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New Hampshire accident law

New Hampshire car accident settlement calculator

New Hampshire is an at-fault state that uses modified comparative negligence, 51% bar. You generally have 3 years to file an injury lawsuit. The calculator below applies these rules to your numbers.

Checked against official sources November 5, 20266 cited sourcesHow we calculate

Injury lawsuit deadline3 yearsRSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units)
Fault ruleModified (51% bar)RSA 507:7-d
Insurance systemAt-faultNo PIP requirement
Minimum liability25/50/25thousands of dollars

New Hampshire settlement estimate

How serious is the injury?
Moderate: months of treatment, full recovery. Typical multiplier 2 to 3.
Applied to your medical bills. Set by the injury above, adjust if you like.
Leave at 0 if unknown.
Lawyer fee, costs and liens
Estimated amount to you
$46,500

Likely range depends on the injury

Economic damages
$16,500
Pain and suffering
$30,000
Injury claim value
$46,500
After your share of fault
$46,500
Attorney fee and costs
$0
Liens repaid
$0

New Hampshire: Modified comparative negligence, 51% bar, at-fault (tort) state.

An estimate, not legal advice. Deadlines can be shorter in some situations, for example for claims against a city or state agency. Talk to a New Hampshire attorney about your case.

New Hampshire filing deadlines

ClaimDeadline
Personal injury lawsuit3 years
Vehicle and property damage3 years
Wrongful death3 years
Notice of a claim against a government60 days: written notice by registered mail to the clerk of the governmental unit (town, city, county, etc.) within 60 days after the injury or its discovery, as a condition precedent to suit; suit within 3 years (RSA 507-B:7, 2022 snapshot)
RSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units). Counted from the accident date in most cases.

If you were partly at fault

New Hampshire follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were more at fault than the other side (51% or more). At exactly 50% you still recover half.

  • With $100,000 in damages and 30% of the fault, you would recover $70,000.
  • With 55% of the fault, you would recover $0, because the rule bars your claim.

Plaintiff recovers at 50% or less, compared with the defendant(s) in aggregate; damages reduced by plaintiff's percentage.

Source: RSA 507:7-d. Compare all states in the comparative negligence table.

At-fault (tort) state

In New Hampshire the driver who caused the crash is responsible for the damage, so you claim against their liability insurance or sue them. Your own medical payments or health coverage can pay bills while the claim is pending.

Minimum car insurance in New Hampshire

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage. Uninsured motorist coverage is required.

Many drivers carry only the minimum, so the bodily injury limit is often the most the at-fault driver's insurer will pay one person. These are the minimums for a policy if one is purchased (insurance is not compulsory for most drivers).

Damage caps

New Hampshire does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary car accident cases. Punitive damages: Punitive damages are prohibited unless a statute provides otherwise (enhanced compensatory damages exist under case law).

Dog bite law

Strict liability statute. Covers any damage to a person or property caused by a dog (not limited to bites). Only exception: victim was committing a trespass or other tort. Parent or guardian liable if the owner/keeper is a minor.

Source: RSA 466:19. Estimate a claim with the dog bite calculator.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a car accident claim in New Hampshire?

3 years from the accident for an injury lawsuit and 3 years for vehicle damage (RSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units)). Insurance claims should be reported much sooner, and claims against a government agency can have shorter notice deadlines.

Is New Hampshire a no-fault state?

No. New Hampshire is an at-fault state: the driver who caused the crash, through their liability insurance, pays for the other people's injuries and damage.

What happens if I was partly at fault in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire follows modified comparative negligence, 51% bar (RSA 507:7-d). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, and you recover nothing if you were more at fault than the other side (51% or more). At exactly 50% you still recover half.

What is the minimum car insurance in New Hampshire?

$25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for injuries, $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25). Uninsured motorist coverage is also required.

Does New Hampshire cap pain and suffering damages?

Not in ordinary car accident cases.

Sources

Checked against official New Hampshire sources November 5, 2026.

  1. New Hampshire statute of limitations: RSA 508:4, I (personal actions, 3 years); RSA 507-B:7 (bodily injury actions against governmental units)
  2. New Hampshire comparative fault: RSA 507:7-d
  3. New Hampshire insurance system: RSA 264:16
  4. New Hampshire minimum liability insurance: RSA 259:61(I); RSA 264:15(I) (UM)
  5. New Hampshire damage caps: RSA 507:16
  6. New Hampshire dog bite liability: RSA 466:19