Personal Injury Claims & Lawsuits In Connecticut (2026)

Common Types of Personal Injury Claims in Connecticut

Personal injury claims in Connecticut can result from a variety of negligent or intentional conduct.

Motor Vehicle Accident

Motor vehicle accidents are some of the most common reasons for these claims. You will negotiate with the other party’s insurer for compensation and can sue the driver, the manufacturer of the vehicle if it malfunctioned and other third parties. As the plaintiff, you will have to demonstrate that the defendant was responsible for the crash.

Although there aren’t specific Connecticut statistics, throughout the country, about 50% of all of the cases that go to court for car accidents are successful.

General Injury

General injuries can occur as a result of any negligent or wrongful action on another person’s part. You will typically negotiate with their vehicle insurance, home insurance or other coverage they may have. It’s also possible to sue the defendant if you can’t reach a settlement.

Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ compensation claims allow you to recover losses from your employer’s insurance. You can only sue if there was a third party involved in the accident, like a contractor. Your employer is protected from these lawsuits.

Sexual Assault

You can file a sexual assault civil case against the perpetrator. Their general liability insurance (home or auto) will cover the settlement. You can also file a lawsuit, where you, as the plaintiff, will need to prove that the assault occurred by a preponderance of evidence. These cases have a lower standard of proof than criminal ones, so success rates are higher.

Dog Bite

After a dog bite, you can negotiate with the other party’s renters’ or homeowner's insurance. If you need to file a lawsuit, you would do so against the dog’s owner, its keeper or both.

In Connecticut, there are strict liability laws for dog bites, so all you have to demonstrate in a lawsuit is that you didn’t provoke the dog and that you were allowed to be on the property.

Slip and Fall

In a slip and fall accident, you can file a claim against the property owner’s insurance or sue the manager or owner. As the plaintiff, you have to demonstrate that the defendant knew or should have known that a danger existed on the property and took no steps to fix it. You must also show that you were not trespassing.

Medical Malpractice

In a medical malpractice case, you negotiate with the healthcare provider’s insurance. That sometimes includes hospital insurers. In a lawsuit, you must show that the defendant didn’t offer the accepted standard of care.

How Comparative Negligence Affects Your Connecticut Claim

Connecticut has comparative negligence laws that address whether you can still recover losses if you were partly responsible for your injuries. Specifically, the state follows a modified comparative negligence model, which means you can still receive damages as long as your percentage of fault is less than 51%.

It’s important to note that if you are partly to blame but fall below 51% of liability, your winnings will be reduced by your degree of fault. For example, if your damages add up to $10,000, but you were 20% to blame for the accident, you will only recover $8,000.

The only exception to these laws involves product liability claims. These cases follow pure comparative negligence. This means that even if you’re 99% at fault, you can still recover losses.

When negotiating with insurance companies, you can expect them to try to pin as much of the blame on you as possible. With a personal injury lawyer assisting you, though, you have a better chance of avoiding being saddled with more liability than you deserve.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim

For personal injury claims in Connecticut, you must file against the other party’s insurance. You must get medical care and gather evidence to bolster your claim.

Gathering Evidence to Support Your Claim

One crucial piece of evidence you need is the police report, if applicable. In most types of incidents, getting law enforcement to the scene can be essential. The report will offer insight into witnesses and can provide numerous details that support your claim.

At the scene of the accident, you’ll want to take pictures and videos of as much as you can. Here’s a closer look at helpful evidence you should collect from the scene:

• Capture images of your injuries right after the incident.
• Make a record of the weather, visibility and crucial features of the location.
• Consider writing down everything you remember to avoid forgetting details.
• Get witness contact information that your lawyer can rely on later.

You should also maintain a medical diary with information on the progression of your injuries. Include the pain levels you’re experiencing, whether the injuries are getting worse and how they are impacting your daily life.

In some instances, you may also need expert witnesses. Accident reconstructionists, for example, can explain how a collision occurred, while engineers can state whether a part malfunctioned. For medical malpractice cases, you will need an affidavit of merit from a medical professional who states that your claim is valid.

Additionally, you should maintain copies of all of the communications you have with insurance companies. Your lawyer can rely on these notes when beginning negotiations.

Negotiations and Filing the Claim

The most effective way to negotiate with insurance companies is to have an attorney by your side. They will know what evidence can make the most significant difference. About 60% to 70% of cases reach a settlement. If negotiations fail and you’re planning on suing the other party, you must fill out Form JD-CV-1 to get started.

Remember that you generally only have two years from the date of the injury to begin a personal injury case, though there can be exceptions.

Typical Personal Injury Settlement Amounts in Connecticut

Although there aren’t settlement amounts specific to Connecticut, average personal injury settlements are typically around $40,500.

An average settlement for car accident claims is $30,416, while an average workers’ comp settlement is $44,200. For a dog bite, it’s $69,300.

In the majority of cases, it’s better to settle out of court. The process is shorter and there are fewer fees to worry about.

When You Need to File a Lawsuit

There are instances when you need to file a lawsuit. These include when you can’t reach a fair settlement, when there are disputes over who was at fault for the accident or when your claim was denied.

Your lawyer will prepare the complaint, which outlines the reasons for the lawsuit and the people involved, and then file it with the court. The defendant will then be served, and the discovery phase can then begin, which involves exchanging information with the defendant.

Negotiations can continue throughout this entire process. Keep in mind that 15% to 20% of cases file lawsuits, but only 3% to 5% of these actually go to trial.

Get Matched With a Personal Injury Lawyer in Connecticut

Local attorneys understand the challenges of filing a claim or lawsuit in Connecticut. At ConsumerShield, we can help connect you with vetted attorneys in your area so that you have the best chance of recovering your losses. Contact us to get fast and easy access to leading legal services in Connecticut.