How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Claim in Connecticut? 2025

Many car accidents in Connecticut result in an injury, and fault for the accident is assigned to another driver. Many individuals who are involved in these incidents ask, “How long do I have to file a car accident claim in Connecticut?” The short answer is two years, but this is not as much time as it may seem. If you begin your case immediately after your accident and don’t have any obstacles, this can be just enough time, in fact.

In many cases, plaintiffs acquire professional legal assistance to expedite and simplify the process of filing a car accident claim. This is one way that you can ensure a speedier timeline for your claim, as car accident attorneys can anticipate the next step and prepare for it in advance on your behalf. They know what to expect and have experience with similar cases. Thus, there is less legal guesswork and stress on the part of the victim.

Timeline of a Car Accident Claim

Several factors can slow down the process of getting a car accident claim submitted. Claimants have no control over most of these factors, as they involve actions that must be taken by third-party businesses, individuals, professionals, and government agencies. All these entities cannot be expected to deliver on the same timeline. Furthermore, some actions must be processed, which can delay the claim even longer.

For this reason, after your accident, you will want to start collecting evidence and documents as soon as possible. Acquire any reports or records you can, such as:

• The police report
• Your driving record
• The driving record of the suspected or established at-fault parties
• Medical records
• Vehicle repair receipts
• Witness statements
• Video surveillance
• Photographs of the accident scene and vehicles involved
• 911 transcripts
• Any other relevant information

Accident reports can be ordered for a fee, which is non-refundable, even if your report is not found. This action must be taken within the 30 days that the report is made available.

These items can sometimes take months to retrieve, so starting early is ideal. Two years will go by very fast when you are waiting for doctors’ offices, police departments, returned phone calls, mail communication, gas station surveillance footage, etc.

Fault Determinations

There may also be a delay if the fault determination is subject to Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence system, which assigns a percentage of fault to multiple drivers when more than one driver is deemed responsible. This will affect the amount of damages a claimant can obtain and an at-fault party must pay out.

Vehicle Issues

You must also often wait on issues related to vehicle repairs. These include:

• Estimates
• Insurance approval
• Insurance offers
• Award letters
• Insurance payments
• The time it takes to actually conduct the repairs

Sometimes, you must also wait for towing and impound yards, and a vehicle release by the police department.

Other Delays

Other government agencies may have their own processing times for forms and applications, such as Connecticut’s Victim Compensation Program, which, as the injured victim of a crime, you may be eligible for. These are also minor obstacles that can and will require extra attention and time, extending the process as a whole.

These actions must often occur simultaneously. This is why an experienced car accident lawyer like Brad Sorrentino, who is familiar with the Connecticut legal system can be vital. They can manage all the requirements and complete the claim process within the two-year timeframe.

Even after the claim is fully prepared, the case still must go through the negotiations phase with the insurance provider. Depending on how willing they are to negotiate on the settlement amount, discussions could go back and forth and further delay the culmination of the case.

FAQs

Contact Sorrentino Legal

In the first four months of 2025, there have been over 13,000 crashes in Connecticut. Most car accidents that cause injuries are quite severe, and there is usually an individual driver behind the collision. If someone was deemed at fault in your accident and your claim is taking longer than you would like, speaking with a car accident attorney who knows the Connecticut courts can alleviate some of the legal stress you may be experiencing.

To understand how long you have to file a car accident claim in Connecticut, contact Sorrentino Legal today for dedicated guidance and support regarding the statute of limitations.