrative consequences before any crash occurs

An uninsured driver who causes a crash may face personal financial liability for all resulting damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.

Fault & Negligence Laws

Modified comparative fault

Connecticut follows a modified comparative fault rule under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h. An injured party can recover damages only if their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. A plaintiff found 50 percent at fault or below can recover, with their damages reduced proportionally by their fault share. A plaintiff found 51 percent or more at fault recovers nothing.

A concrete example: if you are found 30 percent at fault and your total damages are $100,000, you recover $70,000. If you are found 50 percent at fault, you recover $50,000. If you are found 51 percent at fault, you recover nothing.

This is commonly described as Connecticut's 51% bar rule, the threshold at which recovery is eliminated. It positions Connecticut alongside most states using modified comparative fault. For a broader explanation of how these fault systems compare, see our article on comparative and contributory negligence.

How fault is determined

Fault is established through police reports, witness statements, dashcam and surveillance footage, traffic camera footage, physical evidence, vehicle damage patterns, road conditions, medical records, and accident reconstruction analysis in contested cases. Insurance adjusters begin their own fault investigation promptly after any significant crash.

Statements made at the scene or to an insurance adjuster can affect how fault is assigned. Under Connecticut's 51% bar, even a small shift in the fault percentage can mean the difference between reduced compensation and no compensation at all, making early legal involvement and careful handling of recorded statements to insurers particularly important.

Multi-vehicle collisions

When more than two parties share responsibility for a crash, fault is allocated among all involved based on each party's contribution. A driver who causes the initial collision may still bear responsibility for foreseeable secondary impacts. In motorcycle crashes involving multiple vehicles, this principle is particularly significant: a driver who strikes a motorcycle and causes the rider to impact a second vehicle may bear liability for the full sequence of injuries depending on how foreseeability and causation are established under Connecticut law. These cases typically require careful reconstruction of the sequence, timing, vehicle positions, impact points, and available video or dashcam footage.

Cyclists, pedestrians, and motorcyclists

Connecticut's 51% bar applies equally to vulnerable road users. A pedestrian who crosses outside a marked crosswalk, a cyclist without required lighting, or a motorcyclist accused of speeding may still recover damages if a driver also contributed to the crash, as long as their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. The fault allocation question in these cases turns on the same evidence standards as any other crash.

Connecticut's Mandatory UM/UIM Requirement

Most states require insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, but leave the decision to carry it in the driver's hands. Connecticut does not. Every Connecticut auto liability policy must include UM/UIM coverage at limits matching the driver's liability coverage. Drivers cannot waive this protection, and insurers cannot omit it.

Why this matters after a crash

The mandatory nature of Connecticut's UM/UIM requirement means that every insured driver in the state has a backstop available when the at-fault driver is uninsured or underinsured. In states where UM/UIM is purely optional, a driver who declined coverage after a crash involving an uninsured at-fault driver has no first-party insurer to turn to beyond their own health insurance and whatever assets the at-fault driver personally holds. In Connecticut, that gap is closed by statute.

This is particularly significant given Connecticut's traffic density. The I-95 corridor carries some of the highest commercial and passenger vehicle volumes in New England, and the mix of Connecticut-registered vehicles, out-of-state drivers, and commercial carriers means the risk of encountering an underinsured or uninsured driver is not theoretical. When that driver causes a serious crash, the injured party's own UM/UIM policy becomes the primary financial resource beyond the at-fault driver's inadequate limits.

How UM/UIM claims work in practice

When the at-fault driver is uninsured, a Connecticut driver pursues their UM claim against their own insurer, which steps into the position the at-fault driver's insurer would have occupied. When the at-fault driver is underinsured, the Connecticut driver pursues both the at-fault driver's policy to its limit and then their own UIM policy for the remaining damages up to their UIM limit.

Standard UIM recovery in Connecticut is subject to an offset: the UIM payment is typically reduced by what the at-fault driver's insurer already paid. A driver with $50,000 in UIM coverage who received $25,000 from the at-fault driver's insurer would normally recover up to $25,000 more under standard UIM, not an additional $50,000.

Underinsured motorist conversion coverage

Connecticut's conversion coverage option under § 38a-336(f) eliminates that offset. A driver who purchases conversion coverage can access their full UIM policy limit regardless of what the at-fault driver's insurer paid. Using the same example, a driver with $50,000 in conversion UIM coverage who received $25,000 from the at-fault driver could recover up to an additional $50,000 from their own insurer rather than the reduced $25,000 available under standard UIM.

The difference between standard UIM and conversion coverage can be substantial in serious crashes where the at-fault driver carries the minimum $25,000 per person in liability coverage, and the injured party's damages are significantly higher. Conversion coverage is available at the time of policy purchase and is worth understanding before a crash occurs rather than after.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations sets the deadline for filing a lawsuit after a car accident. Missing the applicable deadline almost always bars the claim permanently.

Standard filing deadlines in Connecticut

• Personal injury: 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained, discovered, or should reasonably have been discovered; under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
• Property damage: 2 years from the date the damage is first sustained, discovered, or should reasonably have been discovered; under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
• Wrongful death: 2 years from the date of the victim's death; under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555

Connecticut's personal injury and property damage limitations period contains a critical outer boundary: even when the discovery rule applies, no action may be brought more than three years from the date of the act or omission complained of. This means a plaintiff who discovers an injury late cannot file a lawsuit more than three years after the negligent act that caused it, regardless of when the injury was found. The two-year period runs from discovery; the three-year statute of repose is the absolute ceiling.
The wrongful death period runs from the date of death, which may differ from the date of the accident if the injured person survived before dying from their injuries.

Claims against government entities

When a crash involves a government-owned vehicle, a government employee acting in their official capacity, or a defect on a government-maintained road, bridge, or sidewalk, Connecticut imposes a short notice requirement that operates as a condition precedent to filing a lawsuit.

Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 13a-149, written notice must be given to the relevant municipality within 90 days of the injury. The notice must describe the injury, its cause, and the time and place of occurrence. The underlying lawsuit must still be filed within two years of the injury, but the 90-day notice is the earlier and more dangerous deadline: missing it gives the municipality grounds to seek dismissal of the claim regardless of its merits. A defective or incomplete notice carries the same risk as no notice at all.

Tolling and exceptions

• Minors: Whether § 52-584 is tolled for minors under Connecticut's general tolling statute (§ 52-595) is not straightforwardly settled. Connecticut appellate courts have stated that § 52-584 provides no exceptions for minors. Families with injured minor children should seek the advice of a car accident lawyer promptly instead of assuming the standard tolling rules apply, and should also not assume the government entity notice requirement is tolled for minors under any circumstances
• Discovery rule with three-year repose ceiling: Where injuries were not immediately apparent, the two-year period begins from the date the injury was or reasonably should have been discovered, but no action may be filed more than three years from the underlying negligent act
• Defendant absence from Connecticut: If the at-fault driver leaves Connecticut after the crash, the period of their absence may not count toward the limitations period under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-590

MVA Procedures & Police Involvement

When you are required to report an accident

Connecticut law requires drivers involved in a crash to immediately notify the nearest police authority when the crash resulted in injury or death to any person, or when it caused property damage. All drivers involved must remain at the scene until law enforcement arrives and must provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and insurance information to responding officers and other involved parties.

When law enforcement responds, the attending officer files a Connecticut Uniform Police Crash Report. This report becomes the primary document for insurance claims and legal proceedings.

When no officer responds

Connecticut does not operate a centralized civilian online self-report portal the way some other states do. When a crash occurs, and no law enforcement officer responds to the scene, drivers should take the following steps:

• Exchange name, address, phone number, vehicle registration, and insurance information with all other parties involved
• Document the scene with photographs of vehicle damage, road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, and signage
• Contact the local police department or Connecticut State Police to request that a report be taken, even after the fact, particularly if injuries are involved, or property damage is significant
• Notify your insurance company promptly, regardless of whether a formal police report was filed

If a report was not filed by law enforcement and you need documentation for an insurance claim, contact the Connecticut State Police or the investigating local department directly to inquire whether a report can still be initiated.

A note on dog collisions

Connecticut law includes a specific reporting obligation for crashes involving dogs. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-226, a driver who injures or kills a dog must stop, make reasonable efforts to notify the owner, and report the incident to local police. Failure to stop and report is a fineable infraction. This is a genuine Connecticut-specific obligation that does not exist in most other states in this series.

How to access your crash report

Crash reports filed by Connecticut State Police can be requested through several channels:

• Online: Through the LexisNexis Crash Report Online Purchase System, which handles Connecticut State Police reports
• By mail or in person: Submit a completed Form DPS-96-C (Request for Accident Report) with the applicable fee to the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457

For crashes investigated by a local police department or town constabulary, contact the relevant agency directly for report access procedures and applicable fees.
Crash reports are primary reference documents for insurers and attorneys in claims and litigation. Errors are worth addressing promptly. See our article on what to do if your car accident police report is inaccurate for the steps involved.

Compensation: Types & Limits

Connecticut does not cap compensatory damages in personal injury or wrongful death cases. There is no statutory ceiling on economic or non-economic damages recoverable from a private defendant in a vehicle accident lawsuit, meaning the size of a compensatory award is determined by the evidence of harm rather than a legislative limit.

Economic damages

Economic damages cover measurable financial losses and are uncapped in Connecticut vehicle accident cases. They include:

• Medical expenses, past and future
• Lost income and reduced earning capacity
• Property damage and vehicle repair or replacement costs
• Out-of-pocket expenses directly related to the crash and recovery
• Future care costs where injuries require ongoing treatment

Non-economic damages

Non-economic damages address losses that cannot be reduced to a bill or receipt, including pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium. Connecticut imposes no cap on non-economic damages in personal injury cases arising from vehicle accidents.

A spouse or domestic partner of a seriously injured person may bring a separate loss of consortium claim for the loss of companionship and support.

Wrongful death damages

When a crash results in death, surviving family members or the estate may pursue a wrongful death claim. Connecticut's wrongful death statute is compensatory in nature, meaning damages are measured by the losses suffered rather than the defendant's conduct. Recoverable damages include the economic value of the deceased's lost earning capacity, destruction of the ability to carry on life's activities, and the pain and suffering experienced before death. Connecticut does not limit wrongful death damages by statute.
Under § 52-555, a wrongful death action may be brought by the executor or administrator of the deceased's estate. The damages recovered are distributed to the surviving spouse and heirs rather than remaining part of the general estate.

Punitive damages

Connecticut's approach to punitive damages is more restrictive than most states in this series, and the applicable rule depends on the type of claim.

For standard negligence claims, including most vehicle accident cases, Connecticut common law limits punitive damages to litigation expenses, including attorney fees above the taxable costs of the action. This is not a multiplier of compensatory damages; it means the defendant pays a portion of the plaintiff's legal costs as the punitive element, rather than a separate substantial penalty. Connecticut courts have described this limitation as reflecting the state's historic approach to punitive damages as a deterrent rather than a windfall.

When a crash involves a defective vehicle or vehicle component, a product liability claim may also be available under Connecticut's Product Liability Act. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-240b, punitive damages in product liability actions are capped at twice the compensatory damages awarded to the plaintiff, provided the claimant proves the harm resulted from the product seller's reckless disregard for safety. This is a meaningfully higher ceiling than the common law attorney fees rule and can be significant when a vehicle defect contributed to the crash. See our article on product liability in car accident cases for how these claims work alongside standard negligence claims.

Claims against government entities

Connecticut allows certain negligence claims against state agencies and municipalities, but sovereign immunity principles limit recovery in specific circumstances. The discretionary-function doctrine protects government decisions involving planning, policy, or judgment. Road design choices, maintenance prioritization, and emergency response decisions may fall within protected categories.

Medical Coverage Considerations

Connecticut's at-fault system means there is no automatic first-party coverage for medical expenses after a crash. Costs are addressed through the at-fault driver's liability insurance, your own optional coverages, and health insurance, with sequencing depending on which coverages you carry.

The at-fault driver's liability insurance

The at-fault driver's bodily injury liability policy is the primary source of coverage for your medical expenses. At Connecticut's minimum of $25,000 per person, that coverage can be exhausted quickly in serious crashes. When it is, your own coverages become the next resource.

Medical Payments (MedPay)

Connecticut does not require PIP since it is an at-fault state. MedPay is available as an optional first-party coverage that pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault, up to the policy limit. It pays without waiting for a fault determination, making it a practical resource for covering immediate costs while a liability claim is pending. MedPay can also cover deductibles and co-pays that health insurance does not address.

Health insurance

Once MedPay limits are exhausted or if you do not carry MedPay, your health insurance covers ongoing accident-related treatment. Most health insurers will cover accident-related care, but may assert a subrogation lien on any settlement or judgment you receive from the at-fault driver. Self-funded employer plans governed by ERISA can assert subrogation rights that Connecticut state rules cannot limit. Understanding your plan's subrogation terms before settling is important.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

As discussed in the mandatory UM/UIM section above, Connecticut requires every auto policy to include UM/UIM coverage. When the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage, your UM/UIM policy becomes the primary recovery source beyond a personal lawsuit. Connecticut's conversion coverage option, where available, allows access to the full UIM limit without offset from the at-fault driver's payment.

Unique Local Factors

Winter driving and I-95 corridor hazards

Connecticut experiences significant winter driving hazards across its highway network, with I-95 through Fairfield County and the Merritt Parkway presenting particular risk given their traffic density, limited shoulders, and mix of local, commuter, and long-haul vehicle traffic.

Under Connecticut's 51% modified comparative fault rule, a driver who fails to adapt speed and following distance to snow or ice-covered road conditions shares fault proportionally in any resulting crash. A driver found to have maintained highway speed on a visibly icy road, ignored posted weather advisories, or failed to use adequate traction equipment may bear a significant share of fault. When that share reaches 51% or more, the claim is eliminated entirely. Courts examine the conditions visible to each driver at the time, the posted speed, weather advisories in effect, and each driver's chosen speed and following distance relative to those conditions.

When poor road maintenance, inadequate salting, or failure to close a known hazardous route contributed to a crash, a government entity claim may be worth exploring, subject to the 90-day notice requirement under § 13a-149 discussed in the statute of limitations section above.

Northeast corridor traffic density

Connecticut sits between New York City and Boston on the most heavily traveled interstate corridor in the country. I-95 through Fairfield County carries some of the highest combined commercial and passenger vehicle volumes in New England, creating crash risk patterns unlike those in less densely trafficked states. Chain-reaction crashes, rear-end collisions during congestion, and commercial vehicle incidents are disproportionately common on this corridor.

Under Connecticut's modified comparative fault framework, multi-party fault allocation in chain-reaction crashes requires careful analysis of each driver's contribution — including speed, following distance, distraction, and reaction time — since the 51% bar makes the allocation outcome particularly consequential.

Pedestrian and cyclist corridors

Connecticut's urban centers, including Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, and Stamford, have walkable downtown corridors with significant pedestrian and cyclist activity at intersections and crosswalks. Connecticut's 51% bar applies to vulnerable road users as it does to drivers. A pedestrian found more than 50% at fault for a crossing incident cannot recover even when a driver also contributed substantially. At 50% or below, recovery is available but proportionally reduced.

Connecticut law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-300, and failure to yield is a traffic violation that can support a negligence per se argument in the civil claim. At the same time, a pedestrian who crosses against a signal or outside a designated crossing may have their own fault share assessed, making the specific circumstances of each pedestrian crash legally significant.

Local Resources & Contacts

Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
Handles driver licensing, vehicle registration, financial responsibility filings, and insurance compliance verification.

• Website: portal.ct.gov/dmv
• Phone: (860) 263-5700
• Online services

Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) / State Police
Responds to accidents on state highways, investigates crashes within State Police jurisdiction, and handles crash report requests for State Police-investigated incidents.

• Website: portal.ct.gov/despp
• Phone: (860) 685-8000; for emergencies dial 911
• Crash report FAQ
• Crash reports online: buycrash.com

Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT)
Maintains Connecticut's road infrastructure, publishes road condition and travel advisory information, and administers highway safety programs.

• Website: portal.ct.gov/dot
• Road conditions: ctroads.org
• Phone: (860) 594-2560

Connecticut Insurance Department (CID)
For insurance complaints, coverage disputes, insurer licensing verification, and questions about mandatory UM/UIM coverage, conversion coverage, and minimum liability requirements.

• Website: portal.ct.gov/cid
• Consumer helpline: (800) 203-3447

For accident laws in other states, visit our state-specific legal information page.