What Happens When a Connecticut Crash Exceeds Your Insurance Limits?

Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different, and the outcome of any personal injury claim depends on its specific facts. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

When a crash in Connecticut causes injuries that cost more than the at-fault driver's policy will pay, the injured person's own underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can typically be used to help close the gap, though only up to the limits of that person's own policy and only once certain conditions are met. This scenario comes up more often than most drivers expect.

Goff Law Group has helped Connecticut clients pursue full compensation after a crash that outpaces the at-fault driver's coverage, including cases involving full policy limit recoveries for families affected by serious and fatal motorcycle accidents.

A coverage gap like this can appear in several situations, including:

The at-fault driver carries only Connecticut's minimum required liability limits
The at-fault driver has no insurance at all
Several people are injured in the same crash and have to share one policy's per-accident limit
A hit-and-run driver can't be identified or located

This article walks through Connecticut's minimum coverage requirements, what those limits actually cover in a real injury claim, how underinsured motorist coverage is meant to fill the difference, and what the data show about how often Connecticut drivers encounter this problem.

Connecticut's Required Auto Insurance Limits, Stated Plainly

Connecticut law requires every driver to carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 per accident for property damage, a combination commonly written as 25/50/25.

Drivers must also carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage at those same minimum limits, according to the Connecticut Insurance Department.

Coverage Type	Minimum Required Limit
Bodily Injury, Per Person	$25,000
Bodily Injury, Per Accident	$50,000
Property Damage, Per Accident	$25,000
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist, Per Person	$25,000
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist, Per Accident	$50,000

These figures have not changed in some time, and the Connecticut Insurance Department itself notes that drivers should consider carrying more than the minimum for stronger financial protection.

What a $25,000 Bodily Injury Limit Actually Pays For After a Real Crash

A $25,000 bodily injury limit can be exhausted faster than many drivers assume, since a single serious injury can generate costs well beyond that figure.

Consider a hypothetical, illustrative sequence of care that a Hartford crash victim with a soft-tissue or orthopedic injury might reasonably incur:

An emergency room visit with imaging can run several thousand dollars on its own.
An orthopedic specialist consultation and follow-up visits add further cost.
A course of physical therapy, often spanning weeks or months, adds ongoing expense.
Lost wages during recovery compound the total, especially for an hourly worker who cannot return to physical duties right away.

Depending on the severity of the injury, these categories alone can approach or exceed a $25,000 policy limit well before pain and suffering, future treatment, or a permanent impairment are factored in. Every case is different, and actual costs vary widely depending on the injury, the treatment path, and the person's occupation and recovery time.

How Underinsured Motorist Coverage Picks Up the Difference in Connecticut

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage helps pay the difference between what an at-fault driver's insurance will cover and what your claim is worth, up to your own UIM limit. In Connecticut, you can use this coverage only after the at-fault driver's insurance is exhausted. UIM is there to help when their policy isn't enough, not to duplicate it.

It's important to know that exhausting the other driver’s policy and getting permission to settle are not the same. In Connecticut, your UIM insurer usually cannot require approval before settling with the at-fault driver’s insurance. However, your own policy will detail what to do for a UIM claim, so it's crucial to inform your UIM insurer about the other claim. Since these rules can be complex, consider consulting an attorney before signing any release.

Readers specifically dealing with an uninsured driver can find more details on Goff Law Group's uninsured motorist page.

How Many Connecticut Drivers Are Actually Uninsured or Underinsured

An estimated 11.8% of Connecticut motorists were uninsured in 2023, compared with 15.4% nationally, according to a 2025 study by the Insurance Research Council. Connecticut's uninsured rate is below the national average, but not close to zero, and uninsured drivers are only part of the picture.

Underinsured drivers, meaning those who carry some liability coverage but not enough to cover a serious injury claim, add to the risk. Nationally, more than one in six drivers (18.0%) were underinsured in 2023, and one in three drivers (33.4%) were either uninsured or underinsured altogether, a ten percentage point increase in the combined rate since 2017, according to the Insurance Research Council's report summarized by Triple-I.

This national trend suggests that even a fully insured Connecticut driver has a meaningful chance of colliding with someone who cannot fully cover the resulting damages.

Should You Carry More Than Connecticut's Minimum?

Carrying more than Connecticut's state minimum limits is worth serious consideration, particularly given how quickly a single ER visit and a course of physical therapy can approach the $25,000 per-person threshold.

Drivers who want stronger protection typically have a few options to discuss with their insurance agent:

Raising bodily injury liability limits well above 25/50, since higher limits also tend to raise the available UM/UIM coverage that mirrors them
Purchasing UM/UIM coverage up to double the bodily injury liability limit, an option that Connecticut law allows
Adding conversion or excess coverage for additional protection beyond standard policy limits

None of these choices guarantees a particular outcome in any future claim, and the right level of coverage depends on individual circumstances, assets, and risk tolerance. Consulting a licensed insurance agent about specific coverage decisions is advisable, as this article does not constitute financial or insurance advice.

Let Us Help You Navigate What Happens When a Connecticut Crash Exceeds Your Insurance Limits

Connecticut's minimum insurance requirements were set with routine fender-benders in mind, not the kind of serious injuries that can follow a high-speed or multi-vehicle crash. When a claim exceeds the at-fault driver's coverage, understanding how UIM coverage, notice requirements, and consent-to-settle provisions interact can meaningfully affect what a person recovers. Goff Law Group has represented Connecticut clients through exactly this kind of coverage gap, and every case is evaluated on its own facts before any recommendation is made about how to proceed.

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