Maine Car Accident Lawyer

Is Maine a no-fault state for car accidents?

No. Maine follows a traditional at-fault system, so the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the injuries, usually through that driver's liability insurer.

There is no PIP system that requires you to meet a threshold before claiming pain and suffering. Instead, Maine requires every auto policy to include medical payments coverage, which helps pay early treatment costs regardless of fault, and uninsured motorist coverage, which steps in when the other driver has no insurance. Maine's required liability limits are higher than in many states, but a serious injury can still exceed them, so underinsured motorist coverage often matters too.

Why does a 6-year deadline not mean you should wait?

Maine generally gives you 6 years to file, one of the longest windows in the country. But the evidence that proves fault and damages fades on a much shorter timeline.

Consider a crash on Interstate 295 in Portland in January 2026. The lawsuit deadline generally runs into 2032. Yet highway camera footage may be overwritten within days, vehicle data may be lost when a car is repaired or salvaged, and the plow driver who saw the crash may be hard to find by spring. Medical records also become harder to connect to the crash when months pass without treatment. We start gathering proof right away, even though the court deadline is far off. Early action also lets us notify every insurer promptly, which many policies require.

How does the Maine fault bar work at an intersection?

Your award is reduced by your share of fault, and you recover nothing if your fault equals or exceeds the other driver's. In practice, you must be less than 50% to blame.

Picture a crash at a busy intersection in Bangor on an icy February morning. You were going straight; the other driver turned left in front of you. The insurer says you were driving too fast for the ice. Your damages total $80,000.

• If the jury finds you 25% at fault, you recover about $60,000.
• If the jury finds you 45% at fault, you recover about $44,000.
• If the jury finds you and the other driver equally at fault, you recover nothing.

Maine juries have some discretion in how much to reduce an award, but the bar at equal fault is firm. Photos of road conditions, the other driver's speed and the timing of the turn can make the difference.

What Maine road conditions cause crashes?

Winter weather, wildlife and seasonal traffic shape most Maine crashes. Each requires different evidence.

Winter and mud season

Black ice, whiteouts and snowbanks that hide side roads are constant winter dangers. In spring, frost heaves and potholes can jolt a car into another lane. Drivers are expected to adjust speed for conditions.

Wildlife

Deer and moose collisions peak at dawn and dusk. A single-vehicle animal strike usually runs through your own coverage, but if another driver's choices made the crash worse, a liability claim may exist.

Summer traffic

U.S. Route 1, the Maine Turnpike and roads near coastal towns and lakes fill with visitors who do not know the area. Sudden stops, wrong turns and distracted sightseeing cause many rear-end and turning crashes.

What insurance gaps should Maine drivers check?

Check whether the other driver's limits cover your losses, and whether your own underinsured coverage can fill the rest. Serious crashes often need both.

Rideshare crashes in Portland and other cities may involve the company's commercial policy depending on whether the driver was on a trip; see rideshare and taxi accidents. A pedestrian struck in a crosswalk may claim against the driver and also use medical payments coverage from a household auto policy; see pedestrian accidents. Work trucks and delivery vans may carry larger commercial policies.

What should you do after a Maine car crash?

Report the crash, get care and preserve proof. Maine expects drivers to report crashes involving injury, death or significant property damage to police.

1. Call police and note the report number.
2. Photograph road surface, snowbanks, signs and vehicle positions.
3. Get medical attention promptly, even if symptoms are mild.
4. Notify your insurer and ask about medical payments coverage.
5. Avoid recorded statements to the other insurer.

For semi-truck and logging truck crashes, see our Maine truck accident page. Visit our Maine injury guide for statewide rules. We offer a free case review, and there is no fee unless we win.