Maryland · Deadline to sue · Updated Oct 2026
Deadline to sue after a car accident in Maryland
Time limits, government claims and a calculator.
Short answer
In Maryland, you generally have 3 years from the crash to sue, for car damage and for an injury. 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).
- Property damage (your car)
- 3 years
- Injury
- 3 years
- Law
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101
- Small claims limit
- $5,000
Claims against a government in Maryland
- 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).
Shorter time limits to watch in Maryland
- Crash report: Written report to the MVA within 15 days for crashes with injury or death, unless police investigated and filed a report.
Deadline to sue in Maryland
Protecting your deadline in Maryland
- Deadline for both kinds of claim in Maryland: 3 years.
- If a government was involved, act fast. 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).
- Small claims, for car damage up to $5,000: Maryland small claims guide on Small Claims Map
- Don't wait for the insurer: talks with an adjuster don't stop the clock.
Free help in Maryland
Questions about deadlines to sue in Maryland
How long do you have to sue after a car accident in Maryland?
3 years from the crash, for car damage and for an injury (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101).
How do claims against a government work in Maryland?
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).
What is the small claims limit in Maryland?
$5,000 (District Court small claims).
More for Maryland drivers
- All car accident rules in Maryland
- Comparative fault
- Reporting a crash
- Uninsured driver
- Deadlines to sue in every state
- Small claims court for car damage
- Fault and payout explainer
- Insurance claim letter
- Police report request letter
Nearby states
- Md. Code, Transp. § 20-107 (driver's written report)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 17-103 (minimum security)
- Md. Code, Transp. § 17-106 (lapse penalties)
- Md. Code, Ins. § 19-505 (PIP)
- Md. Code, Ins. § 19-506 (PIP waiver)
- Md. Code, Ins. § 19-509 (uninsured motorist coverage)
- Md. Code, Ins. § 19-509.1 (enhanced underinsured motorist coverage)
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101 (three years)
- Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-304 (notice to local government)
- Md. Code, Ins. §§ 27-303, 27-304 (unfair claim settlement)
- COMAR 31.15.07.03 (claims handling standards)
- Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia (Md. 2013)
- Maryland State Police: Request police reports
- Maryland Insurance Administration: File a complaint
- Md. Code, State Gov't § 12-106 (claims against the State)
- Maryland General Assembly: HB 466 (2026), status
Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.