Personal injury law in Maine
How long you have to file, how shared fault is treated, whether Maine is a no-fault auto state, and what damages caps can limit a jury award. Every figure sourced.
Key rules at a glance
| Statute of limitations | 6 years One of the longest PI statutes. |
|---|---|
| Negligence rule | Modified comparative — 50% bar Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under 14 M.R.S. § 156. |
| Auto no-fault | No |
| Damages caps | Wrongful death non-economic damages capped under 18-C M. Wrongful death non-economic damages capped under 18-C M.R.S. § 2-807. |
What the filing deadline means in Maine
Personal injury claims in Maine must generally be filed within 6 years of the date of injury. One of the longest PI statutes. If you miss the statute, the claim is time-barred regardless of how strong it is. Discovery rules can shift the start date for latent injuries, and government claims often carry much shorter notice deadlines (sometimes 60 to 180 days).
How shared fault works under modified comparative — 50% bar
You can recover only if you are less than 50% at fault. At 50% or more, recovery is barred. Recovery barred at 50% or more fault under 14 M.R.S. § 156.
Practical effect: if a jury values your case at $200,000 and assigns you 30% of the fault, you recover $140,000 — but if your fault crosses the bar, you recover $0.
Damages caps in Maine
Wrongful death non-economic damages capped under 18-C M.R.S. § 2-807.
A cap does not change the value of your injuries; it changes what a jury is allowed to award. Caps most often apply to non-economic damages (pain and suffering) and to medical malpractice cases. Economic damages, like medical bills and lost wages, are generally not capped.
Case types in Maine
These case-type hubs explain how settlement value is built and how each type interacts with Maine's rules above.
Related reads
How Maine's modified comparative — 50% bar rule shapes auto settlement value.
Multi-party liability, FMCSA regulations, and the 30-day evidence window.
Helmet laws, anti-rider bias, and how comparative fault hits riders.
Premises liability and the negligence elements you must prove.
Standard of care, statute of repose, and Maine's med-mal caps.
Workers' comp vs third-party liability claims.
Strict liability vs one-bite rule by state.
Who can file and what damages are recoverable.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Want a different state? See all 50 state hubs.