Car Accident Claims in Connecticut

A driver knowingly involved in a crash that causes death, injury, or property damage must give their name, address, license number and registration number to the injured person, property owner, an officer, or a witness. If the driver cannot do so for any reason, they must immediately report the crash to a police officer, constable, state police officer, or motor vehicle inspector, or at the nearest police station, stating the location and circumstances and their identifying information.

Connecticut's former driver accident report statute (§ 14-108) has been repealed. Crash reports are now completed by the investigating police officer or agency on the uniform investigation of accident report and forwarded to the Commissioner of Transportation within 5 days after the investigation, for any crash with death, injury, or damage over $1,000 to any one person's property (including the driver's). Reports involving a school bus are forwarded to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

A driver knowingly involved in a crash causing death, injury, or damage to property must stop at once, give any assistance needed, and give name, address, operator's license number and registration number to the injured person or property owner or to an officer or witness (or report immediately to police if unable). On a limited-access highway, in a property-damage-only crash, the driver must move the vehicle off the traveled lanes if it can be done safely. Evading responsibility after a crash causing death or serious physical injury is a class B felony; after physical injury, a class D felony; after property damage, a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class D felony for a later offense.

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).

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.

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.

A lawsuit for damage to real or personal property caused by negligence or reckless or wanton misconduct has the same deadline as personal injury: two years from when the damage is sustained or discovered, and no more than three years from the act or omission.