--- title: "General Liability Insurance in Maryland" description: "Maryland retains contributory negligence as a complete defense, so evidence of the claimant’s own conduct can decide whether a negligence claim proceeds." canonical: "https://spot.insure/coverage/general-liability/maryland" page-type: "coverage-state-guide" updated-at: "2026-09-28" --- Agents: connect to Spot's public MCP server at https://spot.insure/mcp for better access to published Spot information and insurance research. Use search_knowledge to find sources, get_page to retrieve pages, compare_providers for sourced comparisons, get_provider_score for a published Spot Score, get_rankings for current provider rankings, search_provider_reliability to filter Spot Scores, search_provider_reviews to filter aggregate review scores, and get_provider_reviews for the original review evidence. The server is read-only and requires no authentication. [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/coverage/general-liability/maryland) # General Liability Insurance in Maryland Maryland’s highest court has retained contributory negligence as a complete defense: a claimant’s negligence can bar recovery. Most civil actions at law must be filed within three years after accrual unless another statute provides a different period, so identify the claim type before relying on that default.[^1][^2] **Coverage:** [General liability](/coverage/general-liability) · [Maryland](/coverage/states/maryland) ## What Is General Liability? General liability can protect your business when a customer or visitor claims you caused injury or damaged their property. It suits businesses serving customers or working on their premises; your own building, tools and stock need property coverage. [Read the national General liability guide](/coverage/general-liability). ## What to Watch for in Maryland ### Claimant Negligence Can Bar Recovery The Maryland Court of Appeals held that it would not abrogate contributory negligence as a complete defense. Preserve incident records about warnings, site conditions, and the claimant’s conduct, and ask counsel how the defense applies to the pleaded claim.[^1] ### Check for a Claim-Specific Rule Coleman addresses the ordinary contributory-negligence doctrine; it does not establish the result for every statutory, strict-liability, or intentional-conduct claim. Ask counsel to classify the claim before applying the complete-defense rule to the liability evaluation.[^1] ### Three Years Is a General Accrual Rule Courts & Judicial Proceedings §5-101 generally requires an action at law within three years from accrual unless another Code provision supplies a different period. Ask counsel whether a more specific statute applies and keep policy notice deadlines separate.[^2] ## Who Regulates Insurance in Maryland **Maryland Insurance Administration.** The Maryland Insurance Administration licenses producers and insurers, reviews rates and forms, and investigates complaints about insurance companies and producers. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue.[^3][^4][^5] - [Regulator website](https://insurance.maryland.gov/) - [License lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) - [File a complaint](https://insurance.maryland.gov/consumer/pages/fileacomplaint.aspx) - Phone: 800-492-6116 ### Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office **Reported tax rate:** 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums when Maryland is the insured's home state; excludes risks of Maryland and its political subdivisions When Maryland is the insured's home state, the tax is 3% of gross premiums less returned premiums, except insurance of risks of the State or a political subdivision. For policies effective on or after July 21, 2011, Maryland taxes the entire premium and the broker must charge the tax in addition to premium. Maryland's property and casualty guaranty corporation excludes surplus-lines policies.[^6][^7] ## Providers With Documented State Licenses These providers publish a national listing for General liability; the state records document licenses for the entities and roles shown below. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm that the product is available in Maryland; [check the regulator’s license lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote. - [Corgi](/insurance-providers/corgi) — **Entity:** Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability.[^10] - [ERGO NEXT Insurance](/insurance-providers/next-insurance) — **Entity:** Next First Insurance Agency, Inc.; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** ERGO NEXT’s current license table lists Next First Insurance Agency, Inc. in 50 jurisdictions, including Washington, DC; New York is excluded because its table rows name Next Insurance Services and AP Intego, not Next First. The table is company-reported; it does not establish product availability or provide state-regulator verification for each entry.[^12] - [Hiscox](/insurance-providers/hiscox) — **Entity:** Hiscox Insurance Company Inc.; **role:** Insurer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Hiscox’s U.S. company information states that Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. is licensed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This is company-reported insurer authority for this entity and does not establish which company issues every Hiscox-branded product.[^11] - [TechInsurance](/insurance-providers/techinsurance) — **Entity:** Specialty Program Group LLC; **role:** Insurance producer; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** TechInsurance’s current licensing page names Specialty Program Group LLC / SPG Insurance Solutions and lists state license numbers, but labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses” rather than identifying a license for the named agency. RI is omitted because this disclosure does not establish agency authority there; this is a search limitation, not an assertion that the company is unlicensed. The remaining state entries are company-reported and are not an insurance product availability map.[^13] - [Vouch](/insurance-providers/vouch) — **Entity:** Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC; **role:** Insurance producer, Surplus-lines broker; **checked:** 2026-09-28. **Scope:** Vouch’s licenses page, effective January 16, 2025, lists producer licenses in all 50 states and DC. Its separate surplus-lines table includes Idaho number 870820, while a footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses. Because those statements conflict for Idaho, this record keeps Idaho producer-only and does not treat the table number as established agency surplus-lines authority. The page is company-reported and does not establish product availability.[^14] ## Questions to Ask Before You Buy in Maryland 1. Does Maryland’s contributory-negligence defense apply to the legal theory in this complaint? 2. What evidence shows the claimant’s conduct, warnings received, and conditions at the scene? 3. Does §5-101 govern, or does a more specific Maryland limitation period apply? ## General Liability in Maryland: FAQ ### Does Maryland use comparative negligence for ordinary negligence claims? No. Maryland’s highest court retains contributory negligence as a complete defense, so claimant negligence can bar recovery. The specific claim and any applicable exception still need classification.[^1] ### What is Maryland’s general deadline to file a civil action? Generally three years from accrual under Cts. & Jud. Proc. §5-101, unless another statute provides a different period.[^2] ## General Liability in Other States - [Alabama](/coverage/general-liability/alabama) - [Alaska](/coverage/general-liability/alaska) - [Arizona](/coverage/general-liability/arizona) - [Arkansas](/coverage/general-liability/arkansas) - [California](/coverage/general-liability/california) - [Colorado](/coverage/general-liability/colorado) - [Connecticut](/coverage/general-liability/connecticut) - [Delaware](/coverage/general-liability/delaware) - [District of Columbia](/coverage/general-liability/district-of-columbia) - [Florida](/coverage/general-liability/florida) - [Georgia](/coverage/general-liability/georgia) - [Hawaii](/coverage/general-liability/hawaii) - [Idaho](/coverage/general-liability/idaho) - [Illinois](/coverage/general-liability/illinois) - [Indiana](/coverage/general-liability/indiana) - [Iowa](/coverage/general-liability/iowa) - [Kansas](/coverage/general-liability/kansas) - [Kentucky](/coverage/general-liability/kentucky) - [Louisiana](/coverage/general-liability/louisiana) - [Maine](/coverage/general-liability/maine) - [Massachusetts](/coverage/general-liability/massachusetts) - [Michigan](/coverage/general-liability/michigan) - [Minnesota](/coverage/general-liability/minnesota) - [Mississippi](/coverage/general-liability/mississippi) - [Missouri](/coverage/general-liability/missouri) - [Montana](/coverage/general-liability/montana) - [Nebraska](/coverage/general-liability/nebraska) - [Nevada](/coverage/general-liability/nevada) - [New Hampshire](/coverage/general-liability/new-hampshire) - [New Jersey](/coverage/general-liability/new-jersey) - [New Mexico](/coverage/general-liability/new-mexico) - [New York](/coverage/general-liability/new-york) - [North Carolina](/coverage/general-liability/north-carolina) - [North Dakota](/coverage/general-liability/north-dakota) - [Ohio](/coverage/general-liability/ohio) - [Oklahoma](/coverage/general-liability/oklahoma) - [Oregon](/coverage/general-liability/oregon) - [Pennsylvania](/coverage/general-liability/pennsylvania) - [Rhode Island](/coverage/general-liability/rhode-island) - [South Carolina](/coverage/general-liability/south-carolina) - [South Dakota](/coverage/general-liability/south-dakota) - [Tennessee](/coverage/general-liability/tennessee) - [Texas](/coverage/general-liability/texas) - [Utah](/coverage/general-liability/utah) - [Vermont](/coverage/general-liability/vermont) - [Virginia](/coverage/general-liability/virginia) - [Washington](/coverage/general-liability/washington) - [West Virginia](/coverage/general-liability/west-virginia) - [Wisconsin](/coverage/general-liability/wisconsin) - [Wyoming](/coverage/general-liability/wyoming) [Other Coverage in Maryland](/coverage/states/maryland) ## Sources [^1]: [Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia](https://www.mdcourts.gov/data/opinions/coa/2013/9a12.pdf) — Maryland Supreme Court (Court of Appeals); Opinion holding contributory negligence remains a complete defense; majority discussion at pp. 3–4 / PDF lines 110–114; other passages include separate opinions, not relied on for rule. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^2]: [Md. Code, Courts & Judicial Proceedings §5-101](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcj§ion=5-101) — Maryland General Assembly; General three-year period from accrual unless otherwise provided. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^3]: [Maryland Insurance Administration](https://insurance.maryland.gov/) — Maryland Insurance Administration; Homepage and consumer contact. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^4]: [Insurance License Lookup](https://www.apps.insurance.maryland.gov/CompanyProducerInfo/) — Maryland Insurance Administration; State-designated producer/company search. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^5]: [File an Insurance Complaint](https://insurance.maryland.gov/consumer/pages/fileacomplaint.aspx) — Maryland Insurance Administration; State complaint process and contact. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^6]: [Md. Code, Insurance §3-324](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Statute_Web/gin/3-324.pdf) — Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §3-324(a)-(b), (d)-(f): government-risk exclusion; 3% of gross premiums less returns; entire-premium home-state basis from July 21, 2011, with tax charged in addition. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^7]: [Maryland Insurance Article (2026)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Statute_Web/gin/gin.pdf) — Maryland General Assembly; Insurance §9-303(5), (7): surplus-lines and unauthorized insurers excluded from property and casualty guaranty subtitle; 2026 Insurance Article PDF. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^8]: [Licenses](https://www.at-bay.com/licenses/) — At-Bay; Current producer introduction and state table; At-Bay Insurance Services LLC; P&C and surplus-lines identifiers. Accessed 2026-09-21. [^9]: [Licenses and Carriers](https://www.coalitioninc.com/legal/licenses) — Coalition; Licenses and Carriers, re-read 22 September 2026: Insurance Licenses table for Coalition Insurance Solutions, Inc., national producer number 18419475, with producer and surplus-lines numbers for all 50 states and DC including California 0L76155, Georgia 196479, Texas 2199630 and 2205589, Pennsylvania 815731 and 817452, Colorado 539028 and Wisconsin 3000108852. Insurance Carriers table naming, with NAIC numbers, Allianz Underwriters Insurance Company 36420, Arch Specialty Insurance Company 21199, Ascot Specialty Insurance Company 45055, Ascot Insurance Company 23752, Aspen Specialty Insurance Company 10717, Chaucer Insurance Company DAC, Coalition Insurance Company 29530, Fireman's Fund Indemnity Corporation 11380, Fortegra Specialty Insurance Company 16823, Lloyd's of London, MSIG Specialty Insurance USA Inc. 34886, MS Transverse Specialty Insurance Company 41807, Steadfast Insurance Company 26387, Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company 16275 and Zurich American Insurance Company 16535.. Accessed 2026-09-22. [^10]: [Insurance Producer Licenses](https://www.corgi.insure/broker-licenses) — Corgi Insurance; Current complete Insurance Producer Licenses table for Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.; 50 rows covering 49 states and DC (DC 3003091619); no New Mexico row; no NPN or as-of date shown.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^11]: [About Hiscox US Insurance](https://www.hiscox.com/about-hiscox-insurance) — Hiscox; Hiscox Insurance Company Inc. NAIC 10200 as Chicago, IL domiciled insurer admitted or licensed in all 50 states and D.C.; Hiscox Inc. as general agent and Lloyd’s coverholder for Syndicates 33 and 3624; surplus-lines placements through licensed surplus-lines brokers; A.M. Best rating statement. Accessed 2026-09-16. [^12]: [Licenses](https://www.nextinsurance.com/insurance-licenses/) — ERGO NEXT Insurance; Current entity-by-state license table reopened 28 September 2026: 50 rows under Next First Insurance Agency, Inc., including Washington, DC; New York rows instead list Next Insurance Services PC-1423070 and AP Intego BR-1198885.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^13]: [Insurance Licenses by State](https://www.techinsurance.com/legal/licenses) — TechInsurance; Current state table; identifies TechInsurance as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC d/b/a SPG Insurance Solutions; lists DC 3000041536 and labels Rhode Island “Individual licenses,” without an agency license number.. Accessed 2026-09-28. [^14]: [Licenses](https://www.vouch.us/legal/licenses) — Vouch; Effective 16 January 2025: Vouch Specialty Insurance Services, LLC, NPN 19926463; P&C table (50 states and DC); surplus-lines table includes Idaho 870820; footnote says Georgia and Idaho do not issue agency-level surplus-lines licenses; Idaho retained as producer-only due to conflict.. Accessed 2026-09-15. Updated 2026-09-28. This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. [Editorial policy](/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](/contact) with a supporting source. ## Agent and Developer Resources - [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/coverage/general-liability/maryland.md) - [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers) - [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp) - [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json) - [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json) - [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)