Contributory (any fault can bar you)3-year ordinary injury clock
Maryland (contributory, still in force)
The Court of Appeals kept contributory negligence. The legislature has not replaced it.
Last checked Aug 31, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
- If you share blame
- If you are even slightly at fault, you may recover nothing. This is the harshest rule still on the books.
- Ordinary injury time limit
- 3 years. Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101. Tolling, discovery rules, and other claim types can change that. Use the time-limit tool, then have a lawyer confirm the subsection.
- Caps on pain and suffering
- A noneconomic cap applies in many personal-injury actions and is adjusted. Contributory negligence sits on top of it.
What that actually means
Maryland combines a contributory-fault bar with a noneconomic cap. That is a double filter.
Three-year clock. Do not import D.C.'s 2023 comparative switch. Maryland did not follow.