Car accidents in Maryland: what to do and who pays

At the scene and reporting a crash in Maryland

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

If anyone is hurt or killed and police did not investigate, each driver must send a written report to the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) within 15 days, with proof of liability insurance (insurer name and address, policy number, agent). No driver report is needed if a police officer investigated and filed a report with the State Police.

Report to the state

Written report to the MVA within 15 days for crashes with injury or death, unless police investigated and filed a report. Include insurance details.

Deadline for your report

15 days

Law

Md. Code, Transp. § 20-107

Official text

Read the official text

First 24 hours after a crash in Maryland

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

Insurance system in Maryland

Maryland 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

Fault-based. Insurers must include personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $2,500 for medical bills and lost income unless the first named insured waives it in writing. PIP pays your own costs first but does not limit your right to sue.

Law

Md. Code, Ins. §§ 19-505, 19-506

Official text

Read the official text

Compare every state in the no-fault states table.

Who pays: comparative fault in Maryland

Rule

Contributory negligence

What it means

In Maryland, if you were even slightly at fault (1% or more), you may be barred from recovering anything from the other driver. Courts recognize a few narrow exceptions.

Law

Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013) (Court of Appeals kept contributory negligence: any negligence by you that helped cause the crash can bar recovery)

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

Who pays in Maryland: 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.

Minimum insurance in Maryland

Liability minimum

30/60/15

Uninsured / underinsured motorist (UM/UIM)

Required. Uninsured motorist coverage must at least equal the minimum liability limits (including loss of use of your car) and, unless you waive it, must equal your liability limits. Since July 1, 2024, new policies include 'enhanced underinsured motorist' coverage unless you waive it in writing.

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 Maryland

For Maryland State Police reports, wait at least 10 days, then visit the barrack that wrote the report, or send the request form to the MSP Central Records Division by mail or email with a $4 search fee (check or money order). For crashes in Baltimore City, contact the Baltimore Police Department Central Records Division (410-396-2234). Local police and sheriffs keep their own reports. https://mdsp.maryland.gov/community-services/request-police-reports

No confirmed online way to order a report in Maryland? Ask by mail with our free police report request letter.

Filing a claim and insurer deadlines in Maryland

How fast insurers must act

COMAR 31.15.07.03: insurers must acknowledge a claim within 15 working days, affirm or deny coverage within 15 working days after receiving completed proof of loss, and reply to claimants' written communications within 15 working days. Md. Code, Ins. §§ 27-303 and 27-304 list unfair claim settlement practices.

Put your claim in writing. Our free insurance claim letter lists your damages and asks for a written answer, within 15 working days for Maryland where our data gives a day count.

If the other driver has no insurance in Maryland

If your insurance lapses, your registration is suspended and the MVA can charge an uninsured motorist penalty of $200 for the first 1-30 days, then $7 per day, up to $3,500 per violation in 12 months (Transp. § 17-106). If the other driver has no insurance, your required uninsured motorist coverage pays, including property damage and loss of use of your car (Ins. § 19-509).

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

Deadlines to sue in Maryland

Property damage (your car)

3 years

Injury

3 years

Notes, including claims against a government

To sue a county, city or other local government, give written notice within 1 year of the injury, in person or by certified mail, to the officials named in the law (Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-304). To sue the State, first submit a written claim to the State Treasurer within 1 year, and file suit within 3 years (State Gov't § 12-106).

Law

Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101

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 Maryland

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.

Small claims for property damage in Maryland

Small claims limit

$5,000 (District Court small claims).

Maryland 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 Maryland

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

• Maryland Insurance Administration · 1-800-492-6116

Free help in Maryland

• Maryland State Police Central Records Division
• Maryland Insurance Administration · 1-800-492-6116

Good to know in Maryland

• Maryland is one of the few places that still uses contributory negligence: if you were even slightly at fault, you may recover nothing (Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 2013).
• Uninsured motorist coverage in Maryland also covers property damage and loss of use of your car (Ins. § 19-509).
• Maryland State Police crash reports cost a $4 search fee and are usually ready 10 days after the crash (MSP).

Changes in 2024–2026

Since July 1, 2024, new private passenger policies must include enhanced underinsured motorist coverage unless the first named insured waives it in writing; for renewals of policies issued before then, it is added only if you choose it (Md. Code, Ins. § 19-509.1). A 2026 bill to let injured pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users recover under comparative negligence (HB 466) was referred to interim study and did not become law; contributory negligence still applies.

Free letters

Questions about car accidents in Maryland

Other states