A serious injury can flip life upside down fast—medical bills, missed work, and insurers pushing for a quick (often low) resolution. Maine has many capable plaintiff’s lawyers, but the right fit depends on the kind of case, the stakes, and whether you need a firm that can prepare for trial as confidently as it negotiates.

This February 2026 update spotlights five attorneys who stand out for experience, reputation, and publicly available professional recognition. (No directory can capture every excellent lawyer in the state—this is a starting point, not a guarantee of outcomes.)

How this February 2026 list was built

To keep this list grounded and current, the entries below are based on publicly available information such as attorney and firm biographies, peer-review/selection directories, and legal-industry recognitions—rather than recycled summaries.

Sources we cross-checked include Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, Avvo, Lawyers.com, The Best Lawyers in America, Inner Circle of Advocates, and Lawdragon. 

What to look for in a top Maine personal injury lawyer

If you’re comparing firms, these questions usually separate “fine” from “exceptional”:

• Case-type depth: Do they routinely handle your kind of injury (car/truck crash, med mal, wrongful death, product defect, premises liability)?
• Resources: Do they have the staffing and experts needed for high-damages cases?
• Trial readiness: Do they prepare every case like it could be tried (even if most settle)?
• Communication: Do you get clear timelines, next steps, and realistic expectations?
• Fee structure: Most plaintiffs’ firms use contingency fees—confirm how costs and expenses are handled.

Top personal injury attorneys in Maine (2026)

1) Peter Thompson — Peter Thompson & Associates (Portland)

Peter Thompson remains #1 for a simple reason: statewide presence plus decades of focus on serious injury cases, supported by consistent recognition in major attorney-selection and directory sources. On Super Lawyers, he’s listed as selected from 2007–2025, and his profile notes he has been licensed in Maine since 1994. 

The firm is also listed on Lawyers.com with a 4.8 rating shown alongside 88 reviews and “Free Consultation,” and the directory notes the firm’s Portland address. 

Best fit for cases involving: significant auto/truck crashes, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other high-impact injuries (especially when you want a firm built for litigation posture, not just quick settlements). 

2) Benjamin Gideon — Gideon Asen (Lewiston)

For catastrophic injury and medical malpractice work, Benjamin Gideon remains one of the most visible plaintiff-side names in Maine. The firm’s site highlights major case results (including a $25M medical malpractice verdict and other large verdicts/settlements) and positions the practice as handling “life-changing” injury matters. 

A distinctly “February 2026” update: the firm’s news section states that Ben Gideon and Taylor Asen were named to the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers list (Feb. 14, 2026). 

Best fit for cases involving: medical negligence, severe permanent injury, complex liability (including commercial vehicle/trucking claims), and cases where a highly resourced plaintiff’s team matters. 

3) Terry Garmey — Garmey Law (Portland)

Terry Garmey continues to be a defining figure in Maine plaintiff’s trial work. The Inner Circle of Advocates lists him with Status: Emeritus, and includes details about his Portland office. 

For readers evaluating credentials and legacy: the Inner Circle page also describes him as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and notes his involvement in high-profile litigation (including Maine’s tobacco trial work). 

Best fit for cases involving: major-injury litigation where trial experience, long-term credibility, and strategic case framing are central. 

4) Mark Dunlap — Peter Thompson & Associates (Portland)

If your case may require appellate-level thinking—complex motions, evidentiary fights, legal issues that can shape case value—Mark Dunlap is frequently cited for exactly that kind of experience.

Martindale’s profile for Mark E. Dunlap lists him as “Senior Attorney” at Peter Thompson & Associates and shows Peer Reviews: 5.0, along with an AV Preeminent® peer rating entry that states he “got this award in 2026.” 

Best fit for cases involving: high-exposure disputes where legal briefing, motion practice, and meticulous case building are likely to matter as much as negotiation. 

5) Steven J. Mogul — Gross, Minsky & Mogul, P.A. (Bangor)

Steven J. Mogul is a strong pick for clients who want deep, long-range legal experience in central and eastern Maine, along with a practice that spans both litigation and ADR/mediation skill sets.

The firm’s attorney bio lists him as handling personal injury and related litigation matters and notes court admissions including the U.S. District Court for the District of Maine and the First Circuit. A fresh 2026 datapoint: the firm’s news page states he completed 40 hours of mediation training and is “now a trained mediator” (posted Jan. 23, 2026). 

Best fit for cases involving: injury claims where experience and steady litigation strategy are priorities—especially for clients who value counsel comfortable in both courtroom and dispute-resolution settings. 

Quick Maine deadline reminder

Deadlines can vary by claim type, defendant, and exceptions—but two baseline rules are worth remembering:

• Most civil actions: Maine’s general statute sets a 6-year limitations period for civil actions, with exceptions. 
• Wrongful death: Maine’s wrongful death statute states an action “must be commenced within 3 years after the decedent’s death,” with a specific homicide-related exception described in the statute. 

(These are general references—not legal advice. A lawyer should confirm the correct deadline for the specific facts.)

Bottom line

The “best” personal injury lawyer in Maine is the one whose experience matches your injury, who has the resources to prove damages, and who is prepared to take the case to trial if that’s what it takes. This 2026 list is designed to help you quickly identify reputable starting points—beginning with Peter Thompson as #1.