A Guide to the Laws of Statute of Limitations in CT

A Guide to the Laws of Statute of Limitations in CT

In the aftermath of a car accident, your attention likely turns to immediate challenges. Making sure everyone’s safe, talking to your insurance company, repairing your car, and finding medical care. But as all the expenses of recovering from a car accident add up, you might find yourself asking—is there a way to recoup some of these costs? 

The answer is yes. According to the CT car accident laws, you can take legal action against the person or company you believe caused your car accident. However, there’s a limited window of time in which you can take legal action after a car accident, known as the statute of limitations. 

We'll break down what you need to know about the statute of limitations in CT. Mighty's AI handles Connecticut personal injury claims as part of building your case file — including tracking the statute of limitations deadline automatically so it doesn't sneak up on you.

Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits in CT

Many states have different statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits (i.e., the kind of lawsuit you’d typically file if you’re injured in a car accident). For example, New Jersey and North Dakota have a six-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits, while Louisiana and Kentucky have a one-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits.

In Connecticut, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years. 

Injuries caused by automobile accidents fall under that umbrella. If you try to file a personal injury lawsuit after the statute of limitation has passed, the person you’re suing will likely be able to have the suit dismissed by arguing that the civil statute of limitations period has passed.

Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Lawsuits in CT

While many lawsuits related to car accidents fall under the “personal injury” category, not all of them do. 

Let’s break down the Connecticut statute of limitations for three different types of lawsuits related to car accidents: 

• Personal injury – If you or a loved one is injured in an automobile accident, you may want to pursue a personal injury lawsuit. The statute of limitations for a personal injury case is two years after the date of the accident that caused the injury. 

• Property damage – If you’re in a car accident that damages your car or some of your other personal property, you have until two years after the date of the accident to sue for damages.

• Wrongful death suit – If the unthinkable happens and someone you love dies as a result of injuries they received in a car accident, you have until two years after the date of their passing to sue. If they died the same day as the car accident, then you have two years after the accident to sue. If, however, they pass days or months later as a result of an injury they received in the car accident, then the statute of limitations period starts from the day they passed, not the date they were injured. 

If you're unsure what type of action makes sense for your case, Mighty's AI assesses the case during the claim-opening process — including confirming whether the case falls within the CT statute of limitations and identifying which type of claim applies.

When to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in CT

You have two years to file a car accident lawsuit in Connecticut. But you should open your claim much earlier.

Here’s why:

• Sooner means faster resolution. Settlement timelines vary, but starting early means the entire process — case file building, claim opening, negotiation — has time to play out before the deadline approaches.
• Two years passes faster than you think. Intending to take action and actually taking action are different. Mighty's AI starts the claim work as soon as you begin — and tracks the statute of limitations deadline automatically.
• Documentation gets harder to gather over time. Witnesses' memories fade, traffic camera footage gets deleted, medical providers may have less detailed records as time passes. Mighty's AI gathers documentation while it's still accessible.

Navigating Your Recovery with Mighty At Your Side

Open the claim — but use Mighty to do it. Mighty's AI builds your case file, opens your claim with the insurance company, negotiates a settlement for you to approve, and routes you your payment if the offer is fair. For most accident claims, that's all you need — and you keep 100% of your settlement.

Only hire a lawyer when you need one, which is rarely in the first month or two after an accident. Waiting has two big advantages. First, you may not need one at all, in which case avoiding their fees leaves you with 33% to 40% more of your settlement. Even if you do need one, waiting until you have more information about your case — including an offer from insurance — gives you leverage to negotiate the lawyer's fee down from the standard rate.

A lawyer is genuinely necessary when injuries are serious, liability is disputed, multiple parties are involved, or the insurance company refuses to engage. For those cases, Mighty's marketplace helps to match you with a vetted lawyer who only gets paid on the increase to your existing offer.

Sources

Enjuris. Car Accidents: Statutes of Limitations. https://www.enjuris.com/car-accident/statutes-of-limitations/ 

NOLO. Connecticut Car Accident Laws. https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/connecticut-car-accident-laws.html