New Hampshire Personal Injury Settlement Calculator
Get a rough estimate of what a New Hampshire personal injury or dog-bite claim might be worth, based on your medical bills and losses. This is an estimate to understand the factors — not a prediction or an offer.
This is a rough estimate, not a prediction or an offer.
There is no formula that predicts a settlement. This tool uses the common "multiplier method" to show the factors that drive value and a wide range — actual outcomes depend on the facts, insurance limits, the venue, and negotiation. Consult a New Hampshire personal-injury attorney about your case.
Enter your medical bills and losses to see an estimated range
The multiplier method (pain-and-suffering as a multiple of your medical bills) is a common starting point, not a guarantee. Most personal-injury cases settle out of court; most attorneys work on a contingency fee (commonly around a third, but the rate is set by your agreement and some states regulate or cap it), and an attorney is the only way to value your specific claim. This tool is not legal advice and RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm.
How the Estimate Works
No tool can predict a settlement — every case is different and the number depends on the facts, the available insurance, the venue, and negotiation. What this calculator does is apply the multiplier method, the rough starting point insurers and attorneys use: it adds up your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages, property damage), then estimates pain and suffering as a multiple of those damages (about 1.5× for minor injuries up to 5× or more for catastrophic ones), and shows a wide range. It is a way to understand value, not a guarantee.
It then applies New Hampshire's fault rule, because how fault is shared directly changes what you can recover.
New Hampshire's Fault Rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
RSA 507:7-d: contributory fault does not bar recovery "if such fault was not greater than the fault of the defendant" (or defendants in the aggregate). A plaintiff who is 50% at fault still recovers (fault is not greater than defendant's); a plaintiff whose fault is greater than the defendant's — i.e., 51% or more — is barred. This is a modified comparative / 51% bar rule. Recoverable damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's percentage of fault. NH is a modified-51 state, NOT pure comparative and NOT one of the pure-contributory states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).
Damage Caps in New Hampshire
General personal-injury damages are effectively UNCAPPED. New Hampshire's statutory $875,000 cap on non-economic damages (RSA 508:4-d) remains on the books but was held UNCONSTITUTIONAL and unenforceable by the NH Supreme Court in Brannigan v. Usitalo, 134 N.H. 50 (1991); an earlier med-mal non-economic cap was struck in Carson v. Maurer (1980). So no enforceable cap applies to PI non-economic damages. Punitive damages: RSA 507:16 abolishes common-law punitive damages ("Punitive Damages Outlawed") — none awarded unless a specific statute authorizes them (e.g., statutory double/treble enhanced compensatory damages).
Dog-Bite Liability in New Hampshire
RSA 466:19: any person to whom (or to whose property) damage is occasioned by a dog not owned/kept by that person is entitled to recover damages from the owner, keeper, or possessor — with no requirement to prove the owner knew the dog was dangerous (no "one-bite" knowledge element). This is strict liability. Sole exception: no recovery if the injured person was committing a trespass or other tort. A parent/guardian is liable if the dog's owner/keeper is a minor. VERIFIED against primary statutory text on gc.nh.gov.
Deadline to File a Claim in New Hampshire
New Hampshire generally requires a personal-injury lawsuit to be filed within 3 years of the injury (the statute of limitations). RSA 508:4, I: "all personal actions ... may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of," with a discovery-rule extension (3 years from when the injury and its causal relationship were or reasonably should have been discovered). Medical-injury actions are also 3 years under RSA 508:4 / 507-E framework. Disability tolling for minors/incompetents under RSA 508:8. Miss it and your claim is usually barred no matter how strong it is, so do not wait to talk to an attorney.
- Modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar (RSA 507:7-d): a plaintiff recovers reduced damages if at most 50% at fault, but is completely barred once their fault is greater than the defendant's (51%+).
- Standard personal-injury statute of limitations is 3 years from the act/omission, with a discovery-rule extension (RSA 508:4).
- Dog owners face strict liability for any damage caused by their dog (RSA 466:19) — no proof of prior viciousness needed; the only defense is that the victim was trespassing or committing another tort.
- General PI non-economic damages are not capped: the $875,000 statutory cap (RSA 508:4-d) is unenforceable after Brannigan v. Usitalo (1991), and the med-mal cap was struck in Carson v. Maurer (1980).
- Common-law punitive damages are abolished (RSA 507:16); enhanced compensatory/multiplied damages are available only where a statute expressly provides.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is my New Hampshire injury claim worth?
No one can tell you a number in advance. A rough estimate adds your economic damages (medical bills, lost wages) and applies a pain-and-suffering multiplier, then adjusts for fault under New Hampshire's modified comparative negligence (51% bar) rule. The real value depends on the facts, the insurance available, and negotiation — an attorney is the only way to value your specific case.
Does my own fault reduce my New Hampshire settlement?
Yes. RSA 507:7-d: contributory fault does not bar recovery "if such fault was not greater than the fault of the defendant" (or defendants in the aggregate). A plaintiff who is 50% at fault still recovers (fault is not greater than defendant's); a plaintiff whose fault is greater than the defendant's — i.e., 51% or more — is barred. This is a modified comparative / 51% bar rule. Recoverable damages are reduced in proportion to the plaintiff's percentage of fault. NH is a modified-51 state, NOT pure comparative and NOT one of the pure-contributory states (AL, MD, NC, VA, DC).
How long do I have to file in New Hampshire?
Generally 3 years from the injury. RSA 508:4, I: "all personal actions ... may be brought only within 3 years of the act or omission complained of," with a discovery-rule extension (3 years from when the injury and its causal relationship were or reasonably should have been discovered). Medical-injury actions are also 3 years under RSA 508:4 / 507-E framework. Disability tolling for minors/incompetents under RSA 508:8.
Is this calculator accurate?
It is a rough estimate to show the factors that drive value — not a prediction or an offer. Real settlements vary enormously. Treat any number here as a ballpark and consult a New Hampshire personal-injury attorney.
Disclaimer
This estimator is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice or a prediction of any outcome. RecordingLaw.com is not a law firm. The value of a personal-injury claim can only be assessed by a licensed attorney reviewing your specific facts.