Personal injury claims in Vermont
This is the Vermont hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 69 Vermont communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.
Vermont gives injured people three years to file most personal injury lawsuits (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (three years). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Vermont is an at-fault auto insurance state with minimum liability limits of 25/50/10. Injury cases are tried in the Superior Court of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer as soon as practicable (21 V.S.A. § 656).
Vermont injury law at a glance
- Personal injury deadline
- three years from the injury (12 V.S.A. § 512(4))
- Medical malpractice deadline
- three years (discovery-rule exceptions)
- Fault rule
- modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
- Auto insurance
- At-fault
- Minimum auto liability
- 25/50/10
- Trial court
- County Superior Court
- Workers' compensation
- Vermont Department of Labor
- Workers' comp claim deadline
- six months (21 V.S.A. § 656), and proceedings must start within three years (§ 660)
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Injured in Vermont? Click here for a free claim review.
Tell us where and when the accident happened, how you were injured, and whether you received treatment. Your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Vermont. Partner availability and case acceptance depend on the facts of your situation.
Click here for a free claim review — submit accident detailsAsk Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.
Vermont injury guides by county
Every Vermont county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.
- Addison County, VT18 communities
- Bennington County, VT17 communities
- Caledonia County, VT22 communities
- Chittenden County, VT20 communities
- Essex County, VT12 communities
- Franklin County, VT16 communities
- Grand Isle County, VT5 communities
- Lamoille County, VT13 communities
- Orange County, VT26 communities
- Orleans County, VT23 communities
- Rutland County, VT28 communities
- Washington County, VT22 communities
- Windham County, VT27 communities
- Windsor County, VT37 communities
Largest communities in Vermont
- Burlington, VTChittenden County · pop. 42,452
- South Burlington, VTChittenden County · pop. 18,791
- Colchester, VTChittenden County · pop. 16,986
- Essex Junction, VTChittenden County · pop. 10,111
- Hartford, VTWindsor County · pop. 9,779
- Bennington, VTBennington County · pop. 9,074
- Williston, VTChittenden County · pop. 8,314
- Montpelier, VTWashington County · pop. 7,592
- Brattleboro, VTWindham County · pop. 7,414
- Winooski, VTChittenden County · pop. 7,193
- Saint Albans, VTFranklin County · pop. 6,918
- Saint Johnsbury, VTCaledonia County · pop. 6,193
- Lyndon, VTCaledonia County · pop. 5,496
- Newport, VTOrleans County · pop. 4,442
- Hinesburg, VTChittenden County · pop. 4,441
- Stowe, VTLamoille County · pop. 4,314
- Springfield, VTWindsor County · pop. 3,979
- Charlotte, VTChittenden County · pop. 3,861
- Pownal, VTBennington County · pop. 3,460
- Bellows Falls, VTWindham County · pop. 3,048
- Chester, VTWindsor County · pop. 2,994
- Ferrisburgh, VTAddison County · pop. 2,764
- Vergennes, VTAddison County · pop. 2,631
- Swanton, VTFranklin County · pop. 2,370
More Vermont city guides: Barre, VT, Rutland, VT.
Vermont cities with the most fatal crashes, 2020-2024
These Vermont communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2020 through 2024. Each community page ranks its own roads by fatal crashes and breaks down its numbers by year and time of day.
- Colchester, VT9 fatal crashes · 10 deaths
- South Burlington, VT8 fatal crashes · 9 deaths
- Milton, VT7 fatal crashes · 7 deaths
- Bennington, VT6 fatal crashes · 7 deaths
- Saint Albans, VT6 fatal crashes · 6 deaths
- Pownal, VT5 fatal crashes · 5 deaths
- Swanton, VT5 fatal crashes · 6 deaths
- Enosburg Falls, VT4 fatal crashes · 4 deaths
- Bridport, VT3 fatal crashes · 4 deaths
- Burlington, VT3 fatal crashes · 3 deaths
Vermont claims by injury type
- Car Accident claimsHow car accident injury claims work in every state
- Truck Accident claimsHow semi-truck and commercial vehicle injury claims differ from car accidents
- Motorcycle Accident claimsHow motorcycle injury claims work across the United States
- Pedestrian Accident claimsWhat happens legally when a pedestrian is hit by a car in the United States
- Slip and Fall claimsHow premises liability works in the United States
- Workplace Injury claimsHow injured workers get paid in the United States
- Medical Malpractice claimsWhat medical malpractice is, how it is proven, state-by-state deadlines and damage caps, and the kinds of errors that most often lead to successful claims.
- Wrongful Death claimsHow wrongful death and survival actions work across the United States
Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Vermont?
Generally three years from the date of injury (12 V.S.A. § 512(4)). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within three years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.
What happens if I was partly at fault in Vermont?
Vermont applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.
Is Vermont a no-fault state?
No. Vermont is an at-fault state; the negligent driver's liability insurance (minimum 25/50/10) is the primary source of compensation.
Where are injury lawsuits filed in Vermont?
In the Superior Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.
How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Vermont?
Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Vermont.
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Ready to share what happened in Vermont?
Tell us where and when the accident happened, how you were injured, and whether you received treatment. Your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Vermont. Partner availability and case acceptance depend on the facts of your situation.
Click here for a free claim review — submit accident detailsAsk Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.