Connecticut Personal Injury Statute of Limitations

By Alphonse J. Balzano

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Personal Injury

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Last Modified on Apr 08, 2026

If you have been injured due to another person’s negligence, Connecticut law allows you to seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim. The law also has a deadline for filing the claim. This is the Connecticut personal injury statute of limitations.

Our team at Balzano & Tropiano has over 50 years of combined experience helping victims recover damages after they have suffered an injury due to the negligence of someone else. We have a proven track record, and it is our mission to provide each client with the personal attention they deserve.

Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in Connecticut

According to the CDC, about 21 million people seek treatment in emergency departments each year. Many of these injuries are due to someone else’s negligence and can cause life-altering financial and physical problems. A personal injury claim may be the answer to recovering compensation that could help in their recovery.

Most types of personal injury claims have a statute of limitations set by Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584. This states that the claim must be filed within two years from the date the injury occurred or was discovered and applies to a variety of personal injury cases, including:

• Car accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Workplace injuries
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Dog bites

If the claim is not filed within this two-year timeframe, the court will likely dismiss the case, regardless of its merit.

Exceptions to the Statute of Limitations in Connecticut

While the statute of limitations for personal injuries specifically states a two-year deadline, there are a few exceptions to this. These include the following:

• The discovery rule. If the injury is not immediately apparent, the time period for filing the claim may start when the injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. This can happen in medical malpractice cases when a patient does not realize that they were harmed until months or even years after being treated.
• Legal disabilities. If the injured person is unable to make decisions or is a minor at the time of their injury, they have until they turn 18 or until they regain capacity. In the case of medical malpractice, the law sets an absolute three-year statute of repose from the date of the negligent act.
• Fraud or concealment. If a person intentionally conceals their negligence, the statute of limitations may be extended.
• Claims against the government. If a personal injury claim is against a municipality, a victim has 90 days to file a formal notice. If it is against the state of Connecticut, they have one year to file a claim.
• Defendant’s absence. If the defendant leaves Connecticut and can’t be served with a legal notice, the time they are not available may not count toward the two-year statute of limitations. The maximum time limit to file a claim in these cases is seven years.
• Defective products. The two-year deadline applies if you are injured by a defective product, but a 20-year statute of repose prevents claims from being filed if it’s been more than 10 years since the product was first sold.

The Purpose of the Statute of Limitations

There are several reasons that Connecticut and all other states set time limits for filing personal injury claims. These deadlines and laws exist to:

• Preserve evidence. The longer a victim waits to file a claim, the more likely the physical evidence could be lost or destroyed. Witness memories, including the victim’s, can become inaccurate over time.
• Keep the Court System efficient. If there were no time limit for filing claims, the court could get backed up handling a backlog of old cases that may not have clear evidence.
• Protect defendants. The statute of limitations provides a defendant with a definite end time for legal exposure.

Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer

One of the biggest risks of a successful personal injury case is waiting too long to take the appropriate action. Personal injury cases can be complex, from determining liability to gathering evidence and calculating damages. When you hire a personal injury lawyer, they can help make sure you navigate the legal system and file your claim within Connecticut’s statute of limitations.

FAQs

What Are the Four Elements Required to Prove Negligence?

The four elements required to prove negligence include duty of care, a breach of that duty of care, causation, and damages. To prove their claim, the victim needs to demonstrate that the breach of duty directly caused their injury, and they suffered measurable harm or a financial loss as a result of the injury.

Does a Personal Injury Case Need to Be Settled Within the Statute of Limitations?

A personal injury case does not need to be settled within the statute of limitations. The statute of limitations only applies to filing the case. As long as you file the case with the court within the statute of limitations, you can seek compensation. The time it takes to settle or go to trial depends on the circumstances of the case.

What Happens if I Miss the Statute of Limitations?

Regardless of how strong your personal injury claim is or how severe your injury, if you don’t file your claim within the statute of limitations, you will not be able to pursue workers compensation for damages. The New Haven Judicial District Court will reject your case. It is critical to contact an attorney who is familiar with personal injury laws so you don’t miss important deadlines.

Does Connecticut Have Personal Injury Protection?

Connecticut does not have personal injury protection. It is an at-fault state, which means that in an auto accident, the driver who causes the accident is responsible for damages. Personal Injury Protection is available through insurance, but it is not mandated by the state. Connecticut also follows a modified comparative negligence system, allowing drivers who are partially at fault for an accident to recover compensation.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

If you have been injured in an accident caused by another person or suffered injuries due to another person’s negligence, contact Balzano & Tropiano. We have the skills, the experience, and the compassion needed to help you seek the compensation you deserve. We can help make sure you meet procedural deadlines when filing your claim and pursue full recovery as efficiently as possible.