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Your Windham 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 Rockingham County sits in Brentwood, at Rockingham County Courthouse, 10 Route 125, Brentwood, NH 03833. To talk it through, send the form on this page and we will work to connect you with an attorney in our network.
If you are reading this after an accident in Windham, you are probably tired, sore and unsure whom to trust. That is normal. A few rules learned early can keep you from making choices that are hard to undo.
Nothing on this page is legal advice, and NeedAnAttorney.net is not a law firm. It is a service that connects injured people with attorneys. The rules described here are quoted or summarized from New Hampshire’s own statutes so that you can check them yourself.
Questions Worth Asking In Windham
A short list of questions can sort out who is right for you:
- If you were partly to blame. Ask what happens to your award if a jury finds you share the blame (RSA 507:7-d).
- The date. Ask for the specific last day to file in your case. The general rule is three years (RSA 508:4, I).
- Any ceiling. Ask whether any rule restricts the amount you could recover in New Hampshire.
- The money terms. Ask how fees are calculated and which costs come out of a recovery.
- The people. Ask who will be in touch with you and how quickly they return calls.
Common Kinds of Injury Claims
Vehicle crashes
Whether the collision was minor or serious, the same early steps help: get checked by a doctor, photograph the vehicles and the scene, exchange insurance information and keep any repair estimates.
Pedestrian and bicycle injuries
A collision on foot or on a bicycle is easy to dispute afterward. Record where it happened, what the road and signals were like, and who saw it, and keep any damaged clothing, helmet or equipment.
Falls and unsafe property
Slips, trips and falls come from spills, uneven surfaces, poor lighting and broken stairs. What matters is who controlled the place and how long the problem was there, so document the hazard and tell the owner or manager promptly.
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 Windham? Get matched with an attorney now.
Sharing Blame And Your Claim
A person who is fifty percent at fault or less can still recover in New Hampshire. 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. What you can recover turns on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects.
The facts of your claim drive the amount.
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). Records fade and witnesses move, so an early start helps even well inside the limit.
What Auto Policies Must Cover
New Hampshire does not generally require drivers to carry liability insurance, but it sets proof of financial responsibility amounts of $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).
Those figures are floors, not a measure of what your claim is worth. Before you accept a payment, check for every policy that might apply.
The Court and Hospitals Behind a Windham Claim
Rockingham County is the county the Census Bureau assigns to Windham. The New Hampshire court directory lists the superior court for Rockingham County in Brentwood, at Rockingham County Courthouse, 10 Route 125, Brentwood, NH 03833. The state trauma list names Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, in Rockingham County as well, as a Level II trauma center. Another facility on the state trauma list, Parkland Medical Center in Derry, is also in Rockingham County; it is listed as a Level III trauma center. Another facility on the state trauma list, Exeter Hospital in Exeter, is also in Rockingham County; it is listed as a Level III trauma center.
Whichever provider treated you, request your complete records and an itemized bill, and keep a list of every appointment. If you were transferred to another hospital, ask for the paperwork from both ends of the transfer.
Your First Step After Getting Hurt In Windham
Start with the form at the top. It asks a few questions about the injury. NeedAnAttorney.net reviews your details and works to match you with an attorney in our network who may handle cases in New Hampshire. Using it is free, and it does not create an attorney client relationship.
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
How low can the other driver’s liability limits be?
There is no general minimum, because New Hampshire does not generally require liability insurance. Where proof is required, the 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). Your own policy may add coverage. Check uninsured and underinsured coverage on your own policy.
Which records matter most after an accident?
Save every treatment record and bill. Photographs of the scene and your injuries help. Add pay records for time off, estimates for repairs and every message from an insurer.
Can the other insurer make me give a statement?
You are free to talk, but nothing requires an immediate recorded statement. Stick to simple facts and avoid guessing about fault or injuries. Do not sign a release until you know the full cost of your injuries.
Are there special steps for claims against the government?
There are special steps. Special claim or notice steps can apply (RSA 507-B:7, I and RSA 541-B:14, IV). Different entities can have different steps. Keep every letter you receive from a public agency.
Where do injury lawsuits from the Windham area go?
An attorney will tell you which court has jurisdiction in your situation. Ask your attorney to confirm it. The court listing described above names the local court locations.
How long do I have to file an injury lawsuit in New Hampshire?
For most injury claims, three years (RSA 508:4, I). A child can have extra time, and so can a few other limited situations (RSA 508:8). An early start protects the evidence.
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). Ask how the rule would be argued in your case. Raise it early with any attorney you speak with.
Does New Hampshire put a ceiling on pain and suffering?
It depends on the bills, the missed work and the lasting effects, and an attorney can tell you whether any rule limits the amount. The amount depends on the facts of your claim. Ask an attorney whether any rule reaches your claim.
Help Elsewhere in New Hampshire
NeedAnAttorney.net connects injured people throughout New Hampshire with attorneys who handle cases in their area.
