Connecticut Motorcycle Laws: New Helmet Rule and Fault Rules

Since October 1, 2025, Connecticut requires helmets for motorcycle operators and passengers under 21, up from under 18. Anyone riding on an instruction permit must wear one regardless of age.
Operators must wear eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windshield, and lane splitting is illegal.
Motorcycles must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
Most injury lawsuits must be filed within 2 years of the injury, and never more than 3 years after the act that caused it.
Connecticut has a 51% bar: if you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover damages.

Connecticut changed its motorcycle helmet law in 2025, and its injury deadlines are shorter than in many states. This guide explains the main Connecticut motorcycle laws and what they mean if you are hurt in a crash, with links to sources so you can check each point yourself.

Connecticut motorcycle rules of the road

Licensing

Connecticut requires a motorcycle ("M") endorsement on your driver license, or a motorcycle learner's permit, to operate a motorcycle on public roads. Applicants usually need to complete a DMV-approved rider course.

Helmets

Connecticut General Statutes 14-289g used to apply the helmet requirement to people under 18. A 2025 law, part of Senate Bill 1377 signed on June 23, 2025, raised the age. Since October 1, 2025, no one under 21 may operate a motorcycle or be a passenger on one without protective headgear that meets the state's specifications. A violation is an infraction with a fine of at least $90. Riders 21 and older may choose, except anyone who is riding on a motorcycle instruction permit, who must wear a helmet regardless of age.

Eye protection

Under CGS 14-289d, motorcycle operators must wear eye protection, such as glasses, goggles or a face shield, unless the motorcycle has a windshield.

Lane splitting

Connecticut law gives a motorcycle the full use of a lane and does not allow lane splitting. Under CGS 14-289b, a motorcyclist may not overtake and pass a vehicle in the same lane that the vehicle occupies.

Insurance

According to the Connecticut Insurance Department, the minimum mandatory insurance for private passenger vehicles and motorcycles is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury liability, $25,000 for property damage liability, and $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Connecticut is an at-fault state and does not require PIP coverage. Those limits can be small compared with a serious motorcycle injury, so check your own policy for higher uninsured and underinsured motorist limits.

Connecticut motorcycle accident law

Deadlines: 2 years, with a 3-year outer limit

Under CGS 52-584, an action to recover damages for injury to a person caused by negligence generally must be brought within 2 years from the date the injury is first sustained, or from when it was or should have been discovered. No action may be brought more than 3 years after the act or omission complained of, even if the injury was discovered later.

A wrongful death action under CGS 52-555 must be brought within 2 years from the date of death, and no more than 5 years after the act or omission that caused it.

Deadlines matter. If a municipality may share the blame, for example for a road defect, a short written notice requirement applies under the highway defect statute, CGS 13a-149, generally within 90 days of the injury. Missing it can end the claim even though the 2-year deadline has not passed.

The 51% fault bar

Under CGS 52-572h, Connecticut follows modified comparative negligence. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you can recover as long as your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the parties you are claiming against.

20% at fault: you can recover, reduced by 20%.
50% at fault: you can still recover, reduced by 50%.
51% at fault: recovery is barred.

As an illustration only, if damages are valued at $100,000 and a jury assigns you 20% of the fault, your recovery would be reduced to $80,000. In Connecticut negligence cases each defendant is generally responsible only for its own percentage of fault, so identifying every responsible party early matters.

Do not guess about fault. Because a finding above 50% can end a claim, avoid statements such as "I might have been going too fast" to an insurer or at the scene. Stick to the facts and talk to a lawyer before giving a recorded statement.

Damages

Connecticut does not cap compensatory damages in an ordinary motorcycle injury case.

Helmets and your claim

Riders 21 and older are not required to wear a helmet, so going without one is not a legal violation for them. An insurer may still argue that going without one made a head injury worse. For riders under 21, not wearing a helmet breaks the law and could be raised on the question of fault. Keep your helmet after a crash and ask a lawyer how these arguments would be handled in your case.

What to do after a motorcycle crash in Connecticut

Get medical care promptly and describe every symptom, even ones that seem minor.
Photograph the scene, your bike, your gear and your injuries.
Save camera footage from a helmet cam, a dash cam or nearby businesses.
Keep your helmet, jacket and damaged gear instead of throwing them away.
Collect witness names and ask for the police report number.
Do not discuss fault with the other driver's insurer until you have spoken with a lawyer.
Write down your deadlines, including the 90-day notice if a municipality may be involved.

When to talk to a lawyer

A free consultation can help you understand your deadlines, your insurance options and how the 51% bar may be argued. If you decide to hire someone, confirm that the lawyer is licensed in Connecticut, ask for the fee agreement in writing and understand how case expenses are handled before you sign.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to wear a helmet in Connecticut?

Operators and passengers under 21 must wear a helmet since October 1, 2025, and anyone riding on an instruction permit must wear one regardless of age. Riders 21 and older may choose.

Is lane splitting legal in Connecticut?

No. Connecticut gives motorcycles the full use of a lane and does not allow lane splitting.

How much insurance does a motorcycle need in Connecticut?

At least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident lawsuit in Connecticut?

Generally 2 years from the injury under CGS 52-584, and never more than 3 years after the act that caused it. Wrongful death actions generally must be brought within 2 years of death and no more than 5 years after the act.

Can I recover if the crash was partly my fault?

Yes, if your fault is not greater than the combined fault of the parties you are claiming against. At 50% you can still recover, with damages reduced by half. At 51% or more, you recover nothing.

Is Connecticut a no-fault state?

No. Connecticut is an at-fault state and does not require PIP coverage.

Sources and references

Connecticut General Statutes § 14-289g, Protective headgear for motorcycle operators and passengers (2024 text) (law.justia.com)
Connecticut Insurance Department, Bulletin PC-87, Automobile and Motorcycle Insurance Identification Cards (portal.ct.gov)
Connecticut Insurance Department, What is auto insurance (portal.ct.gov)
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-584, Limitation of action for injury to person or property (syfert.com)
Connecticut General Statutes § 52-555, Actions for injuries resulting in death (syfert.com)
Nolo, Connecticut car accident laws (nolo.com)