Connecticut · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026
Deadline to sue after a car accident in Connecticut
Time limits, government claims and a calculator.
Short answer
In Connecticut, you generally have 2 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. To claim money from the State of Connecticut, you usually must file with the Office of the Claims Commissioner within 1 year after the claim accrues (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148).
- Property damage (your car)
- 2 years
- Injury
- 2 years
- Law
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 (2 years from when the injury or damage is first sustained or discovered, and never more than 3 years after the act)
- Small claims limit
- $5,000
Claims against a government in Connecticut
- To claim money from the State of Connecticut, you usually must file with the Office of the Claims Commissioner within 1 year after the claim accrues (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148).
Deadline to sue in Connecticut
Protecting your deadline in Connecticut
- Deadline for both kinds of claim in Connecticut: 2 years.
- If a government was involved, act fast. To claim money from the State of Connecticut, you usually must file with the Office of the Claims Commissioner within 1 year after the claim accrues (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148).
- Small claims, for car damage up to $5,000: Connecticut small claims guide on Small Claims Map
- Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.
Free help in Connecticut
Questions about deadlines to sue in Connecticut
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Connecticut?
2 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury.
How do claims against a government work in Connecticut?
To claim money from the State of Connecticut, you usually must file with the Office of the Claims Commissioner within 1 year after the claim accrues (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-148).
What is the small claims limit in Connecticut?
$5,000 plus interest and costs.
More for Connecticut drivers
- All car accident rules in Connecticut
- Comparative fault
- Reporting a crash
- Uninsured driver
- Deadlines to sue in every state
- Small claims court for car damage
- Fault and payout explainer
- Insurance claim letter
- Police report request letter
Nearby states
Sources
- CID: Auto Insurance FAQ
- CID: File a Complaint
- CID: Auto Arbitration Program guide
- CT Judicial Branch: Civil Jury Instructions
- DESPP Reports and Records FAQ
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 248 (§ 14-224, § 14-213b)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 925 (§ 52-572h comparative negligence)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 926 (§ 52-584 limitations)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 700 (§ 38a-335, § 38a-336 UM/UIM)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 704 (§ 38a-816 unfair claim practices)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 53 (§ 4-148 Claims Commissioner)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. chapter 246 (§ 14-108 repealed, § 14-112 limits)
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.