Personal Injury Lawyers in New Hampshire
New Hampshire runs on rules that surprise a lot of newcomers: it is the only state in the country that does not require drivers to carry auto insurance, it cuts off an injured claimant’s recovery entirely once their own fault reaches 51%, and it gives most people three years to get a lawsuit filed. Those three facts shape almost every injury claim in the state, from a fender bender on I-93 to a fall at a Merrimack Valley shopping plaza. This page walks through what the law actually says and connects you with personal injury lawyers serving New Hampshire communities.
Ask a New Hampshire resident about car insurance and you may hear something that sounds like a myth but is not: the state does not require it. That single fact ripples through nearly every injury claim filed here, alongside two other rules that matter just as much — a three-year filing deadline and a fault rule that can wipe out a claim entirely once you cross the halfway mark. Here is what a claimant actually needs to know.
The Three-Year Clock
RSA 508:4, I gives most New Hampshire claimants three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. That covers car and truck collisions, slip and falls, dog bites, and most negligence-based claims, including wrongful death and medical malpractice. A discovery-rule exception can push the start date later when an injury or its cause was not reasonably apparent right away, but claimants should not count on it — the safer assumption is that the clock starts on the day of the incident.
Claims against a city, town, or county run on an entirely different, faster track. RSA Chapter 507-B does not set a hard notice deadline the way some states do, but giving written notice within 60 days of the injury is strongly advised: if you skip it, the burden shifts to you to show the municipality was not prejudiced by the delay, which is a fight worth avoiding if possible.
Modified Comparative Negligence and the 51% Bar
Under RSA 507:7-d, New Hampshire reduces an injured person’s recovery by their percentage of fault, but only up to a point. A claimant found 40% responsible for a crash still collects 60% of the verdict. Once fault reaches 51% or more, though, the claim is barred completely — there is no partial recovery past that line. Insurance adjusters know exactly where that threshold sits, which is why early, detailed evidence of how an incident happened — photographs, witness statements, the police report — carries outsized weight in New Hampshire negotiations.
The Only State Without Mandatory Auto Insurance
New Hampshire stands alone nationally in not requiring drivers to buy auto insurance. Instead, a driver who opts out must be able to demonstrate financial responsibility — in practice, roughly $75,000 in assets — sufficient to cover an at-fault accident. Many residents carry insurance anyway, and for those who do, the state sets minimums of 25/50/25 in liability coverage along with at least $1,000 in medical payments coverage.
The practical upshot is that a meaningful share of New Hampshire drivers carry thin coverage or none at all. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage on your own policy fills that gap, and it is often the single most important line item in a New Hampshire auto policy when a serious crash happens.
What New Hampshire Does and Does Not Cap
Compensatory damages — medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering — are not capped in ordinary personal injury cases. The state legislature has tried before to cap noneconomic damages, but New Hampshire’s courts have struck those caps down as violating the state constitution’s equal protection guarantee. Punitive damages, by contrast, are simply not available in New Hampshire outside of a narrow set of situations where a specific statute allows them — a stricter rule than many neighboring states.
Claims against a governmental unit follow their own ceiling: RSA Chapter 507-B caps a municipality’s total liability at $1,000,000 per incident, no matter how many people were hurt, and bars punitive damages against a town or the state outright.
Dog Bites and Other Strict-Liability Situations
RSA 466:19 makes New Hampshire a strict-liability state for dog bites — there is no one-bite rule, and an owner is liable for an attack regardless of whether the dog had ever shown aggression before. The one significant carve-out is for a person injured while trespassing or committing another tort against the dog’s owner.
Finding the Right Lawyer for Your Case
The Lawyer Atlas is a directory, not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice about your situation. A New Hampshire attorney worth hiring should be able to explain quickly whether the other driver was even insured, how the 51% fault bar might apply to your facts, and whether a government entity’s shorter notice window is in play. Consultations are typically free, and most personal injury lawyers in the state work on contingency, so there is rarely a reason to wait.
Browse the New Hampshire city page above to reach attorneys serving Concord and the surrounding communities.
Frequently Asked Questions — New Hampshire
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Hampshire?
Three years from the date of injury for most claims, under RSA 508:4, I. If you did not immediately know you were hurt or what caused it, the discovery rule can start the clock later — but claims against a city or town move on a much faster track, since RSA Chapter 507-B strongly encourages written notice within 60 days of the incident.
What happens if I was partly at fault for my accident?
New Hampshire uses modified comparative negligence under RSA 507:7-d. If you are found 50% or less at fault, your award is simply reduced by that percentage — 30% fault on a $100,000 claim still nets you $70,000. Cross the line to 51% or more and you recover nothing, which makes early evidence about how the incident happened unusually important here.
Why doesn’t New Hampshire require car insurance?
New Hampshire is the only state that lets drivers skip auto insurance entirely, as long as they can show financial responsibility — generally at least $75,000 in assets — to cover an at-fault crash. Many residents still buy coverage, and when they do, state minimums are 25/50/25 in liability limits plus $1,000 in medical payments coverage. Because some drivers carry nothing at all, uninsured motorist coverage is especially valuable in New Hampshire.
Does New Hampshire cap damages in a personal injury case?
Not anymore for ordinary claims. New Hampshire once had statutory caps on noneconomic damages, but the state’s courts struck them down as unconstitutional. Punitive damages remain unavailable in New Hampshire regardless of how egregious the conduct, unless a specific statute allows them.
What does it cost to hire a personal injury lawyer in New Hampshire?
Almost always nothing up front. New Hampshire personal injury attorneys typically work on contingency, taking a percentage of any recovery and advancing case costs along the way. Initial consultations are usually free, so there is little downside to at least discussing a potential claim.
Can I sue a New Hampshire town or the state itself?
Yes, but the rules differ from a claim against a private party. RSA Chapter 507-B caps a municipality’s liability at $1,000,000 per incident and bars punitive damages, and giving notice within 60 days of the injury protects your claim from being challenged later for lack of timely notice.