Instantly Connect For Your Personal Injury Consultation When Filling Out Form
Your Berlin Personal Injury Attorney
The short answer. In New Hampshire most injury claims must be filed within three years (RSA 508:4, I). The trial court for Coos County sits in Lancaster, at 55 School Street, Suite 301, Lancaster, NH 03584. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
Recovering from an injury is hard enough without legal confusion on top of it. If someone else’s carelessness hurt you in Berlin, you are allowed to take your time understanding your options before you sign or say anything.
A quick note on what this page is: general information about New Hampshire injury law, written from the statutes, from a matching service that does not practice law. It is meant to help you ask good questions, not to decide your case.
Before You Hire: Questions For A Berlin Attorney
Whoever you speak to, a few answers tell you a lot:
- Your share of fault. Ask how a finding that you were partly responsible would change the numbers (RSA 507:7-d).
- The deadline. Ask the attorney to name the exact last day to file for your claim. The general limit for injury claims in New Hampshire is three years (RSA 508:4, I).
- Limits on damages. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in New Hampshire.
- Fees and costs. Ask what the fee is, when it is paid, and which expenses are deducted from a settlement.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Injury Claims People Ask About
Vehicle crashes
Vehicle injuries start with the same few steps: medical care first, then photographs of the scene, names and numbers of anyone who saw it, the other driver’s insurance information and any estimates for repairs.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
Walkers and cyclists hurt by a vehicle should write down the location, the time of day, the lighting and the signals as soon as they can. Witnesses who stopped are valuable, so ask for their contact details before they leave.
Falls and unsafe property
Wet floors, icy steps and broken railings cause injuries that turn on how long the hazard existed and who was responsible for it. Photograph the hazard as soon as you can and report the fall to whoever runs the property.
Wrongful death
If a loved one died because of another person’s wrongful act or omission, a different set of rules applies. A wrongful death claim follows its own rules in New Hampshire; ask an attorney which deadline applies. You do not have to sort this out alone or quickly; an attorney can explain who is allowed to act and what the dates are.
Injured in Berlin? Get matched with an attorney now.
How Fault Is Divided
An insurer may stress your own mistakes, and in New Hampshire the percentage it can attach to you matters. RSA 507:7-d sets the rule.
You can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (RSA 507:7-d). Photographs, witness names and medical records help show where the fault lies.
Is There A Ceiling On The Award
The value of an injury claim in New Hampshire depends on what the evidence shows. How fault is assigned can also change the amount.
Keep every bill and record, because they carry the claim.
Time Limits To Know
A lawsuit for most injuries in New Hampshire must be started within three years (RSA 508:4, I). Extra time can be available for a child and in some other limited situations (RSA 508:8).
A claim against a government body usually has its own claim or notice steps that must be followed before you sue, so ask early (RSA 507-B:7, I and RSA 541-B:14, IV). The type of claim decides the date, so do not wait.
Why Policy Limits Matter
Liability insurance is not generally mandatory in New Hampshire; the proof of financial responsibility amounts are $25,000 for injury to one person, $50,000 for injury to two or more people in one accident and $25,000 for property damage (RSA 259:61, I and RSA 264:20).
Ask your attorney early whether any policy, yours included, may apply to your crash. Keep whatever insurance details the other driver gives you at the scene.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Berlin Claim
Berlin lies in Coos County, according to Census Bureau place and county names. For Coos County, the New Hampshire court directory shows the superior court in Lancaster, at 55 School Street, Suite 301, Lancaster, NH 03584. In Berlin, the state trauma list names Androscoggin Valley Hospital (C) as a Level IV trauma center.
Ask every provider for your full records and an itemized bill, and keep a running list of appointments. A transfer between hospitals leaves two sets of records, so request both.
Starting Your Claim Review In Berlin
The form at the top of this page is the starting point. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in New Hampshire. It costs nothing to use and does not commit you to anything.
Before the first call, collect the basics: the date, the place, names of witnesses, your medical visits and your missed work. A single folder for bills, letters and photographs saves time later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the other insurer calls me?
You can decline a recorded statement until you have advice. Saying that you want advice first is a reasonable answer. Before you sign anything, have someone review it.
Is a claim against a government entity different in New Hampshire?
It can be. Special claim or notice steps can apply (RSA 507-B:7, I and RSA 541-B:14, IV). The rules for public bodies differ from the rules for private parties. Do not wait to ask.
Why would a local attorney matter near Berlin?
Not required, but useful. Local knowledge helps with scheduling, courts and medical providers. Ask about recent cases handled in your county.
How soon must I file a claim for an injury in Berlin?
For most injury claims, three years (RSA 508:4, I). The period can be longer for a child, and a few other situations extend it too (RSA 508:8). Do not wait to ask.
Does New Hampshire bar me from recovering if I share the blame?
The rule: you can recover if your share of the fault is 50 percent or less, and your award is reduced by your share; above 50 percent the claim is barred (RSA 507:7-d). Insurers often raise this point first. An attorney can explain how the rule fits your facts.
Does New Hampshire put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
It depends on the facts of your claim, so ask an attorney whether any rule limits it in your case. Special rules can apply to particular kinds of claims. Keep every bill, because the economic part of a claim is proved by records.
What are the minimum auto insurance limits in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire does not generally require it, but the proof of financial responsibility amounts are $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage (RSA 259:61, I and RSA 264:20). Several policies can apply to one crash. Before you accept a payment, check for every policy that may apply.
What should I save for my claim?
Hold on to your medical bills and records. Photographs of the scene and your injuries help. Add pay records for time off, estimates for repairs and every message from an insurer.
Help Elsewhere in New Hampshire
If your injury happened outside Berlin, one of these pages may fit better.
