Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers
Attorneys for car accident lawsuits
If you have been injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, or recreational vehicle accident, Welts, White and Fontaine P.C. may be able to assist you in receiving compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
We offer a free consultation for car accident injuries. Please contact us at 603-883-0797 or click here to send us a message.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
In New Hampshire, how do I prove my car accident claim?
In order to proceed with a claim against another driver, you must demonstrate that the person was negligent. Negligence is the failure to use reasonable care. Negligence can be an amorphous concept. For example, what is considered “reasonable” driving can depend on weather, the time of day, and other factors.
That said, just because something is an “accident” or unintended does not mean it’s not negligence. A driver can have completely innocent intentions and still be at fault in a motor vehicle collision. Usually, the best evidence of negligence in a car accident case comes from witness statements collected by police officers, and the testimony of the drivers themselves. Click here to read more about how “negligence” is defined in New Hampshire.
I was rear-ended. Does that mean the other person was negligent?
Being rear-ended doesn’t automatically mean that the trailing driver was negligent (for example, if they themselves were hit, causing a chain reaction), but most of the time, they are responsible for the crash. For example, if a person can’t see because of the sun and rear-ends your car, they have acted negligently. The same is true if they were looking at their phone or otherwise not paying attention to the road.
I was in a car accident but I think I’m OK. Do I have a case?
The most important thing is to listen to your body. It sometimes take a few hours to feel the impact of a car accident. If in doubt, it’s usually best to go to the emergency room to be evaluated. This is especially true if you think you may have a neck or head injury such as a concussion or whiplash. If you’ve been to the emergency room, or had an ambulance ride or other treatment, it’s likely you have a viable case even if you consider your injury “minor.”
My health insurance paid for my medical treatment…. do I still have a case?
Yes. For one, you are still entitled to pain and suffering compensation, which is above and beyond your medical bills. Additionally, under New Hampshire’s common law “collateral source rule,” a jury is not allowed to know that your bills have been paid by health insurance.
Why hire a car accident lawyer?
Could you negotiate a settlement yourself with an insurance company? Sure. But chances are that hiring an attorney will get you a better result. That’s because an insurance company knows that the lawyer will bring a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t reached. That’ll subject the insurance company to the expense of hiring their own defense team, and risk a much larger verdict.
Car accidents are among the most common personal injury cases, and our attorneys have decades of experience dealing with them. We can’t and won’t guarantee any results. But in hiring our firm, you can rest easy knowing that you have a respected and experienced firm advocating for your best interests. Our firm has the resources to do battle with big insurance companies, but provides the personal attention that all clients deserve.
What are the fees for a motor vehicle accident lawyer in New Hampshire?
For most car crash cases, a reputable law firm will charge a 1/3 contingency fee. That amount could increase to 40% if the injury is very minor, or the case is unusually difficult. A contingency fee is a percentage of a settlement or verdict paid to the attorney as their fee. For example, if we negotiate a $100,000 settlement for you, our fee would be $33,333.33. This allows clients to hire us without paying our hourly legal rates ($200-325 per hour).
We do not require any upfront payment from our car accident clients. The initial consultation is free (contact us here!). If we take your case, you only pay a fee if we win a settlement or verdict. That means that our firm has a vested interest in the outcome of your case: the more you get paid, the more we get paid. For more details about contingency fees and payments, please review this page.
I was injured by a drunk driver. Can you help me?
Injuries caused by drunk drivers can be among the most serious cases. Unfortunately, car crashes caused by intoxicated drivers are far too common in Nashua, and New Hampshire in general. If you were injured by a drunk or high driver, medical evidence such a blood alcohol level will be an important piece of the case. We are happy to speak with you about your potential case; please contact us at 603-883-0797 or message us here.
The at-fault driver had no car insurance. Is there anything I can do?
New Hampshire does not require that drivers have auto insurance. If the driver that injured you does not have insurance, you have two options. The first (and preferable) is your own uninsured motorists coverage. If you have your own car insurance, the policy is required to also provide coverage against uninsured or underinsured drivers. We recommend that everyone carry liability insurance of at least $250,000 — unfortunately, however, many drivers only carry the minimum of $25,000.
If you also have no insurance, your only option may be to pursue the other driver “personally.” That is, you can make a demand or bring a lawsuit against that person themselves for your damages. This is often a difficult endeavor due to the cost of a lawsuit and the fact that the defendant may have little or no available assets/money. If you were injured in a car accident and the other driver had no insurance, it’s best to consult with an experienced New Hampshire attorney about your options.
Thousands of car accidents have happened every year across the nation and may prompt people to contact our motor vehicle accident lawyers for help. As someone who may have recently been involved in a car wreck, you probably feel like you were placed in an unfortunate position that was no fault of your own. You may have sustained serious injury and incurred financial loss in the form of medical bills, property damage, and loss of wages. We understand that right now you may be worried about your financial future, especially since being in a car accident means that there’s going to be a cost to treat your injuries and repair your vehicle. But what we want you to know is that if the other driver was mostly at fault, then their insurance company should be responsible for what you have endured. By contacting our Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C., we can let you know which damages you are entitled to receive repayment for and then advocate relentlessly on your behalf.
Make sure before you leave the scene of the accident that you take a few steps. Firstly, you’re going to need to check that you and everyone involved is okay. If anyone has sustained injury, then you need to get medical attention immediately. Call 911, regardless of if the driver wants you to or not, and have the police officer file a report of the accident. If you are unsure where to get a copy of the police report after the accident, our motor vehicle accident lawyers can help you with that. We could also perform an investigation into the accident to uncover potential contributing factors 7ou were not aware of, and estimate how much in a settlement award you should accept. All too often people who have been in an accident accept a speedy settlement offer from an insurance company, not realizing that this amount is probably only a fraction of what they really deserve.
Our motor vehicle accident lawyers have seen just how often car accident victims get taken advantage of as their claim is being handled. For example, insurance companies usually want to offer a quick settlement so that they can pay less to the victim. An insurance adjuster may contact you in the days after the collision so that they can ask questions but then use your answers against you. We know that insurance companies are for profit, and may attempt to reduce or wrongfully deny a legitimate claim. But we believe in advocating for victims’ rights, and know how to use the law for the betterment of your claim outcome. If you need assistance after a car accident, or your loved one was involved in one, we urge you to contact us at Welts, White, & Fontaine, P.C. so we can intervene and assist. Please don’t get taken advantage of during such a difficult time. Let us protect you and ensure you get fair restitution for what you have been through. We are only a phone call or email away.
