
Serving New Hampshire Since 1908

Concord Personal Injury Attorneys
Committed to Protecting the Residents of Concord, NH
Upton & Hatfield, LLP in Concord is known among our clients and our peers as a personal injury team with as much compassion as we have experience. Given that our law firm was founded in 1908, this is saying something about how much we genuinely care about helping our clients. We see everyone who comes to our firm as a friend and neighbor in need, not a case number or a chance to earn a paycheck. This intentional approach to casework has steered us to countless victories across the decades. Let us see if it can make all the difference for your personal injury case, too.
We can work on a variety of personal injury claims and lawsuits, such as:
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Brain injuries
- Dog bites
- Motorcycle accidents
- Premises liability
- Product liability
- Truck accidents
- Wrongful deaths
- And more
Want to work with our Concord injury lawyers? Dial (603) 716-9777 now.

Overview of New Hampshire Personal Injury Claims
A personal injury lawsuit is a legal action filed by a person (the plaintiff) who claims to have suffered harm due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another party (the defendant). The goal of such a lawsuit is to recover compensation (also called damages) for losses like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit in New Hampshire, the plaintiff generally needs to prove the following four elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The defendant had a legal obligation to act with reasonable care to avoid causing harm. Example: A driver has a duty to obey traffic laws and drive safely.
- Breach of Duty: The defendant failed to meet that duty—through action or inaction. Example: A driver was texting while driving and ran a red light.
- Causation: The defendant’s breach directly caused the injury.
This includes: - Actual Cause (Cause-in-Fact): The injury wouldn’t have happened “but for” the defendant’s actions.
- Causation: The defendant’s breach directly caused the injury.
- Proximate Cause: The harm was a foreseeable result of the defendant’s conduct.
- Damages: The plaintiff suffered actual harm or losses that can be compensated (e.g., physical injury, medical bills, lost wages, emotional distress).
New Hampshire follows a modified comparative fault rule (51% bar rule). If the plaintiff is found to be 51% or more at fault, they cannot recover any damages. If they're 50% or less at fault, their damages are reduced by their percentage of fault.
In most personal injury cases, the lawsuit must be filed within 3 years from the date of the injury.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Personal Injury Claim in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire has a standard three-year statute of limitations on personal injury claims. This statute of limitations can be shorter or longer in uncommon situations, though. It will usually begin on the date of the injury in question, but, again, the starting date can be later in rare circumstances. Once the statute of limitations ends, the court will reject any claim you then attempt to file against the party that hurt you. It is crucial that you take legal action sooner than later to avoid an expired statute of limitations.
Can I File a Personal Injury Claim if I Am Partially Responsible for the Accident?
In New Hampshire, you can file a personal injury claim against a defendant if you are partially responsible for the accident that hurt you, but not if you are mostly responsible for it. Under this rule, you can’t make a recovery against a defendant if you are found to be more than 51% liable. Furthermore, any recovery that you make will be reduced by your liability percentage. For example, if you are 20% liable, then your final recovery amount will be reduced by 20%.
Will I Go to Trial for a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Your personal injury lawsuit could eventually go to trial for a resolution before the court. However, insurance companies don’t like going to trial because it is expensive, time-consuming, and can hurt their public reputation. For this reason, most insurance companies and defendants will try to negotiate a settlement if it looks like the claimant’s case is legitimate. Historically, most valid personal injury claims settle and don’t go to trial. Yet there is never a guarantee that a trial can be avoided because every case is unique.
Can I Represent Myself in a Personal Injury Claim?
You have the right to represent yourself and go to court without a lawyer in New Hampshire, including in personal injury cases. Representing yourself is never recommended, though. Your case will be stronger if it is built by a legal professional who understands liability law, knows legal procedures, and can deal with the opposing side with experience and confidence. Just as you would hire a mechanic to work on your car because they are trained to do that work, you should hire a lawyer to work on your personal injury case.
What Do I Do if I Am Contacted by an Insurance Company or Investigator?
You should never give a recorded statement to an insurance company representative or investigator working with the opposing side. If they contact you, then you should immediately inform them that they should call your attorney’s law office instead. You have the right to authorize your attorney to act on your behalf, which includes fielding calls from insurers and investigators. By doing so, you can avoid misspeaking and hurting your case, which is exactly what those inquiring parties want you to do.
What if I Can’t Afford a Lawyer?
You can always afford to hire a personal injury lawyer from Upton & Hatfield, LLP because we offer contingency fees. A contingency fee agreement means that we aren’t owed any attorney fees unless we win your case, such as through securing a settlement or award in your favor. Furthermore, the contingency fee amount that we are paid will be equal to an agreed-upon percentage of any financial compensation that you receive. This guarantees that our attorney fees will not exceed what you can afford.
Personal Injury FAQ
Learn about our client-focused solutions today during an initial consultation with our Concord personal injury attorneys.
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Diverse Breadth of Experience
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Committed to the Community
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A Legacy of Successful Results

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Heather Burns
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Michael Courtney
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Jeffrey Crocker (Retired)
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Laura Dudziak
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Todd Fahey
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Russell Hilliard
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Lauren Irwin
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Christina Kranias
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Susan Aileen Lowry
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Michael McGrath
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Nathan Midolo
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Thomas Morse (Retired)
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Timothy O'Brien
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Madeline Matulis
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Kathryn Cox Pelletier
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James Raymond
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Jeanne Saffan
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Brooke Shilo
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Timothy Sullivan
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Stephanie Thomson


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“I was very fortunate to have Upton & Hatfield represent me. Could not of asked for a better experience. I highly recommend using Upton & Hatfield. A++” - Merrick C.
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“Count on reliability and quick response from this team.” - Dori D.
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“Thank you Upton and Hatfield for providing such high quality and affordable legal services!” - Jackie D

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NH Personal Injury Settlements Vs. Trials
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Personal Injury Lawyer Fees: What Are My Options?
