Maine · Car accident rules · Updated Oct 2026

Car accidents in Maine: what to do and who pays

When to report a crash in Maine, how insurance works, who pays when both drivers share the blame, minimum coverage, how to get the police report, deadlines to sue and where to get help, in plain English from official sources.

$2,000damage that requires a report
Fault (tort)insurance system
Modified (50% bar)comparative-fault rule
50/100/25minimum liability
6 years / 6 yearsto sue: property / injury

At the scene and reporting a crash in Maine

Always stop and help anyone who is hurt. Leaving the scene of a crash is a crime in every state.

When to call the police
Report the crash right away (State Police, sheriff or city/town police) if it happens on a public way and anyone is hurt or killed or damage looks like $2,000 or more. Damage means the market cost of needed repairs, not just the car's value.
Damage amount
$2,000
Report to the state
No separate driver report. The investigating officer sends the report to the State Police within 5 days, and the State Police forward it to the Secretary of State.
Law
29-A M.R.S. § 2251
Official text
Read the official text

First 24 hours after a crash in Maine

Tick the boxes as you go, or print the list and keep it in your glove box.

Safety first

Call for help

Exchange information

Photos and witnesses

Report the crash

  • Maine: Report the crash right away (State Police, sheriff or city/town police) if it happens on a public way and anyone is hurt or killed or damage looks like $2,000 or more. Damage means the market cost of needed repairs, not just the car's value. Report to the state: No separate driver report. The investigating officer sends the report to the State Police within 5 days, and the State Police forward it to the Secretary of State.

Insurance and health

General safety and information steps, not legal advice.

Insurance system in Maine

Maine is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

System
Fault (tort)
PIP, benefits and when you can sue
No PIP. The at-fault driver (and their liability insurance) pays. Every Maine policy must include at least $2,000 of medical payments coverage, plus up to $500 for towing and storage when police have the car towed.
Law
29-A M.R.S. §§ 1605, 1605-B
Official text
Read the official text

Compare every state in the no-fault states table.

Who pays: comparative fault in Maine

Rule
Modified (50% bar)
What it means
In Maine, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were 50% or more at fault (as much as or more than the other side).
Law
14 M.R.S. § 156: your damages are reduced for your share of fault, and you cannot recover if you are found equally at fault (or more).

Compare every state's rule in the comparative negligence table.

Who pays in Maine: fault and payout explainer

If both drivers share the blame, your state's comparative-fault rule decides whether you can recover and how much. Enter your share of the fault and your total damages to see what the rule means. This is an illustration, not a prediction: insurers, juries and judges decide the percentages.

From 0 (not at all) to 100 (all your fault).

Repairs, rental, medical bills and other losses, before any reduction.

Modified comparative fault (50% bar)In Maine, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were 50% or more at fault (as much as or more than the other side).

An illustration from our state data, not legal advice and not a prediction of any payout.

Minimum insurance in Maine

Liability minimum
50/100/25
Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required, at least $50,000/$100,000; on private passenger policies it must equal your bodily injury liability limits unless you reject that in writing on the insurer's form (24-A M.R.S. § 2902; Bureau of Insurance guide). Medical payments of at least $2,000 and towing/storage coverage of up to $500 are also required.
Official text
Read the official text

Numbers like 25/50/25 mean $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for all injuries in one crash and $25,000 for property damage. Compare every state in the minimum insurance table.

Getting the police report in Maine

Order a copy online from the Maine Crash Reporting System (Maine State Police) for $10. Reports appear after the investigating agency submits them. https://www.maine.gov/online/mcrs/

You can also ask by mail with our free police report request letter.

Filing a claim and insurer deadlines in Maine

How fast insurers must act
On your own policy, a claim for benefits is payable within 30 days after the insurer gets proof of loss and the amount is agreed (or set by arbitration); overdue payments earn interest (24-A M.R.S. § 2436). Unfair claims practices are banned by 24-A M.R.S. § 2164-D.

Put your claim in writing. Our free insurance claim letter lists your damages and asks for a written answer.

If the other driver has no insurance in Maine

Claim under your required uninsured motorist coverage for injuries. Driving uninsured is a traffic infraction with a $100-$500 forfeiture, and the Secretary of State suspends the person's license or registration (29-A M.R.S. § 1601).

Read what to do if you are hit by an uninsured driver.

Deadlines to sue in Maine

Property damage (your car)
6 years
Injury
6 years
Notes, including claims against a government
For a claim against a Maine government body, you must file a written notice of claim within 365 days (14 M.R.S. § 8107), and small claims court can't hear personal injury claims against a city or town.
Law
14 M.R.S. § 752 (general 6-year limit)

The deadline is the statute of limitations. Insurance claims and talks with an adjuster don't stop it. Compare every state in the deadlines table.

Deadline to sue in Maine

Every state limits how long you have to file a lawsuit after a car crash. This is the statute of limitations. Choose your state, the type of claim and the date of the crash to see the usual deadline and the last day to file. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.

The day the crash happened.

Maine: 6 years for property damageEnter the date of the crash to see the last day to file a lawsuit.

An estimate from our state data, not legal advice. Exceptions can shorten or extend a deadline, and an insurance claim does not stop the clock. Check with a lawyer early.

Small claims for property damage in Maine

Small claims limit
$10,000 since January 1, 2026 (was $6,000).

Maine small claims guide on Small Claims Map

Small claims court can be a way to recover the cost of repairs from the driver who caused the crash. Read how to use small claims for car damage.

Insurance complaints in Maine

If an insurer delays, underpays or denies a claim without a good reason, you can file a complaint with the state insurance regulator:

Free help in Maine

Good to know in Maine

  • If the other driver's insurer accepts liability, it must reimburse you for reasonable rental expenses (Maine Bureau of Insurance claims guide).
  • Maine law bans 'steering': insurers may not require you to use a specific repair or glass shop (Bureau of Insurance claims guide).
  • Maine's deadline to sue for car crash injuries and damage is 6 years, much longer than most states (14 M.R.S. § 752).

Changes in 2024–2026

No 2024-2026 changes found to the rules used here. PL 2025, c. 659 changed only who can get data from the State Police crash database (29-A M.R.S. § 2251). Earlier: PL 2023, c. 27 raised the crash-reporting threshold to $2,000 based on repair cost, and PL 2023, c. 395 added required towing and storage coverage of up to $500 (29-A M.R.S. § 1605-B).

Free letters

Insurance claim letter

Ask the other driver's insurer to pay your damages, in writing.

Police report request letter

Ask the police agency for a copy of the crash report by mail.

Questions about car accidents in Maine

When do you have to report a car accident in Maine?

Report the crash right away (State Police, sheriff or city/town police) if it happens on a public way and anyone is hurt or killed or damage looks like $2,000 or more. Damage means the market cost of needed repairs, not just the car's value. No separate driver report. The investigating officer sends the report to the State Police within 5 days, and the State Police forward it to the Secretary of State.

Is Maine a no-fault state?

No. Maine is a fault (tort) state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

Can I get money if I was partly at fault in Maine?

In Maine, your damages are reduced by your share of the fault, and you can't recover at all if you were 50% or more at fault (as much as or more than the other side). (14 M.R.S. § 156: your damages are reduced for your share of fault, and you cannot recover if you are found equally at fault (or more))

What is the minimum car insurance in Maine?

50/100/25 Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required, at least $50,000/$100,000; on private passenger policies it must equal your bodily injury liability limits unless you reject that in writing on the insurer's form (24-A M.R.S. § 2902; Bureau of Insurance guide).

How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Maine?

6 years for property damage and 6 years for injury (14 M.R.S. § 752 (general 6-year limit)).

How do I get a police report in Maine?

Order a copy online from the Maine Crash Reporting System (Maine State Police) for $10. Reports appear after the investigating agency submits them. https://www.maine.gov/online/mcrs/

What if the other driver has no insurance in Maine?

Claim under your required uninsured motorist coverage for injuries. Driving uninsured is a traffic infraction with a $100-$500 forfeiture, and the Secretary of State suspends the person's license or registration (29-A M.R.S. § 1601).

Where can I complain about a car insurance company in Maine?

Maine Bureau of Insurance: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumers/file-a-complaint-dispute · (800) 300-5000 or (207) 624-8475

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

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