Your car got cracked up on I-95 a couple months ago, but your lower back is still hurting. Or maybe more than a year has elapsed since the accident and you’ve just now realized the repair shop didn’t fix your car right the first time around. Do you have legal claims available to you in either instance? And, if so, what is the deadline for filing a case in court? Each state has their own laws limiting the available time between an incident and when you can file a civil suit. This is a brief overview of civil statute of limitations laws in Connecticut.
Civil Statutes of Limitation
Plaintiffs have time limits for filing civil lawsuits, which differ by the type of claim (in most states). These time limits, referred to as the civil statute of limitations, are meant to help preserve the integrity of evidence and witness testimony. Connecticut's civil statute of limitations laws provide either a two- or three-year time limit for most cases including personal injury, libel and fraud. Some other types of cases and legal issues have longer statutes of limitations.
Statutes of Limitation in Connecticut
Look at the following table for a complete list of time limits from Connecticut Code, Title 52. See Time Limit Considerations in Medical Malpractice Claims for additional information.
| Injury to Person | 2 yrs. §52-577; 2yrs. from discovery if by negligent, reckless, or wanton conduct, with max 3 yrs. from wrong §52-584 |
| Libel/Slander | 2 yrs. §52-597 |
| Fraud | 3 yrs. §52-577 |
| Injury to Personal Property | 3 yrs. §52-577; 2yrs. from discovery if by negligent, reckless, or wanton conduct, with max 3 yrs. from wrong §52-584 |
| Professional Malpractice | 2 yrs. from discovery; max. of 3 from wrong §52-584 |
| Trespass | 3 yrs. §52-577 |
| Collection of Rents | - |
| Contracts | Written: 6 yrs. §52-576; Oral: 3 yrs. §52-581 |
| Collection of Debt on Account | 6 yrs. §52-576 |
| Judgments | 20 yrs. (variations for small claims judgments) §52-598 |
Statutes of limitation on civil cases are intended to create general fairness and reliability when it comes to filing lawsuits. Plaintiffs are required to decide whether to press a lawsuit or not in a timely matter. On the other hand, potential defendants should receive notice that they may have committed some harm against another party. The limitation ensures they will not have a legal matter hanging over their head indefinitely.
Related Resources for Connecticut Civil Statute of Limitations Laws:
Even if you may have a very good legal claim for damages, time limits are not negotiable. If you don’t file your lawsuit within the required statutory limit, it may not matter. You can also visit FindLaw’s section on Statute of Limitations in Civil Cases for more general information on this topic.
Filing a Lawsuit? Get Professional Legal Help
Hartford. New Haven. Stamford. It doesn't matter the city. The time limit to file a a civil action in Connecticut is the same throughout. However, the civil statute of limitations does depend on the type of case involved. If you have a personal injury matter or a legal dispute, it's in your best interests to contact a Connecticut litigation attorney as soon as possible.
