Peterborough Car Accident Attorneys

Motor Vehicle Accident Claims in New Hampshire

Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in motor vehicle accidents on New Hampshire roadways—and the vehicle accident rate continues to rise. According to recent data, the overall number of accident-related fatalities in New Hampshire has risen significantly since 2020. Perhaps the most tragic fact of all, however, is that the vast majority of these deaths (as well as non-fatal vehicle accident injuries) could have been avoided.

When someone else negligently causes a crash, leaving you injured or suffering the loss of a loved one, you are entitled to compensation. At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we stand up for the rights of injured victims and the families of those wrongfully killed. We understand the state’s personal injury laws and know how to aggressively pursue maximum compensation on your behalf.

Reach out to our team today to learn how our Peterborough car accident lawyers can help you with your claim; call (603) 634-9887 or contact us onlineto get started.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Determining the cause of an accident is important, as it allows our attorneys to identify who is liable for your resulting damages.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents include:

• Speeding
• Distracted driving
• Texting or using a cellphone while driving
• Driving while intoxicated/impaired
• Fatigued or drowsy driving
• Traffic violations
• Failure to yield the right of way
• Unsafe or illegal turns
• Dangerous passing, merges, or lane changes
• Running red lights, stop signs, etc.
• Failure to obey road signs/traffic control devices
• Tailgating, or following too closely

In some cases, accidents may be caused or exacerbated by various outside factors, such as auto defects, poorly maintained roadways, or missing or obstructed traffic signs. At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we carefully investigate car accident claims to identify all contributing factors. Our attorneys frequently work with accident reconstructionists and other specialists to obtain critical evidence, including expert testimony, on behalf of our clients.

Who Is Liable for Damages After a Car Accident?

Because New Hampshire follows a traditional fault-based auto insurance system, the person or party that caused the accident is typically also the one liable for the victim’s damages. This is why determining fault is so important. If you can establish that someone else—whether it was a negligent motorist, an auto manufacturer, or some other party—was at fault for the accident, you can bring a claim against them (or their insurance company) and seek compensation for your accident-related damages.

Although negligent motorists are most often at fault, an auto manufacturer or even a municipal entity could be liable if your accident was the result of a vehicle defect, improper roadway maintenance, or defective roadway design. Additionally, multiple parties could share some portion of the blame. For example, two motorists could be at fault for a three-car collision, or a motorist and an auto manufacturer could share liability if an accident resulted from distracted driving but the victim sustained catastrophic injuries due to a faulty airbag.

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we look at all relevant factors to determine who is responsible for an accident and, most importantly, your resulting damages. Get in touch with us today to learn more during a free, no-obligation consultation.

What If You Were Partly at Fault for the Crash?

If you were partly at fault for the accident, or if the insurance company claims that you were partly at fault, you may still have grounds for a claim. New Hampshire is one of many states to follow a modified comparative negligence rule when it comes to personal injury cases involving shared fault (i.e., cases in which multiple parties are partly at fault). Under this rule, you can still seek compensation for your accident-related damages as long as you are less than 50% at fault.

However, it is important to note that you cannot recover the full amount you are seeking in damages if you are found to be partly at fault, even if you are found to be less than 50% at fault for the accident. Instead, your recovery will be reduced by your assigned fault percentage.

For example, if the insurance company and/or court found you 30% at fault for an accident, and you were seeking $10,000 in damages, your recovery would be reduced by 30%. In other words, you would only be able to recover up to 70% of the amount you are seeking in damages, or $7,000. And, if the insurance company and/or court finds you more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any compensation for your damages.

Compensation for Car Accident Victims

A serious car accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries, exorbitant medical bills, and immense physical and mental pain and suffering, among other hardships. By filing a personal injury claim, you can seek financial compensation for these and other damages.

Examples of common damages in car accident claims include:

• Past, current, and future medical expenses
• Past, current, and future lost income/wages
• Past, current, and future pain and suffering
• Loss of earning ability due to partial or total impairment
• Miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses, such as in-home care or transportation costs

Our Peterborough car accident lawyers know how to maximize your recovery. We leave no stone unturned and no avenue unexplored in our pursuit of justice for our clients. As your legal team, we will fight aggressively for you—every step of the way.

Why Hire a Car Accident Lawyer from Shaheen & Gordon, P.A.?

After an accident, the insurance company is not on your side. In fact, insurance adjusters will often offer lowball settlements that do not even come close to covering the full cost of your damages. It can be tempting to accept the insurance company’s first settlement offer—but you should always talk to a lawyer first.

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., we can help you determine whether the insurance company’s offer is fair and, if not, can help you seek the full compensation you are rightfully owed. Our attorneys know how to push back against the insurance company’s efforts to devalue or even deny your claim. We utilize cutting-edge technology to develop innovative legal strategies aimed at maximizing the value of your case. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators and seasoned litigators, and we have secured millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients.

Injured in a car accident in Peterborough or the surrounding areas? Contact our office todayat (603) 634-9887 to request a complimentary case evaluation with a member of our team.