Connecticut Personal Injury Statute of Limitations Calculator
Use this calculator to find your exact filing deadline for a personal injury claim in Connecticut. Enter your incident date and circumstances below for an instant result, including any tolling extensions that may apply to your situation.
Covers car accidents, slip and fall, dog bites, premises liability, and other general negligence claims. For medical malpractice, product liability, wrongful death, or other claim types — use the case type selector below.
Unfamiliar with any terms? Glossary of Terms
3. Incident Details
4. Special Circumstances
Connecticut's personal injury statute of limitations is governed by the state's civil procedure and limitations statutes. Claims against state agencies, municipalities, or other government entities in Connecticut may require filing a formal notice of claim before suit can be commenced — notice deadlines vary by entity type and are often shorter than the civil filing deadline. Under state law, the limitations period is tolled for minor claimants until they reach the age of majority at 18.
Looking for debt-specific deadlines? Our Debt Statute of Limitations Calculator covers written contracts, oral agreements, credit cards, and promissory notes with revival warnings by state.
Connecticut's personal injury statute of limitations of 2 years matches 24 other states; the national median is also 2 years.
📊 Connecticut Personal Injury Deadline vs Neighbors & National Median
About This Calculator
This calculator finds your exact filing deadline for a personal injury claim in Connecticut. It applies Connecticut's specific statute of limitations period, checks whether the discovery rule extends your deadline, accounts for tolling if the injured party was a minor, and flags any special notice requirements if your claim involves a government entity. Enter your incident date — or discovery date if the harm wasn't immediately apparent — and the calculator counts forward using Connecticut's exact rule to show your filing deadline, the time remaining, and an urgency status. Results are based on verified state statute citations, not general estimates.
What is a Personal Injury Claim?
Statute of Limitations Deadline Calculation Formula
Here is how the calculation methodology works using representative illustrative figures (hypothetical example only — see Connecticut's actual deadlines in the sections above):
- Incident Date: June 1, 2024
- Statutory Period: 2 years (730 days)
- Discovery Date (if delayed discovery applies): September 1, 2024
- Standard Filing Deadline: June 1, 2026 (2 years from incident)
- Discovery-Extended Deadline: September 1, 2026 (2 years from discovery)
How Connecticut's Personal Injury Deadline Works
Under Connecticut Rev. Stat. § 61, Connecticut provides 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The clock typically begins when the injury was discovered — or when it reasonably should have been discovered — rather than on the date the harm occurred. This is known as the discovery rule. Connecticut extends the filing window by up to 1 additional year under the discovery rule.
Connecticut's personal injury statute of limitations is governed by the state's civil procedure and limitations statutes. Claims against state agencies, municipalities, or other government entities in Connecticut may require filing a formal notice of claim before suit can be commenced — notice deadlines vary by entity type and are often shorter than the civil filing deadline. Under state law, the limitations period is tolled for minor claimants until they reach the age of majority at 18.
Special Circumstances
Government entity claims: If the defendant is a government entity, Connecticut requires a formal administrative claim notice to be filed within 6 months of the incident before a lawsuit may be filed. Missing this notice deadline permanently bars the claim. After the claim is rejected, you have 12 months to file suit.
Minor claimants: If the injured person was a minor at the time of the incident, Connecticut tolls the statute of limitations until they reach age 18.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
If a lawsuit is filed after the statute of limitations expires, the defendant can ask the court to dismiss the case as time-barred — and courts almost always grant this motion, regardless of how strong the underlying claim is. The right to sue is lost permanently; there is no general exception for not knowing the deadline existed. A small number of circumstances can pause or extend the clock, covered in the Special Circumstances section above if they apply to your claim type and state. If your deadline is approaching or may have already passed, contact a licensed attorney immediately — some exceptions are themselves time-sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does minor tolling affect personal injury deadlines in Connecticut?
Connecticut does toll the statute of limitations for injured minors under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-595, but with a strict limitation. The law grants only a two-year window from the date the minor reaches the age of majority (18), rather than tolling the full standard limitations period. Because this is more restrictive than most states, it is crucial for parents and guardians to file well before the minor turns 18 where possible to avoid jeopardizing the claim.
Are medical malpractice cases subject to Connecticut's personal injury deadline?
Medical malpractice claims in Connecticut are governed by a separate statutory deadline. They also face a strict statute of repose that cuts off liability entirely after a set number of years, regardless of when the injury is discovered. General personal injury deadlines cannot be used for healthcare provider negligence.
How is wrongful death treated differently from personal injury in Connecticut?
If an injury leads to death, the case must be filed under Connecticut's wrongful death statute. The time limit for this action typically begins to run from the date of death, not the original injury. The executor or administrator of the estate is the only party authorized to bring the suit.
Does Connecticut apply the discovery rule to personal injury cases?
Connecticut applies the discovery rule to personal injuries where the harm is not immediately apparent. The clock starts when the plaintiff discovers, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have discovered, the essential elements of their cause of action. However, an overarching statute of repose may eventually bar the claim regardless of discovery.
What is Connecticut's modified comparative negligence rule?
Connecticut uses a modified comparative negligence system where a plaintiff can recover damages as long as their fault does not exceed 50%. If the plaintiff is 51% or more at fault, they are barred from any financial recovery. Damages are proportionally reduced by the plaintiff's share of the blame.
Other Connecticut Civil Statutes
Explore filing limits and calculator tools for other civil claims in the state of Connecticut:
This tool is for informational and educational reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Statutes of limitations vary by jurisdiction and can be affected by tolling, government claim notice requirements, and other exceptions. Always consult a licensed attorney before making legal decisions.