Maryland · Comparative Negligence

Maryland Comparative Negligence Rule

Maryland follows a contributory (pure bar) rule under Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679, 69 A.3d 1149 (2013). Maryland applies a special rule that does not fit the standard percentage cutoff. See the notes below.

Updated 2026-05-22 · See all 50 states

Estimate Your Settlement

Key facts: Maryland

Rule type
Contributory (pure bar)

Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).

How recovery works
Maryland applies a special rule that does not fit the standard percentage cutoff. See the notes below.
Last verified
2026-05-22
Source type
Primary (court opinion)

Details for Maryland

Maryland retains common-law pure contributory negligence; the Court of Appeals reaffirmed the rule in Coleman, declining to adopt comparative fault in light of the General Assembly’s repeated refusal to do so.

Related: Maryland statute of limitations

Maryland gives you 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101.

See the full Maryland statute of limitations →

Related: car accident settlements by state

Fault rules like this one change what the same crash pays from state to state. Compare average car accident settlements, fault rules, and filing deadlines side by side.

Car accident settlements by state →

This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Some categories (medical negligence, governmental defendants) follow different rules. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Maryland attorney before relying on it.

See what your Maryland claim could be worth.

SetCalc estimates personal injury settlements with location-specific data and routes your case to a local attorney for a free review.

Calculate Your Settlement

Maryland Comparative Negligence FAQ

What comparative negligence rule does Maryland follow?

Maryland follows a contributory (pure bar) rule under Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679, 69 A.3d 1149 (2013). Any contributory fault bars recovery entirely. Applied in only a handful of jurisdictions (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC). Maryland applies a special rule that does not fit the standard percentage cutoff. See the notes below.

Can I still recover if I was partly at fault for the accident in Maryland?

In Maryland, even a small amount of fault on the claimant's part bars recovery entirely. This is one of the harshest rules in the country and applies in only a handful of jurisdictions.

How does this affect settlement negotiations in Maryland?

Insurance adjusters argue percentage of fault to reduce what they pay. Because Maryland bars recovery for any contributory fault, defendants have strong leverage to dispute liability and frequently push claimants toward low settlements.

What is the personal injury statute of limitations in Maryland?

Maryland gives you 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101.

Where can I read the actual rule?

The controlling authority is Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679, 69 A.3d 1149 (2013). The full text is linked in the Key Facts section above.

See comparative negligence rules for all 51 covered states

SetCalc Logo

Artificial Intelligence + Attorney InsightTM

What's My Case Worth?
Email Us: [email protected]
ResourcesHow Settlements WorkWhat to ExpectSettlements & VerdictsStatute of Limitations by StateComparative Negligence by StatePartly at Fault? 50-State GuideSettlement GlossaryWhat to Do After a Car AccidentHow to Negotiate with an AdjusterShould I Accept the First Offer?
MenuHomeHow It WorksAboutSuccess StoriesFAQContact Us
AttorneysSetCalc ProfessionalSubmit a Case ResultDeveloper APIInsurance CompaniesState FarmGEICOProgressiveAllstateUSAALiberty MutualFarmersMercury
Case TypesCar AccidentsTrucking AccidentsUber AccidentsLyft AccidentsMotorcycle AccidentsPedestrian AccidentsBicycle AccidentsPassenger SettlementsBus AccidentsUPS AccidentsFedEx Accidents
More GuidesAll Settlement GuidesPain & SufferingDemand LettersSettlement vs LawsuitSettlement TimelineColossus SoftwareShould I Hire an Attorney?BuyCrash / LexisNexis ReportsCar Accident Police Report
Car Accident Settlements by State:AlabamaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIllinoisMichiganNebraskaNevadaNew YorkTennesseeTexasUtahWashingtonAll States
Privacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsDo Not Sell My Info

DISCLAIMER: SetCalc is for informational purposes only. We do not provide legal advice, medical advice, or legal representation. We recommend consulting an attorney regarding your case.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING: setcalc.com is not a law firm or an attorney referral service. The information provided on this site, or any affiliated postings such as videos, blogs, social media, or elsewhere, is not legal advice. No attorney-client or confidential relationship is, or will be, formed by usage of the site. This site is a pooled attorney advertisement. Participating attorneys and law firms who contact Requestors based on form submissions have paid an advertising fee. In CA, this is paid advertising for The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker; Los Angeles, CA. Do not rely on our service or statements from our service when deciding which attorney to hire. All settlement calculations are estimates only and should not be the basis of important legal decisions. Attorney review of estimate is subject to availability and may not be available for some case types, locations, or for those already represented by counsel. If unavailable, we will send estimate by email without attorney review. By submitting your contact info you agree an advertising attorney may contact you using any form of communication, including calls, emails, auto-dial, pre-recorded messages, and text messages. You understand consent is not a condition of purchase. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.