Quick answer: In Connecticut, you generally have 2 years to file a slip & fall lawsuit. The clock starts: date of fall, trip, or injury on the property. Governing statute: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. Key exception: Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required.

Data last reviewed: October 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Filing Deadline
2 Years
to file suit in Connecticut
Official Statute
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
state statute
Clock Starts
Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
see exceptions below
Exceptions
3
documented exceptions

Connecticut Slip & Fall — Quick Reference

Filing Deadline
2 Years
Official Statute
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584
Clock Starts On
Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Last Reviewed
2026
Notes: Connecticut applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.

The Connecticut Slip & Fall Rule — Explained

Connecticut law requires slip & fall plaintiffs to file suit within 2 years of the date of fall, trip, or injury on the property, as established by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. Failing to file before this deadline will almost certainly result in the court dismissing your case — regardless of how strong your evidence is or how clear the defendant's liability may be.

The statute of limitations for slip and fall cases starts on the date of the fall or injury. Premises liability follows the same general personal injury period in most states. Government property (city sidewalks, public buildings) requires a separate Notice of Claim within 60–180 days.

Connecticut applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.

⚠️ Government Claims: Falls on government property — city sidewalks, public parks, government buildings, schools — require a Notice of Claim filed within 60–180 days of the injury. This is a hard prerequisite to filing a lawsuit and is separate from (and typically shorter than) the regular statute of limitations.

Connecticut slip & fall deadline: worked examples

If the clock starts onLast day to file (general rule)
March 15, 2025March 15, 2027
September 1, 2025September 1, 2027
January 15, 2026January 15, 2028
July 1, 2026July 1, 2028

Examples assume the full 2 years applies with no tolling or special accrual rule. Deadlines that fall on a weekend or court holiday are often extended to the next business day, but do not count on it. Use the calculator on this page for your own date.

Connecticut Slip & Fall — Exceptions & Tolling Rules

State-Specific Exceptions (Connecticut)

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Property owner must have had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition

General Tolling Rules That May Apply

  • Minors: In most states, the clock is paused while the victim is under 18. The limitations period typically begins running on the victim's 18th birthday.
  • Mental incapacity: If the claimant was legally incapacitated at the time of the injury, the clock may be tolled until capacity is restored.
  • Fraudulent concealment: If the defendant actively hid their wrongdoing, courts may extend the deadline under equitable tolling principles.
  • Absence of the defendant: If the defendant left Connecticut after the incident, the limitations period may be tolled during their absence.

What Does Slip & Fall Cover? (Connecticut)

The 2-year deadline in Connecticut applies to the following types of slip & fall claims:

  • Wet or slippery floors in stores and restaurants
  • Uneven sidewalks and pavement defects
  • Poorly lit stairwells and hallways
  • Snow and ice accumulation on walkways
  • Broken or missing handrails
  • Holes, cracks, and trip hazards
  • Cluttered aisles and merchandise spills
  • Unmarked hazards and construction zones
  • Swimming pool and recreation area accidents
  • Elevator and escalator accidents

If your claim falls outside these categories, a different statute of limitations may apply. An attorney can confirm which deadline governs your specific situation.

What to Do: Filing a Slip & Fall Claim in Connecticut

1

Seek medical treatment immediately

Document all injuries, treatments, and related expenses. A medical record established on the day of the fall is critical evidence for your case.

2

Report the fall to the property owner or manager

File an incident report with the property owner, store manager, or landlord on the day of the fall. Get a copy. This creates an official record and preserves key details.

3

Photograph the scene immediately

Take photos or video of the hazardous condition, your injuries, the area around the fall, and any warning signs (or lack thereof). This evidence disappears quickly.

4

Identify all witnesses

Get names and contact information for anyone who saw the fall or witnessed the hazardous condition. Witness testimony is often decisive in premises liability cases.

5

Request surveillance footage immediately

Most businesses delete security footage within 30–90 days. Send a written preservation demand to the property owner immediately after the fall.

6

Consult an attorney and file before the deadline

Premises liability cases require proving the owner knew or should have known about the hazard. An attorney can investigate, preserve evidence, and file within the statutory window.

Important: You must file your complaint with the court — not just send a demand letter — before the 2-year deadline expires. Filing the lawsuit is what legally stops the statute of limitations clock.

Slip & Fall Deadlines: Connecticut vs. Neighboring States

StateYears to FileStatuteClock Starts
Connecticut ★2 yrConn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Massachusetts3 yrMass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2ADate of fall, trip, or injury on the property
New York3 yrN.Y. C.P.L.R. § 214(5)Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property
Rhode Island3 yrR.I. Gen. Laws § 9-1-14(b)Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property

★ = Connecticut. The state where the injury or incident occurred — not where you live — typically determines which statute of limitations applies.

How Connecticut compares nationally

Connecticut's 2 years deadline for slip & fall claims is longer than 2 and shorter than 24 of the other jurisdictions; 24 others match it. Nationally the period runs from 1 year to 6 years (median 2 years; average 2.7 years). In the Northeast the average is 3.0 years across 9 jurisdictions.

See all 25 jurisdictions with a 2 years slip & fall deadline → · Slip & Fall in all states →

Calculate Your Connecticut Slip & Fall Deadline

Pre-filled with Connecticut and Slip & Fall. Just enter the date of your incident.

Frequently Asked Questions — Connecticut Slip & Fall

In Connecticut, you have 2 years to file a slip & fall claim, measured from the date of fall, trip, or injury on the property. This deadline is set by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. If you do not file within this window, your case will almost certainly be dismissed.

The clock starts on the Date of fall, trip, or injury on the property. Connecticut applies the 2-year personal injury statute to slip and fall (premises liability) claims. To win, you must show the property owner knew or should have known of the hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn you.

The following exceptions apply in Connecticut:

  • Gov entities: Notice of claim within 90 days required
  • Minors: tolled until age 18, then 2 years
  • Property owner must have had actual or constructive notice of the dangerous condition
General tolling rules (minors, mental incapacity, fraudulent concealment) may also apply.

If you miss the 2-year deadline, the defendant will file a motion to dismiss based on the expired statute of limitations. Courts virtually always grant such motions. Your case will be dismissed with prejudice — meaning permanently — regardless of how strong your evidence is. Always consult an attorney as soon as possible after an injury.

The standard rule in Connecticut starts the clock on the date of fall, trip, or injury on the property. A discovery rule modification may apply in limited circumstances. Consult an attorney if you believe the standard start date is unfair in your situation.

Connecticut's 2-year deadline for slip & fall claims is longer than 2 and shorter than 24 of the other jurisdictions. Across all states and D.C., slip & fall deadlines range from 1 year to 6 years.

If a city, county, state agency, or other government entity is responsible, you typically must file a Notice of Claim with the agency within a much shorter period — often 60–180 days. Missing this notice requirement can permanently bar your claim even before the main statute of limitations expires. Consult an attorney immediately if any government entity is involved.

Possibly, but it is difficult. You would need to demonstrate that a tolling doctrine applies — such as the discovery rule, minority tolling, or fraudulent concealment. An attorney can evaluate whether any exception extends your deadline. Do not assume your claim is dead until you have spoken with a licensed Connecticut attorney.

Terms used on this page

Accrual
Accrual is the moment a legal claim is considered to "begin" for deadline purposes, usually the date of injury or breach, though some states start the clock later.
Discovery rule
A rule that delays the start of the clock until the plaintiff knew, or reasonably should have known, about the harm and its cause.
Tolling
A legal pause or extension of the filing deadline, for example while a plaintiff is a minor or the defendant hides the wrong.
Notice of claim
A written notice that many states require before suing a government body, often with a much shorter deadline than the main statute.

Open the full legal glossary →

Cite or share this page

StatuteLimits.com. "Connecticut Slip & Fall Statute of Limitations (2026)." Reviewed October 2026. https://www.statutelimits.com/states/connecticut/slip-and-fall

Other Filing Deadlines in Connecticut

Slip & Fall Deadlines in Other States

View all 50 states + D.C. → Slip & Fall Deadlines

Don't Risk Missing Your Connecticut Deadline

The slip & fall statute of limitations in Connecticut is strict. Missing the 2-year deadline permanently ends your right to sue — regardless of how strong your case is. Tolling rules, government notice requirements, and recent law changes can all affect your actual deadline.

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⚠️ Legal Disclaimer: This page provides general legal information for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. Always verify the current law with official state sources and consult a licensed attorney before making any legal decisions.