Personal Injury Settlement in Connecticut
Understand how personal injury settlements are calculated and negotiated in Connecticut. Learn about average payout ranges, how modified comparative fault (51% bar) affects your claim, and the key deadlines you must meet.
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.
$18,000 – $80,000
Average Settlement
Modified comparative fault (51% bar)
Fault Rule
2 years
Filing Deadline
At-Fault
Auto Insurance
How Modified comparative fault (51% bar) Affects Your Settlement
Connecticut follows Modified comparative fault (51% bar). Under this modified comparative fault rule, you can recover damages if you are less than 50% (or 51% in some states) at fault. If your fault exceeds the threshold, you recover nothing. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault below that threshold.
Connecticut uses modified comparative negligence under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h — plaintiffs are barred from recovering if they are 51% or more at fault, and awards are reduced proportionally for any fault below that threshold.
Personal injury claims must be filed within 2 years of the date of injury or discovery of injury under Connecticut General Statutes; product liability and medical malpractice claims have separate rules and prerequisites that must be carefully followed.
Connecticut has no statutory cap on compensatory damages for most personal injury cases, allowing full recovery of medical expenses, lost wages, future costs, and noneconomic damages such as pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Settlement Process in Connecticut
Report & Document
Report your accident and gather all evidence. Connecticut is an at-fault state — the at-fault party's insurer is responsible for your damages.
Seek Medical Treatment
Get all necessary medical care and keep detailed records. Your medical expenses are the foundation of your settlement value.
Demand Letter
Once your treatment is complete (or near maximum medical improvement), your attorney sends a demand letter to the insurance company with your full damages claim.
Negotiate
Insurance companies typically respond with a lower counter-offer. Negotiations proceed until both parties agree or you proceed to litigation.
File by Deadline
You have 2 years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit in Connecticut. Never let this deadline pass without legal action.
Personal Injury Law in Connecticut
Connecticut applies modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar, meaning plaintiffs who are found majority at fault cannot recover. Damages are proportionally reduced for any lower degree of plaintiff fault. Connecticut does not operate as a no-fault auto insurance state. The statute of limitations is 2 years, with a discovery rule applicable to latent injury cases. Connecticut imposes no general cap on compensatory damages, making it a favorable jurisdiction for seriously injured plaintiffs. Product liability actions are governed by the Connecticut Product Liability Act (CPLA), which provides a comprehensive framework for defective product claims. Medical malpractice cases require a good-faith certificate from a similar health care provider before suit can be filed. Connecticut courts follow federal Daubert standards for expert witness testimony. Punitive damages are allowed in cases of reckless or wanton conduct, though Connecticut limits them to litigation costs plus attorney fees rather than a separate damages category.