Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations in Connecticut

Last verified 2026-07 · Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584 ✓ verified · 3 sources

The deadline to file a medical malpractice claim in Connecticut is 2 years, set by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584. It starts running on the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered. This page covers the exceptions, the government-claim trap, and the steps to take before time runs out.

Connecticut Deadlines for Related Claims

When the Clock Starts

In Connecticut, the limitations period for medical malpractice claims generally begins on the date when the injury is first sustained or discovered or in the exercise of reasonable care should have been discovered. Connecticut recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: The two-year clock runs from when the injury was or reasonably should have been discovered, but an absolute three-year statute of repose bars any action brought more than three years from the date of the negligent act or omission.

Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline

• Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
• Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
• Government-claim trap: Claims against a state-run hospital must be presented to the Office of the Claims Commissioner within one year of accrual under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 4-147.

Before filing, plaintiff must make a reasonable pre-suit inquiry and attach a certificate of good faith plus a written opinion from a similar health care provider under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-190a; Connecticut imposes no statutory cap on medical malpractice noneconomic damages.

Source: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-584, official Connecticut statute · verified 2026-07

What to Do Before the Deadline Runs

1. Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
2. Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
3. Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for Connecticut government defendants).
4. If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.

How Connecticut Compares to Nearby States

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed Connecticut attorney.