A crash involving a county vehicle or an injury on government property deserves an early deadline check. Waiting until treatment ends can leave you with medical records but a procedural problem that could have been addressed months earlier.
Start by identifying who may be legally responsible. Then separate the deadline for giving notice or presenting a claim from the deadline for filing a lawsuit. This overview addresses ordinary negligence claims involving Maryland state or local government, with a separate caution about federal defendants. It is not a deadline calculator for an individual case.
The general three-year rule is only a starting point
Maryland’s general civil limitations statute requires filing within three years after a claim accrues, unless another Code provision supplies a different period. That rule does not eliminate separate government-claim requirements. Nor does it answer when a particular claim accrued or whether an exception applies. See Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-101.
For an initial review, write down the incident date, when you first learned of the injury, every potentially responsible organization, and all communications since the incident. Bring the actual letters and envelopes, not only your recollection of what an adjuster said.
For a local-government claim, check the recipient and delivery method
Subject to statutory exceptions, Maryland’s local-government notice law requires written notice within one year after the injury. It must describe the time, place, and cause of the injury. The statute specifies personal delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, bearing a U.S. Postal Service postmark. The recipient depends on the government involved: in Howard County and Montgomery County, for example, notice goes to the County Executive. Baltimore City uses the City Solicitor. Other listed counties use their county solicitor or county attorney. See Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 5-304.
A call to a department, an online complaint, or a conversation at the scene should not be your plan for satisfying those requirements. Ask counsel to verify the correct entity, recipient, contents, and delivery method. Keep a complete copy of what was sent and the delivery evidence.
A claim against the State follows a different process
Under the Maryland Tort Claims Act’s general procedure, a claimant submits a written claim to the State Treasurer or the Treasurer’s designee within one year after the injury. The claim must be finally denied before suit, and the action must be filed within three years after the cause of action arises. Exceptions exist. See State Government § 12-106.
The claim also has content requirements: a factual description including date and place, a demand for specific damages, party information, counsel’s information if applicable, and a signature. State law treats the claim as finally denied if the Treasurer or designee does not provide a final decision within six months after filing. See State Government § 12-107.
The Treasurer’s claims page is a starting point for the State’s process. Do not assume that opening a claim gives you additional time to sue. Have both dates reviewed. The State’s filing regulation requires actual receipt within the one-year period; mailing by the anniversary is not enough. Statutory exceptions still require separate analysis.
A federal vehicle requires a separate analysis
A federal employee or agency may bring the Federal Tort Claims Act into the picture. For claims covered by that law, the general rule requires presenting a written claim to the appropriate federal agency within two years after accrual. A lawsuit generally must begin within six months after the agency mails its final denial by certified or registered mail. See 28 U.S.C. § 2401(b).
Administrative presentation comes before suit; after six months without a final agency disposition, the claimant may generally treat the inaction as a denial for purposes of proceeding. See 28 U.S.C. § 2675(a). These rules have exceptions and additional requirements. Do not reuse a Maryland notice form and assume it completes a federal claim.
Build a file that answers who, when, and what
Useful materials for counsel include:
- Photographs of the vehicle, identifying markings, property, and incident location.
- The police or incident report number and available witness contact information.
- Medical records, bills, work restrictions, and a factual timeline of symptoms.
- Every notice, claim submission, acknowledgment, denial, and delivery receipt.
- Insurance information and the names of agencies, contractors, or businesses involved.
Flag uncertain facts rather than filling in gaps. A logo or uniform may help identify a lead, but counsel still needs to determine the proper defendant and governing process. Notice compliance alone does not establish liability or resolve immunity questions.
If a year has already passed, seek advice promptly rather than deciding the claim is lost. Maryland’s state and local statutes contain actual-or-constructive-notice provisions and possible good-cause relief. Whether those provisions help depends on the record. They should not replace timely compliance when compliance remains possible.
For a consultation, have the incident date and government-related documents ready. Avoid sending confidential records through an initial contact form before the office confirms how to provide them securely.
General information as of October 31, 2026, not legal advice. Deadlines and available claims depend on the facts, defendant, and applicable law.