Bicycle Accident Claims in Connecticut
Bicycle rules in Connecticut (passing distance, helmets, riding rules), how fault is shared after a bike crash, and the deadline to sue.
Short answer: Bicycles: a person riding a bicycle, e-bike or electric foot scooter on a highway has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, subject to local regulation. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-286a, 14-232(a), 14-286d
| Bicycle laws | Bicycles: a person riding a bicycle, e-bike or electric foot scooter on a highway has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, subject to local regulation. A driver passing a bicyclist must leave a safe distance of not less than three feet. Children 15 and under must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet when riding a bicycle on a highway or in a park, although failing to do so is not a violation or offense. Passing: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_248.htm#sec_14-232 ; helmet: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_248.htm#sec_14-286d |
|---|---|
| Fault rule (comparative negligence) | Modified comparative negligence (51% bar). In negligence cases, an injured person can recover if his or her negligence was not greater than the combined negligence of the defendants (including settled or released parties). Damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of negligence. Each defendant is generally liable only for its proportionate share of damages. Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h |
| Minimum car insurance | Auto liability policies must provide at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). |
| Deadline to sue for an injury | A lawsuit for personal injury caused by negligence or by reckless or wanton misconduct must be filed within two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), and no more than three years from the date of the act or omission. Other tort claims not covered by that rule (for example, many intentional torts) have three years from the act or omission. |
More Connecticut personal injury & wrongful death
- Deadlines to File an Injury Lawsuit in Connecticut
- Wrongful Death Lawsuits in Connecticut
- Medical Malpractice Rules in Connecticut
- Car Accident Claims in Connecticut
- Dog Bite Liability in Connecticut
- Sidewalk and Public Property Falls in Connecticut
- Motorcycle Accident Claims in Connecticut
- Pedestrian Accident Claims in Connecticut
- Uber and Lyft Accident Claims in Connecticut
- Truck Accident Claims in Connecticut
- Construction Site Injuries in Connecticut
- All Connecticut personal injury & wrongful death rules
FAQ
What are the bicycle laws in Connecticut?
Bicycles: a person riding a bicycle, e-bike or electric foot scooter on a highway has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, subject to local regulation. A driver passing a bicyclist must leave a safe distance of not less than three feet. Children 15 and under must wear a properly fitted and fastened helmet when riding a bicycle on a highway or in a park, although failing to do so is not a violation or offense.
Can you recover damages if you were partly at fault in Connecticut?
Modified comparative negligence (51% bar). In negligence cases, an injured person can recover if his or her negligence was not greater than the combined negligence of the defendants (including settled or released parties). Damages are reduced by the injured person's percentage of negligence. Each defendant is generally liable only for its proportionate share of damages.
What is the minimum car insurance required in Connecticut?
Auto liability policies must provide at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of more than one person in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).
What is the statute of limitations for personal injury in Connecticut?
A lawsuit for personal injury caused by negligence or by reckless or wanton misconduct must be filed within two years from the date the injury is first sustained or discovered (or reasonably should have been discovered), and no more than three years from the date of the act or omission. Other tort claims not covered by that rule (for example, many intentional torts) have three years from the act or omission.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.