Prince George's County Injury Lawyer

Which courts hear Prince George's County injury cases?

Most serious injury cases from Prince George's County are filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, in the courthouse at 14735 Main Street in Upper Marlboro, because a negligence case may be brought where the cause of action arose (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 6-202(8)).

The District Court of Maryland sits in two places in the county: Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville. It hears smaller claims without a jury, and in a civil case worth $25,000 or less no party may demand one (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-402(e)). The county is also home to the federal courthouse in Greenbelt, the Southern Division of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. That is where claims against the federal government are litigated, and where Metro cases can end up, because federal courts share jurisdiction over suits against WMATA and a case filed in state court can be removed there (WMATA Compact § 81, Md. Code, Transp. § 10-204).

Who gets notice when Prince George's County is responsible?

For a claim against Prince George's County, written notice must go to the county solicitor or county attorney within one year after the injury (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-304(b)(1) and (c)(3)(iii)). That is different from Montgomery County, where notice goes to the County Executive.

This Local Government Tort Claims Act (LGTCA) rule covers crashes with TheBus, the county's bus system run by the Department of Public Works and Transportation, with county police cruisers and other county vehicles, and injuries caused by county property. The notice must be in writing, state the time, place, and cause of the injury, and be delivered in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested (§ 5-304(b)(2) and (c)(1)).

Not every public body in the county is "the county." Hyattsville, College Park, Bowie, Greenbelt, and Upper Marlboro are incorporated municipalities, and notice of a claim against one of them goes to its corporate authorities (§ 5-304(c)(4)). The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which runs parks and recreation centers here, and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission are separate local governments under the act (§ 5-301(d)). Damages against any of them are limited to $400,000 per individual claim and $800,000 per occurrence, with no punitive damages against the government itself (§ 5-303). More on injury claims against Maryland governments.

Hurt on Metro in Prince George's County?

A Metrorail or Metrobus injury is a claim against WMATA, an interstate agency that is liable for torts in its proprietary functions but not for torts in the performance of governmental functions (WMATA Compact § 80, Md. Code, Transp. § 10-204). It is not a county claim, so the LGTCA notice rule and county caps do not govern it.

Prince George's County has more Metro lines than any other Maryland county:

Green Line: College Park-University of Maryland, Hyattsville Crossing, West Hyattsville, and Greenbelt in the north; Southern Avenue, Naylor Road, Suitland, and Branch Avenue in the south.
Orange Line: Cheverly, Landover, and New Carrollton.
Blue and Silver Lines: Capitol Heights, Addison Road, Morgan Boulevard, and Downtown Largo.

Metrobus and TheBus both run throughout the county, so whether the bus belonged to WMATA or the county decides who you sue and which notice rule applies. Our page on WMATA Metro and Metrobus injury claims explains how these claims work.

The Purple Line, a light rail line that will link New Carrollton, College Park, and Riverdale Park with Montgomery County, is still under construction and not carrying passengers as of this update.

Prince George's County roads where serious crashes happen

The Capital Beltway (I-495 and I-95) wraps around the county from College Park through Largo to Oxon Hill and National Harbor, where the Woodrow Wilson Bridge crosses the Potomac into Virginia. A crash near a state line raises the question of which jurisdiction's law and insurance rules apply; our guide explains which state's law applies to your injury. US 50 runs east through Cheverly and Landover toward Bowie. Branch Avenue (MD 5) and Indian Head Highway (MD 210) carry fast, heavy traffic through Camp Springs, Clinton, Oxon Hill, and Fort Washington.

Two other claim paths are worth knowing here:

Federal vehicles. Joint Base Andrews, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, and the Census Bureau in Suitland bring federal vehicles onto county roads. A claim against the United States requires a written administrative claim to the agency within two years (28 U.S.C. § 2401(b)). See our Federal Tort Claims Act page.
State employees and agencies. A claim against the State of Maryland under the Maryland Tort Claims Act requires a written claim to the State Treasurer or a designee within one year (Md. Code, State Gov't § 12-106(b)), and the State's liability is generally limited to $400,000 per claimant (§ 12-104(a)(2)).

What are the deadlines for a Prince George's County injury claim?

In Maryland, you generally have three years from the date the claim accrues to file a personal injury lawsuit (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). When a public body is involved, the earlier notice deadline controls:

One year: LGTCA notice to the county attorney or county solicitor (or a city's corporate authorities).
One year: written claim to the State Treasurer for a claim against the State.
Two years: federal administrative claim for a crash with a federal driver.
Three years: lawsuit against a private driver, business, or property owner.

A court can sometimes excuse late LGTCA notice for good cause, and notice is not required if the government had actual or constructive notice of the injury within the year (§ 5-304(d) and (e)). The deadlines and timeline chapter of our guide lays the dates side by side.

How does contributory negligence play out in these cases?

Maryland still follows contributory negligence, so an injured person whose own negligence contributed to the injury can be barred from any recovery (Coleman v. Soccer Ass'n of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013)). Insurers use it constantly. A pedestrian on Indian Head Highway "was not in a crosswalk." A Metro rider "was rushing the doors." A driver on US 50 "changed lanes without looking."

We answer those arguments with proof gathered before it disappears: bus and station video, signal data, 911 audio, and witnesses. Maryland also recognizes the last clear chance doctrine, which can allow recovery when the defendant could still have avoided the harm. See how contributory negligence works in the DMV.

What insurance and damages rules apply?

Maryland auto policies must include personal injury protection (PIP) unless the first named insured waives it in writing, with minimum benefits of $2,500 for medical expenses and 85% of lost income within three years of the crash (Md. Code, Ins. § 19-505; § 19-506). Noneconomic damages are capped at $980,000 for causes of action arising from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027 ($965,000 for the prior year) (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 11-108(b)). If the at-fault driver carried only minimum limits, look at Maryland uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

How we serve Prince George's County clients

Founding partners Ryan C. Posey and Jacob M. Lebowitz are admitted in Maryland and Virginia as well as D.C. Our office is in Georgetown, at 3221 M Street NW in Washington, D.C.; we have no office in Maryland. We meet clients by phone or video, at their home or in the hospital when that is easier, and we appear in Maryland courts, including the courthouses in Upper Marlboro.

Maryland Personal Injury LawyersOur statewide guide to Maryland injury law WMATA Metro and Metrobus InjuriesCompact immunity and how Metro claims work Maryland Car Accident ClaimsBeltway, US 50, and MD 210 crashes Claims Against Maryland GovernmentsCounty, city, and State claim rules Maryland Pedestrian Injury ClaimsWalking on high-speed suburban roads Maryland Wrongful Death ClaimsBeneficiaries, deadlines, and damages

Frequently asked questions

Who gets notice if TheBus or a Prince George's County police car hit me?

The county solicitor or county attorney. For a claim against Prince George's County, written notice must be given to the county solicitor or county attorney within one year after the injury (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-304(c)(3)(iii)). The notice must state the time, place, and cause of the injury and be delivered in person or by certified mail, return receipt requested.

I was hurt on Metro in Prince George's County. Is that a claim against the county?

No. Metrorail and Metrobus are run by WMATA, an interstate agency created by compact, so the county notice rule and county damages limits do not govern the claim. Under the WMATA Compact, Metro is liable for torts in its proprietary functions but not for torts in the performance of governmental functions (Md. Code, Transp. § 10-204). Suits against WMATA can be heard in state court or in federal court, which for Maryland cases in this area sits in Greenbelt.

How long do I have to sue after a crash on the Beltway or MD 210?

Generally three years from the date of the crash (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). If a county or city vehicle, the State, or a federal driver was involved, a written notice or claim is due much sooner: one year for local governments and the State, and two years for the federal government. Those earlier dates control.

Where is the courthouse for a Prince George's County injury case?

Most serious injury cases are filed in the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, at the courthouse at 14735 Main Street in Upper Marlboro. The District Court sits in Upper Marlboro and Hyattsville and hears smaller claims without a jury. Federal cases are heard at the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt.

Is there a limit on what I can recover from Prince George's County?

Yes. A local government's liability is limited to $400,000 per individual claim and $800,000 for all claims from the same occurrence, and it cannot be held liable for punitive damages (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-303). Those limits protect the local government, not private drivers or companies who share fault, so we look for every responsible party.

Can you meet me if I live in Bowie, Largo, or Oxon Hill?

Yes. Our only office is in Georgetown, at 3221 M Street NW in Washington, D.C., and we meet clients by phone or video, at their home or in the hospital when that is easier. We appear in Maryland courts, and Ryan Posey and Jacob Lebowitz are admitted in Maryland.

Talk to a Maryland injury lawyer today

If TheBus, a county vehicle, or county property was involved, written notice must reach the county attorney or county solicitor within one year. Metro and bus video can be overwritten long before that, so call us early.

Posey Lebowitz PLLC · 3221 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007

Call (202) 524-0123 or request a free consultation. No fee unless we win your injury case.

Our office is in Georgetown, at 3221 M Street NW in Washington, D.C. We meet clients by phone or video, at their home or in the hospital when that is easier, and we appear in Maryland and Virginia courts.

More than $32 million recovered.

Plus more than $22 million in other assets.

Across more than 250 matters, in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

See the results →

These case results are examples of matters handled by Posey Lebowitz PLLC. The outcome of any case depends on the specific facts and legal circumstances of that case. These results do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future matter. Amounts shown are gross recoveries before attorney's fees, case expenses, and medical liens. Asset values are stated as of 2026 and will change.

Responsible attorneys: Ryan C. Posey and Jacob M. Lebowitz. Posey Lebowitz PLLC, 3221 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Prince George's County Personal Injury Lawyer