The Maine car accident statute of limitations gives you six years
The Maine car accident statute of limitations is six years. Call free to confirm your exact date.
Maine gives you six years from the crash to sue the driver who hurt you. That is one of the longest windows in the country, set by 14 M.R.S. section 752. The catch is shorter deadlines hiding inside it, such as a 365-day notice when a town or state vehicle is involved.
The deadlines in Maine
| What | Time limit | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Injury lawsuit | Six years | 14 M.R.S. § 752 |
| Car or property damage lawsuit | Six years | 14 M.R.S. § 752 |
| Shared fault | No recovery if equally at fault; otherwise reduced | 14 M.R.S. § 156 |
| Minimum liability cover | $50,000 / $100,000 / $25,000, plus $2,000 medical payments | 29-A M.R.S. § 1605 |
| Notice to a town, county or state agency | Written notice within 365 days | 14 M.R.S. § 8107 |
| Wrongful death lawsuit | Three years from the death | 18-C M.R.S. § 2-807 |
Shorter deadlines tucked inside Maine’s six years
If a plow truck, town car or state vehicle hit you, the six years do not protect you. You must file a written notice within 365 days under section 8107. The lawsuit itself must follow within two years, per section 8110.
A death claim runs three years from the date of death, under the wrongful death statute. For a hurt child, the normal period starts only once the child becomes an adult, under section 853.
How a Maine jury handles shared blame
Maine does not cut your award by a set percentage. Under section 156, the jury finds your full damages first. Then it subtracts a dollar amount it thinks is fair for your share of the blame. If the jury finds you equally at fault, you recover nothing.
Insurance limits behind a Maine claim
Maine sets higher floors than most states. Each policy must carry at least $50,000 for one injured person, $100,000 per crash and $25,000 for property, under 29-A M.R.S. section 1605. Policies also include $2,000 of medical payments cover.
Maine is an at-fault state. Your claim goes to the other driver’s insurer and your own uninsured motorist cover can step in if theirs falls short.
Why a Maine car accident lawyer still wants an early call
Six years tempts people to wait, but evidence fades well before that. Witnesses move and crash video gets erased. An attorney can lock down records now and check whether a 365-day notice applies. There is no charge for the call and the lawyer takes a fee only after a win.
Other states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont or every state on one page.
Maine car accident statute of limitations questions
How long do I have to sue after a car accident in Maine?
Six years from the crash, for both injuries and car damage, under 14 M.R.S. section 752.
What if a government vehicle hit me in Maine?
File written notice within 365 days and sue within two years. The six-year rule does not apply.
Can I recover if I was partly to blame in Maine?
Yes, unless the jury finds you equally at fault. Your award drops by an amount the jury sets for your share.
Before the clock runs out
In Maine a finding that you were equally at fault ends the claim, so early statements count. Call before you sign a release and a lawyer will look at your deadline and offer free.
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