Key facts: Maine
- When the clock starts
- Generally the date of injury for personal injury claims; the date of death for wrongful death. Maine follows the discovery rule for most negligence claims, which delays accrual when the injury was not, or could not reasonably have been, discovered at the time.
- Last verified
- 2026-05-22
- Source type
- Primary (state code or court opinion)
Details and exceptions for Maine
Maine has the longest general PI deadline in the U.S. at six years under 14 M.R.S. § 752. Wrongful death is three years from the date of death (extended from two years by 2023 amendment); homicide cases get six years from discovery. Government tort claims notice required within 180 days.
Related: Maine comparative negligence rule
Maine follows a modified 50% bar rule. Modified comparative negligence with a 50% bar; the statute expressly provides that a claimant found "equally at fault" may not recover. Damages are also reduced as the jury deems just and equitable, an unusual feature.
Read the full Maine comparative negligence rule →This page is informational and does not constitute legal advice. Notice deadlines for claims against governmental units, medical malpractice, intentional torts, and other special categories run on separate tracks and can be much shorter. Confirm the controlling rule with a licensed Maine attorney before relying on it.