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Maryland Injury Claim Rules

Rules cited to Maryland’s statutes and case lawRules checked How we calculate

Fault ruleContributory negligenceAlmost any fault on your side can bar recovery completely.Coleman v. Soccer Ass’n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013)
Filing deadline3 yearsFrom the date of the injury.Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
Minimum insurance30/60/15Per person, per crash, property. Maryland is an at-fault state.
Damage caps$965,000 non-economic$965,000 on non-economic damages for injuries on or after October 1, 2026. The cap rises by…Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-108

Calculators with these rules built in

Maryland personal injury settlementAny injury someone else caused, valued under your state’s fault rule.Maryland car accident settlementInjury value plus your vehicle claim, with policy limits and no-fault rules.Maryland truck accident settlementCommercial policies carry far higher limits. See what that changes.Maryland motorcycle accident settlementSevere-injury ranges, fault disputes and the rider’s own coverage.Maryland pedestrian accident settlementHit on foot, including crosswalk fault and your own auto coverage.Maryland bicycle accident settlementCyclist claims under your state’s fault rule.Maryland rideshare accident settlementUber and Lyft layered coverage, by the driver’s app status.Maryland slip and fall settlementPremises claims, where proving the owner knew is half the case.Maryland dog bite settlementStrict-liability and one-bite states, and the homeowner’s policy that pays.Maryland wrongful death settlementLost support, household services and companionship, valued today.Maryland pain and sufferingCompare the multiplier and per-diem methods side by side.Maryland settlement offer checkerPlace an insurer’s offer inside your state’s range.Maryland demand letterA ready-to-edit demand letter for the insurance adjuster.Maryland filing deadlineYour last day to file an injury lawsuit, by state and claim type.Maryland comparative faultHow your share of fault changes the award under your state’s rule.Maryland policy limits and um/uim gapWhen the other driver’s policy runs out, and what your own covers.

This page collects the rules that decide what an injury claim is worth in Maryland: who can recover when both sides share the blame, how long you have to sue, what insurance drivers must carry and whether the state caps damages. Every rule links to the statute or court decision behind it, and every calculator on this site uses these same values.

Maryland’s contributory negligence rule is the one to know first: it can bar a claim for even a small share of fault, which changes how every claim there is negotiated.

Maryland injury claim rules

Fault. Maryland is one of only five places that still use contributory negligence. If you are found even slightly at fault, a court can bar your claim entirely. That makes proof of the other side’s fault, such as a police report, photos and witness statements, especially important. Maryland’s highest court kept contributory negligence in 2013. Narrow exceptions such as last clear chance still apply.

Filing deadlines. You have three years from the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Families have three years for a wrongful death claim, usually counted from the date of death. Claims against a government agency need written notice much sooner.

Car insurance. Maryland is an at-fault state, so the at-fault driver’s liability insurance pays your claim. Drivers must carry at least $30,000 per injured person, $60,000 per crash and $15,000 for property damage, written 30/60/15. Maryland also requires $2,500 of PIP unless you waive it. Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.

Damage caps. $965,000 on non-economic damages for injuries on or after October 1, 2026. The cap rises by $15,000 every October 1.

Dog bites. The law presumes the owner knew the dog was dangerous, which the owner can rebut. Owners are strictly liable for a dog running at large.

Maryland injury claim questions

Can I still get a settlement in Maryland if I was partly at fault?

Usually not. Maryland uses contributory negligence, which can bar your claim if you were even slightly at fault. Narrow exceptions exist, so talk to a lawyer before giving up.

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Maryland?

three years from the injury in most cases.

Who pays a personal injury settlement?

Usually the at-fault party’s insurer: auto, homeowner’s or business liability coverage. The policy limit often sets the practical ceiling.

Does Maryland cap pain and suffering damages?

Yes. $965,000 on non-economic damages for injuries on or after October 1, 2026. The cap rises by $15,000 every October 1.