What to do after a car accident in Maine
Every rule below is quoted from Maine law or a state agency, with a link. Checked September 17, 2026.
At fault state
The short answer
Maine is an at fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays the other driver when they are at fault, and Maine does not require no fault personal injury protection. A crash must be reported right away to police if it caused an injury or death, or apparent property damage of $2,000 or more. You have 6 years to sue for injuries from a car crash in Maine.
Deadlines in Maine
- 6 years
- to sue for injuries14 M.R.S. 752
- 6 years
- to sue for car or property damage14 M.R.S. 752
- 3 years
- for a family to sue after a death18-C M.R.S. 2-807(2)
- 365 days
- to notify the government if a public vehicle or road was involved14 M.R.S. 8107(1)
Miss one of these and you can lose the right to claim, even with a strong case.
At the scene
Stop, share your information and help anyone hurt
A driver in a Maine crash that hurts or kills someone must stop right away, stay at the scene, give their name, address, and vehicle registration number, and help the injured person.
“shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or stop as close as possible and immediately return to the scene”
When you must call the police
A crash must be reported right away to police if it caused an injury or death, or apparent property damage of $2,000 or more.
“reportable accident...must be reported immediately by the quickest means of communication to a state police officer”
In the days after
Whether you must file a report yourself
Maine does not require the driver to separately file their own crash report with the state. The Chief of the State Police already sends every reportable accident report to the Secretary of State's office.
“Shall send all accident reports to the Secretary of State”
Getting a copy of the crash report
Request a Maine State Police crash or investigative record through its Investigative Records unit, using the request form on its website.
Who pays for the damage
Maine is an at fault state. Drivers must carry liability insurance that pays the other driver when they are at fault, and Maine does not require no fault personal injury protection.
“Be in the amount or limit of at least”
Insurance rules in Maine
What insurance every driver must carry
Maine drivers must carry at least $50,000 in liability coverage per person, $100,000 per crash, and $25,000 for property damage.
“For injury to or death of any one person, $50,000”
Personal injury protection (PIP)
Maine does not require personal injury protection coverage. It requires liability insurance and a smaller medical payments coverage of at least $2,000 instead.
“For medical payments pursuant to section 1605‑A, $2,000”
If the other driver has no insurance
Maine requires uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage equal to your liability limits, unless you reject that equal amount in writing.
“the amount of coverage to be so provided may not be less than the amount of coverage for liability for bodily injury or death...unless the purchaser expressly rejects such an amount”
Medical payments coverage
Maine requires medical payments coverage of at least $2,000 as part of the minimum insurance every driver must carry.
“For medical payments pursuant to section 1605‑A, $2,000”
If an insurance company treats you unfairly
File a complaint against an insurance company with the Maine Bureau of Insurance online.
The deadline rules, word for word
Deadline to sue for injuries
You have 6 years to sue for injuries from a car crash in Maine.
“All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues and not afterwards”
Deadline to sue for car damage
You have 6 years to sue over vehicle or property damage from a car crash in Maine.
“All civil actions shall be commenced within 6 years after the cause of action accrues and not afterwards”
Deadline for a wrongful death claim
For a death from a car crash, you have 3 years after the death to sue.
“An action under this section must be commenced within 3 years after the decedent's death”
If a government vehicle or road was involved
If a state or local government vehicle or road is involved, you must file a written notice of claim within 365 days of the crash, before you can sue.
“Within 365 days after any claim or cause of action permitted by this chapter accrues...a claimant...shall file a written notice”
Sources on this page
Each one was opened and checked on September 17, 2026.
- 29-A M.R.S. 1605(1)(C)
- 14 M.R.S. 156
- 14 M.R.S. 752
- 18-C M.R.S. 2-807(2)
- 14 M.R.S. 8107(1)
- 29-A M.R.S. 2251(1)-(2)
- 24-A M.R.S. 2902(2)
- 29-A M.R.S. 2252(1)
- https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/investigation-traffic/records
- https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumers/file-a-complaint-dispute
- Maine Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)
Know My Claim is not a law firm or a government agency, and this page is not legal advice. Laws change, so check the linked source before you rely on a deadline.