Maine follows modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar. This directory covers Maine-specific filing deadlines, damage caps, 50/100/25 liability insurance minimums, small claims rules, and links to the Maine State Bar Association referral resources.
Maine provides a 6 years statute of limitations for personal injury, one of the longest in the country. While this gives more time to evaluate a claim, delay still risks lost evidence and fading witness memory. Maine follows modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar.
Maine requires drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of 50/100/25 ($50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage). Maine is a tort (at-fault) state with no PIP or no-fault system. Claims involving car crashes, truck accidents, premises liability, dog bites, product injuries, medical malpractice, or wrongful death each carry distinct deadlines and procedural requirements in Maine. The Maine State Bar Association operates a referral service to help connect injured persons with licensed attorneys.
| Resource | Use it for | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Maine bar association | Start with bar-sponsored public information, member lookup, referral options, discipline/licensing resources, or consumer guidance. | https://www.mainebar.org/ |
| ABA FindLegalHelp.org | Use ABA public resources for lawyer referral, free legal help, licensing information, and legal information. The ABA states that it does not provide individual legal representation. | ABA Find Legal Help |
| ABA bar directories and lawyer finders | Cross-check whether the ABA lists a bar-sponsored lawyer-finding resource for Maine. | ABA bar directories and lawyer finders |
| LSC legal-aid locator | Find LSC-funded civil legal aid near a Maine address, city, or ZIP code. LSC legal aid is income-eligible and usually focused on civil legal problems. | LSC I Need Legal Help |
The general Maine personal injury limitation period in this site data is 6 years, with citation to 14 M.R.S. § 752. Medical malpractice is listed as 3 years, cited to 24 M.R.S. § 2902. Wrongful death is listed as 2 years, cited to 18-C M.R.S. § 2-807. The state source link is the state code or official state source.
Do not treat the general deadline as a complete filing calendar. Government defendants, public hospitals, public schools, transit agencies, counties, cities, state agencies, and federal defendants can require administrative notices or claims before a lawsuit. A minor claimant, delayed discovery, medical malpractice repose period, wrongful death appointment issue, bankruptcy stay, military service, or tolling agreement can also change the analysis. If a deadline is close, a referral-service call is not enough; the complaint, notice, service, and filing rules must be handled by someone licensed in the jurisdiction.
Damage caps are claim-specific. This directory tracks medical malpractice and health-care injury cap issues because they are common in personal injury research and can materially change settlement leverage. The current cap type in the site data is No broad cap. Summary: No broad med-mal compensatory cap identified. Primary citation: 24 M.R.S. ch. 21.
For ordinary negligence cases, the most important cap may be the available insurance limit rather than a statute. A low bodily injury limit, rejected underinsured motorist coverage, medical liens, workers compensation reimbursement rights, Medicare or Medicaid liens, and comparative fault can reduce net recovery even when there is no broad compensatory damages cap. Punitive damages, dram-shop claims, government defendants, and medical malpractice claims can add separate statutory issues. Use the internal cap table for a first pass, then verify the newest statute and case law with a licensed attorney.
The following table summarizes the key Maine-specific rules that shape personal injury claims in this state.
| Legal Rule | Maine Standard | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Fault system | modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar | 14 M.R.S.A. § 156 |
| PI statute of limitations | 6 years | 14 M.R.S.A. § 752 |
| Med-mal deadline | 3 years | 24 M.R.S.A. § 2902 |
| Wrongful death deadline | 2 years | 18-C M.R.S.A. § 2-807 |
| Min. BI insurance | 50/100/25 | State insurance code |
| PIP required | No | |
| No-fault system | No (tort/at-fault) | |
| Small claims limit | $6,000 | Small Claims Court (District Court) |
| Dog bite rule | Strict liability | |
| Dram shop liability | Yes | 28-A M.R.S.A. § 2506 |
| Govt. claim notice | 180 days (14 M.R.S.A. § 8107) | |
| Bar referral | Maine Bar Lawyer Referral Service |
Maine follows modified comparative fault with a 50 percent bar (14 M.R.S.A. § 156). The plaintiff's damages are reduced by their percentage of fault, but if the plaintiff is found 50 percent or more at fault (equally responsible), they recover nothing. This is stricter than the 51 percent threshold used by most modified comparative states, because a plaintiff who is exactly half at fault loses the entire claim.
Example: A jury awards $200,000. If you are found 45 percent at fault, you recover $110,000. But if you are found exactly 50 percent at fault, you recover nothing under Maine's 50 percent bar, even though the other driver was equally negligent.
Because the 50 percent threshold is a hard cutoff, insurance adjusters in Maine frequently argue that the plaintiff bears at least 50 percent of the fault to avoid paying any damages at all. This is why documented evidence of the other party's negligence (police reports, witness statements, photos, video footage) is critical in Maine claims.
Maine requires minimum liability insurance of 50/100/25: $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage per accident.
| Coverage Type | Maine Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury per person | $50,000 |
| Bodily injury per accident | $100,000 |
| Property damage | $25,000 |
| PIP (Personal Injury Protection) | Not required |
| No-fault system | No (tort/at-fault state) |
When the at-fault driver carries only minimum coverage and medical bills exceed the $50,000 per-person limit, the gap becomes an underinsured motorist (UIM) issue. Check your own auto policy for UM/UIM coverage, as it may provide additional recovery that does not depend on the at-fault driver's insurance.
Maine small claims courts (Small Claims Court (District Court)) handle disputes up to $6,000. For minor injury claims within this range, small claims court can be faster and less expensive than filing in a higher court, though complex cases with significant medical evidence may require the formal procedures of a superior or circuit court.
Maine imposes strict liability on dog owners for bite injuries. The owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had any prior history of biting or aggression, and regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous. The injured person does not need to prove owner negligence; they only need to prove the dog bit them and they were lawfully present.
Maine has a dram shop act (28-A M.R.S.A. § 2506) that can hold bars, restaurants, and other alcohol vendors liable for injuries caused by a person they served while that person was visibly intoxicated or underage. This creates a potential additional source of recovery in drunk-driving accident cases.
Claims against Maine government entities (cities, counties, state agencies, school districts) require a formal notice within a specific time frame: 180 days (14 M.R.S.A. § 8107). Missing this administrative deadline can permanently bar the claim even if the general statute of limitations has not expired. Government defendants may also have separate damage caps and immunity protections.
Maine-specific accident scenarios include crashes on I-95 and the Maine Turnpike, lobster fishing and maritime injuries, logging and paper mill accidents, ski resort injuries at Sunday River and Sugarloaf, moose-vehicle collisions (the most of any state per capita), and slip-and-fall claims during icy winter conditions. Cumberland County Superior Court (Portland) handles the majority of personal injury cases.
Maine has a 6-year PI statute of limitations, tied with Minnesota and North Dakota for the longest in the nation. Neighboring New Hampshire (3 years) and Massachusetts (3 years) offer half the time. Maine's 50/100/25 insurance minimums are the highest in the nation (tied with Alaska and Michigan), far above New Hampshire's no-mandate system.
Start by confirming the lawyer's active license through the Maine State Bar Association. Check for any public disciplinary history. Ask whether the lawyer personally handles Maine personal injury cases, whether litigation is filed in-house or referred to other firms, and whether they have experience with the specific claim type in Maine courts.
Fee structure should be documented in writing before representation begins. Most personal injury matters use a contingency fee, commonly around one-third of the recovery. Ask whether the percentage changes after a lawsuit is filed, after arbitration, or at trial. Ask whether the firm advances case expenses and whether you owe costs if there is no recovery. Red flags include pressure to sign immediately, promises of a guaranteed settlement value, and vague statements about who is actually licensed to practice in Maine.
Bring the police crash report or incident report, photos from the scene, all medical records and billing statements, your auto insurance declarations page showing liability and UM/UIM limits, the at-fault party's insurance information, health insurance EOB statements, wage documentation from your employer, and any settlement offer already received. For premises liability cases, gather photos of the hazard and any maintenance or incident reports.
If a government entity may be involved, note the 180 days (14 M.R.S.A. § 8107) notice deadline and bring any correspondence already sent to the government agency.
The Maine Bar Lawyer Referral Service can connect you with a licensed attorney for an initial consultation. Many bar referral services offer a reduced-fee first meeting to help evaluate your claim.
For low-income Maine residents, LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations focus on housing, family safety, consumer, and public benefits issues. While these organizations do not typically handle contingency-fee personal injury cases, they may assist with related problems such as medical debt, insurance disputes, or housing instability caused by injury. Use the LSC locator with a Maine ZIP code for the nearest program. The ABA's Find Legal Help page provides additional public resources.
Under Maine's modified comparative fault rule (14 M.R.S.A. § 156), if you are found 50 percent or more at fault (equally responsible), you cannot recover any damages. You must be less than 50 percent at fault to receive a reduced damages award.
The general statute of limitations for personal injury in Maine is 6 years (14 M.R.S.A. § 752). Medical malpractice claims have a 3 years deadline (24 M.R.S.A. § 2902). Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years (18-C M.R.S.A. § 2-807). Claims against government entities may require earlier notice.
Maine requires 50/100/25 minimum liability coverage: $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage. Maine is a tort (at-fault) state with no PIP or no-fault system.
Yes. Maine imposes strict liability on dog owners for bite injuries. The owner is liable regardless of whether the dog had any prior history of aggression or biting. The injured person only needs to prove the bite occurred and they were lawfully present.
Maine small claims courts (Small Claims Court (District Court)) handle disputes up to $6,000. For minor personal injury claims within this range, small claims court can be faster and less expensive than filing in a higher court.
Yes. The Maine Bar Lawyer Referral Service connects the public with licensed attorneys. You can access this service through the Maine State Bar Association website. The ABA and LSC also provide public referral resources.
Last reviewed: May 05, 2026 (state Bar referrals + recent verdict data verified via official sources).
Author: Mustafa Bilgic — operator of SettlementCalculator. About · Contact · Disclaimer
Sources: American Bar Association (ABA), state Bar Associations directories, court verdict databases (Westlaw, Lexis), state-specific tort statutes, NOLO legal references.
NOT LEGAL ADVICE: Calculator results are estimates only. Every case is unique. Consult a licensed attorney in your state. We do not provide legal services and are not affiliated with any law firm. Lawyer referral information is provided for informational purposes only.