Maine injury claims

From Portland, Lewiston and Bangor to the rural counties in between, people in Maine are hurt in car crashes, falls, workplace accidents and more. This page covers the Maine-specific rules that frame those claims and how to get a free review from an independent attorney licensed in the state.

Where people get hurt in Maine: cities, roads and industries

Population in Maine centers on Portland, Lewiston, Bangor and Augusta, and each of those areas has its own mix of commuter roads, busy shopping districts and older buildings where people get hurt.

Drivers across Maine rely on I-95, I-295, US-1 and US-2. Congestion, speed differences between trucks and cars, and weather all play a part in the crashes reported on these roads.

Employment in shipbuilding, lobster fishing, forestry and paper and tourism means many Maine workers spend their days around heavy equipment, vehicles or demanding physical tasks, which shapes the kinds of workplace claims filed here.

Common injury claims in Maine

Maine's fault rule in plain words

Fault in Maine is compared under a 50% bar. Each point of the injured person's own fault reduces the recovery, and a finding of 50% or more shuts the claim off entirely.

That is why the evidence from a crash near Portland or a fall in Lewiston gets so much attention: the difference between 49% and 51% can decide whether a claim moves forward.

Filing time frames in Maine (general information)

For many injury claims, Maine law points to 14 M.R.S.A. § 752, with a general period our sources list as six years.

Wrongful death claims have their own listed period: 2 yrs (18-A § 2-804(b)).

Treat any listed period as a general framework, not a countdown for your situation. Exceptions for minors, delayed discovery, government defendants and specific claim types can change the date, sometimes dramatically. A licensed attorney is the right person to confirm it.

Claims against a government agency in Maine

When the party at fault is a public body, such as a Maine agency, a city bus system or a county road department, different rules apply.

For claims against the state, the sources we use summarize the Maine rule as: 365 days (14 M.R.S.A. § 8107, amended 2019). Cities, counties and other local bodies may have their own notice requirements.

Anyone hurt on a public sidewalk in Lewiston, by a transit vehicle or at a public facility should treat notice rules as urgent and raise them with a licensed attorney early.

Car insurance in Maine: minimums

Drivers in Maine must carry liability coverage of at least 50/100/25, meaning $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 per crash and $25,000 for property.

Maine is generally an at-fault state for auto claims: the driver who caused the crash, and their insurer, are responsible for the other person's injuries. Minimum limits can run out quickly in a serious crash, which is why uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) and MedPay coverage on a person's own policy can matter.

Animal bite liability in Maine

We have not confirmed how Maine handles animal bite liability, so we don't summarize it here. In general, states use either a statute that makes owners responsible or common-law rules that look at what the owner knew and how the animal was controlled.

Whatever the rule, save photos of the injury, the owner's name and address, vaccination information and any animal-control report. Read more on our animal bite claims page.

Workers' compensation in Maine

Most on-the-job injuries in Maine start with workers' comp. The trade-off behind the system is simple: benefits without proving fault, and in return, employers are usually shielded from lawsuits by their own employees.

Comp claims can be disputed when a worker is classified as an independent contractor, when the injury happened outside the course of work, or when notice to the employer was late. For workers in shipbuilding or forestry and paper, reporting an injury to a supervisor promptly, in writing, is a good habit.

Workers who are hurt while driving for work, for example on I-295, may have both a comp claim and a claim against the at-fault driver.

What to do after an injury in Maine

1. Put your health first: get checked out, follow up, and keep the paperwork.
2. Make sure there is an official record, whether a police report, a store incident report or written notice to your employer.
3. Photograph everything: the scene, vehicles, hazards and injuries. Write down names and phone numbers of witnesses.
4. Be careful about recorded statements to the other side's insurer before you understand your rights.
5. File a free claim or call (833) 822-7800 to have an independent attorney licensed in Maine review it.