Waterbury Car Accident Attorney Dan Petroskey Explains Connecticut’s At-Fault Insurance System
WATERBURY, CT – October 7, 2026 – Drivers injured in Connecticut car accidents often ask whether the state uses a no-fault insurance system, and the answer directly affects how a claim is handled. Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey of DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C. (https://www.defronzolawfirm.com/blog/connecticut-no-fault-state-car-insurance/) has published guidance clarifying that Connecticut is an at-fault, or tort, state, meaning the driver who causes a crash may be held financially responsible for the resulting injuries and property damage.
According to Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey, the distinction between at-fault and no-fault systems has a significant impact on an injured person’s recovery. In an at-fault state, an injured person generally pursues a liability claim against the negligent driver’s insurer and may seek fuller compensation, including pain and suffering. “In a tort state like Connecticut, the person who caused the crash can be held accountable directly, which opens the door to more complete compensation than a no-fault system typically allows,” explains Petroskey.
Waterbury car accident attorney Dan Petroskey notes that fault is central to every claim, and the evidence gathered after a crash often determines the outcome of insurance negotiations and any lawsuit. Insurers evaluate fault by reviewing photographs, witness statements, traffic or surveillance video, vehicle data, physical damage, and information recorded by responding officers. A police report can help document the scene, citations, and people involved, though it does not conclusively determine civil fault.
Petroskey points out that Connecticut requires registered vehicles to carry liability insurance, with minimum split limits of $25,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person, $50,000 for all people injured in a single accident, and $25,000 for property damage. He emphasizes that these figures represent a floor rather than a guarantee. “Serious injuries frequently generate medical bills that far exceed a $25,000 policy, which is why understanding every available source of coverage is so important,” he says.
The firm explains that uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may apply when an at-fault driver has no liability insurance or carries limits too low to cover the claimant’s damages. Connecticut generally requires this coverage in auto policies, subject to statutory minimums, policy limits, and permitted coverage elections. Optional MedPay coverage may also pay covered medical expenses regardless of fault when it is included in the policy.
Attorney Petroskey addresses how shared fault affects recovery under Connecticut’s modified comparative negligence rule, codified in Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h. An injured person may recover as long as their negligence is not greater than the combined negligence of the parties from whom they seek damages, with compensation reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, a driver found 20 percent responsible for a crash involving $100,000 in damages would receive $80,000, while a person found 51 percent or more at fault is barred from recovering anything.
“A few percentage points can decide whether an injured person recovers and how much,” Petroskey observes. “Insurers often push to raise a claimant’s share of blame, so documenting the crash carefully and countering those arguments protects the value of the claim.”
The firm also highlights the importance of the filing deadline. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, a negligence action generally must be filed within two years from the date the injury was first sustained or discovered, with an outer limit barring most actions more than three years after the negligent act. The same two-year window generally applies to property damage claims, and Petroskey advises that claims involving a state, municipal, or other government entity may carry shorter deadlines that should be reviewed promptly.
Petroskey advises injured individuals to take specific steps to protect a claim, including reporting the crash and requesting a copy of the police report, documenting the scene safely, seeking prompt medical care, notifying their insurer without admitting fault, and reviewing any early settlement offer carefully before accepting it. Gaps in treatment or premature settlements can give insurers room to reduce what an injured person is owed. Keeping copies of medical bills, repair estimates, and correspondence in one place makes it easier to prove losses later.
The firm serves injured clients throughout New Haven County and the surrounding Connecticut communities from its office on Bank Street in Waterbury. Petroskey investigates crashes, works to establish fault, identifies every available source of insurance coverage, and pursues UM/UIM claims when an at-fault driver’s insurance is unavailable or insufficient.
For those injured in a Connecticut car accident, consulting a Waterbury car accident attorney may help preserve evidence, address coverage issues, and present the claim effectively while insurers dispute fault or the extent of injuries.
About DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C.:
DeFronzo & Petroskey, P.C. is a Waterbury, Connecticut law firm focused on personal injury matters, including motor vehicle accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, premises liability claims, dog bite cases, and other negligence matters. Led by attorney Dan Petroskey, the firm represents injured clients across New Haven County and the surrounding communities. For consultations, call (203) 756-7408.
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Phone: (203) 756-7408
Address:255 Bank St # 2b, Waterbury, CT 06702
City: Waterbury
State: Connecticut
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Website: https://www.defronzolawfirm.com/
