Accidents & Injuries in Maine

Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, Section 752 provides a six-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims — one of the longest in the US. However, if your claim involves a government entity, the Maine Tort Claims Act (14 M.R.S. § 8104-B) requires a notice of claim within 180 days of the incident. Missing the government notice deadline can bar your claim even though the six-year period has not expired.

Under Maine Revised Statutes Title 14, Section 156, Maine uses modified comparative fault with a 50% bar. If you are 49% or less at fault, your damages are reduced proportionally. If you are 50% or more at fault, you are completely barred from recovery. Maine apportions fault to all parties including those who have settled.

No. Maine is a traditional tort (fault-based) state. The at-fault driver's liability insurance is responsible for compensating injured parties. Maine does not require mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, though medical payments coverage (MedPay) is available as an optional add-on.

Maine does not impose statutory caps on compensatory damages in most personal injury accident cases. Plaintiffs may seek full economic and non-economic damages. Government claims under the Maine Tort Claims Act may be subject to immunity limitations. Punitive damages are rarely awarded in Maine.