Personal Injury Protection in Connecticut

By John F. Buckley, Jr.

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Personal Injury

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Last Modified on Jun 22, 2026

If you are purchasing auto insurance and wondering whether you need Personal Injury Protection in Connecticut, it’s vital to understand how the state handles car accidents involving multiple parties. Connecticut is an at-fault state when it comes to vehicle accident cases, so drivers are required to purchase liability coverage in their auto insurance policies. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is not required, and it’s crucial to understand your insurance obligations.

Understanding Personal Injury Protection in Connecticut

Connecticut law requires every driver to have auto insurance that includes bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage.

When a driver causes an accident, their insurance policy pays for the damages they caused to others. At a minimum, Connecticut law requires a driver’s policy to include:

• $25,000 or more in property damage coverage.
• $25,000 or more in bodily injury liability coverage for a single person.
• $50,000 or more in bodily injury liability coverage for a single accident.
• $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident uninsured driver coverage.

After a collision, the at-fault driver’s policy will pay for covered damages up to the policy’s coverage limits. In other states that have no-fault auto insurance requirements, every driver must have PIP that will cover their own damages after an accident, regardless of fault. In Connecticut, PIP is an optional add-on for a driver’s policy. Even if they caused the accident, their PIP coverage can pay for their injuries and those of their passengers.

Filing an Auto Insurance Claim After a Car Accident in Connecticut

There were 103,540 recorded vehicle accidents in Connecticut during 2025, according to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository. These accidents involved 195,013 vehicles, meaning many accidents involved multiple drivers. Resolving an auto accident case can be challenging, but a skilled attorney can gather the evidence needed to establish liability.

Most insurance companies will attempt to settle claims for as little as possible, so it’s a good idea to hire a personal injury lawyer to help you file your claim. If you have purchased PIP coverage with your policy, this can provide compensation for your injuries even if you caused the accident. Your own liability coverage would then pay for the damages you caused to the other driver.

If you were not at fault, you would file your claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance policy. An experienced Connecticut personal injury attorney can gather the evidence you will need to firmly establish fault for the accident and help you accurately calculate your total damages. Your attorney can also negotiate with the other driver’s insurance carrier on your behalf to help you secure a fair settlement offer.

Ultimately, filing an auto insurance claim can be challenging, regardless of whether you are filing a claim against an at-fault driver’s policy or attempting to secure compensation from your own insurance carrier. The attorneys at Buckley Wynne & Parese know the tactics that insurance carriers often use against unwary injured claimants, so reach out to our firm as soon as possible after your accident to learn how we can assist with filing your claim.

FAQs

What Is a Car Accident Case Worth in Connecticut?

The value of a car accident case in Connecticut largely depends on the severity of the injuries you suffered. If you can prove liability, you may have grounds to claim compensation for the cost of repairing your vehicle, the medical treatment you require, and the income you are unable to earn while you recover from your injuries. In a personal injury case, the plaintiff also has the right to claim compensation for the pain and suffering the defendant caused.

Do I Need to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer to File an Insurance Claim?

While it is not strictly required that you hire a personal injury lawyer to file an insurance claim, doing so will dramatically improve your chances of receiving a fair settlement offer from the insurance carrier. Most insurance company representatives look for ways to justify denying or devaluing claims, so hiring legal counsel increases the chances you will be treated fairly.

Will My Insurance Increase if I Use PIP?

Using PIP may not cause your insurance to increase if you were not at fault, but if you were not at fault, you would likely recover compensation for your medical bills by filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s policy. PIP coverage provides some financial protection if you are at fault in an accident, covering your own medical bills, while your liability coverage pays for the damages you caused to the other driver. If you were at fault, your insurance rate may increase.

What Happens if My Auto Insurance Claim Is Denied?

If your auto insurance claim is denied, your Connecticut personal injury attorney can help you determine the cause for the denial, reviewing the insurance carrier’s explanation. You may be able to refile your claim with any supporting evidence you were previously missing, or you may need to investigate alternative avenues of recovery. If you believe an insurance carrier has acted in bad faith and unfairly denied your claim, your attorney will know how to respond.

How Does Comparative Fault Affect a Car Accident Case in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, comparative fault in a car accident case means more than one party shares fault for the accident. If a plaintiff is found partially liable for causing their damages, they may still be eligible to claim compensation from the defendant as long as they are found less at fault than the defendant. However, their fault percentage is deducted from their total compensation. If the plaintiff is found with a greater percentage of liability than the defendant, the plaintiff will not be able to recover compensation.

The attorneys at Buckley Wynne & Parese can provide compassionate and results-driven legal counsel in the aftermath of a car accident. We have proven experience helping clients with difficult insurance claims and can answer any questions you have about Personal Injury Protection in Connecticut. Contact us today to set up a consultation with our team and learn how we can help you recover from your recent accident.