The Maryland Courts & Judicial Proceedings Code Section 5-101 states that plaintiffs have three years starting from the date of the accidents to file personal injury lawsuits. Doing so after the three-year deadline typically results in case dismissal and the inability to collect damages. If the claim is against a state governmental entity, the plaintiff has one year to file a formal claim and three years to issue a lawsuit. Legal professionals ensure claims and suits get filed in a timely manner to increase their clients’ chances of recovering damages.