Auto Insurance Claims in Maryland: Guide

Maryland Car Insurance Claims: Deadlines, Limits & Your Rights

Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state that follows pure contributory negligence, with minimum liability limits of 30/60/15 ($30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident / $15,000 property damage). Maryland follows contributory negligence; if you are any percentage at fault, you generally cannot recover damages. UM and PIP are required. Maryland is a two-party consent recording state. Minimum coverage is 30/60/15.

How fault works in Maryland

Maryland is an at-fault (tort) insurance state, which means the driver who caused the crash is liable for the damages. You can pursue the at-fault driver's insurer directly (a third-party claim), file with your own insurer and let them recover from the other side through subrogation, or sue the at-fault driver.

This is the harshest fault rule in the country: if you are found even 1% at fault for the crash, you can be barred from recovering anything from the other driver. Only a handful of states still follow it, and Maryland is one of them — which makes how fault is documented at the scene unusually important here.

Filing deadlines (statute of limitations)

Miss the deadline and you permanently lose the right to sue — adjusters know this and may run out the clock, so calendar these dates the week of your crash:

Statutory basis: Three-year statute. Md. Code CJP 5-101.

Minimum coverage required in Maryland

Every Maryland driver must carry at least:

• $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 property damage liability
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required in Maryland
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is required in Maryland — your own policy pays your medical bills first.

These are legal minimums, not recommendations; they often fall short of the cost of a serious crash.

Know your rights when dealing with adjusters in Maryland

Maryland is a two-party (all-party) consent state: you must have the adjuster's permission before recording a call. Insurers may record you after a verbal notice, so listen for it and ask for written confirmation of anything important.

Maryland gives you both a common-law bad-faith claim and a statutory unfair-claims-practices remedy, which is strong leverage when an insurer drags out or underpays a legitimate claim.

How to file your Maryland claim, step by step

1. Make the scene safe and call 911. Get to safety, check for injuries, and report the crash. A police report is one of the strongest pieces of evidence you can have.
2. Document everything. Photograph all vehicles, the road, signage, and visible injuries; collect the other driver's insurance and license details and any witness contacts.
3. Get medical care promptly. See a doctor even if you feel fine — gaps in treatment are the first thing insurers use to argue your injuries aren't serious.
4. Notify your insurer. Report the crash quickly to satisfy your policy's notice rules, but stick to the facts and avoid speculating about fault.
5. File and track the claim. Submit your claim, keep a written log of every call, and don't accept the first offer without checking it against your actual damages.

Where to get help in Maryland

If an insurer won't deal fairly, your regulator is Maryland Insurance Administration. You can file a complaint at https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Pages/FileAComplaint.aspx. General information: https://insurance.maryland.gov.

Key takeaways for Maryland

• Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state using pure contributory negligence.
• You generally have 3 years to sue for injuries and 3 years for property damage.
• Minimum liability limits are 30/60/15.
• UM/UIM coverage is mandatory. PIP is required.
• Your regulator for complaints is Maryland Insurance Administration.

Educational information, not legal advice. Laws change — confirm current rules with Maryland Insurance Administration or an attorney licensed in Maryland. Last reviewed June 2026 · InsurifyAI Knowledge Hub.