Maine Fault Rule
Modified Comparative Negligence (50% Bar): Maine follows a 50% modified comparative fault bar with a generous 6-year statute of limitations. A claimant can recover damages only if their fault is less than the defendant's (49% or less); equal 50% fault bars recovery.
Statute of Limitations
6 Years (14 M.R.S. § 156 & § 752): Claimants must finalize settlement agreements or initiate formal civil actions within 6 years of the collision date.
Statutory Insurance Minimums
50/100/25 ($50k bodily injury / $100k per accident / $25k property damage): These mandatory insurance minimums represent the maximum available coverage under standard policies unless the driver purchased higher optional coverage.
How Fault Apportionment Affects Claims in Maine
When negotiating auto accident claims in Maine, insurance adjusters calculate damages using an itemized formula that adds economic losses (medical bills, future treatment, lost earnings, property repair) to non-economic damages (pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life).
Under Title 14 Maine Revised Statutes § 156, if the claimant's fault is equal to or greater than the defendant's fault, the claimant cannot recover damages. If the claimant is less at fault (49% or less), damages are reduced to dollars deemed equitable by the trier of fact. 14 M.R.S. § 752 establishes a 6-year statutory filing period for personal injury actions. Understanding this threshold prevents accident victims from being pressured into unfair initial liability splits during adjusters' telephone recorded statements.