Personal injury law in Maryland
How long you have to file, how shared fault is treated, whether Maryland 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 | 3 years Government claims: 1-year notice. |
|---|---|
| Negligence rule | Contributory negligence (1% bar) Maryland applies contributory negligence; 1% fault can bar recovery (Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n). |
| Auto no-fault | No |
| Damages caps | Non-economic damages cap adjusts annually under Md. Non-economic damages cap adjusts annually under Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-108. |
What the filing deadline means in Maryland
Personal injury claims in Maryland must generally be filed within 3 years of the date of injury. Government claims: 1-year notice. 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 contributory negligence (1% bar)
If you are even 1% at fault, recovery is completely barred. One of the strictest rules in the U.S. Maryland applies contributory negligence; 1% fault can bar recovery (Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n).
Practical effect: if a jury values your case at $200,000 and assigns you any of the fault, you recover $0 in Maryland.
Damages caps in Maryland
Non-economic damages cap adjusts annually under Md. Code Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-108.
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 Maryland
These case-type hubs explain how settlement value is built and how each type interacts with Maryland's rules above.
Related reads
How Maryland's contributory negligence (1% 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 Maryland'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
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