New Hampshire Wrongful Death Lawyers

Providing Caring Legal Counsel to Families Touched by a Wrongful Death

There are few experiences more difficult than losing a loved one. When these deeply personal issues collide with the legal system, it often proves to be an overwhelming process to families. That is why Shaheen & Gordon, P.A. handles all the necessary legal work involved in wrongful death claims and works toward obtaining the best compensation possible in a timely and non-invasive manner.

What Is Wrongful Death in New Hampshire?

A “wrongful death” is when the death of a person was caused by another party's negligence, carelessness or wrongful act. As such, a claim for wrongful death can be likened to a personal injury claim that is filed on behalf of the decedent. These claims are filed in a civil court, conducted independently of any criminal court proceedings and can be filed even if there is no criminal prosecution.

Eligible New Hampshire Wrongful Death Claimants

Typically, wrongful death claims are formal legal actions filed by a decedent's living relatives and/or beneficiaries. The state of New Hampshire has, however, a slightly different tradition: Per the Revised Statutes § 556.19, anyone can file a wrongful death claim if they have a legal interest in the decedent’s estate.

If you are contemplating filing a wrongful death claim, it is crucial that you reach out to a lawyer far before the statute of limitations expires, otherwise your claim will be considered invalid. New Hampshire’s statute of limitations for wrongful death may be three years from the date of death, but it is best to give an attorney team plenty of time to investigate and prepare your claim to raise your chances of reaching a favorable resolution once it is formally filed.

What Damages Can I Recover in a Wrongful Death Suit?

Once liability is established and another party is determined to be legally responsible for compensating a wrongful death claimant, a court will award damages.

Wrongful death damages are awarded for any physical damages, emotional damages and financial damages endured by a decedent and/or the claimant. New Hampshire Revised Statutes § 556.12 establishes the ways in which damages are awarded to a claimant and how courts will consider several circumstances for each category of damages.

Some of the recoverable damages for a wrongful death claim may include:

• A decedent's mental and physical pain and suffering and any medical expenses incurred prior to death;
• Reasonable funeral and/or burial expenses for the decedent;
• The probable duration of life and the probable support a decedent would have provided to the claimant had they not passed away;
• Emotional damages experienced by the claimant, such as loss of comfort, society and companionship; and/or
• Punitive damages paid to the claimant to further punish the liable party if gross or egregious acts of negligence led to the decedent’s death.

Compassionate Legal Support for Your Family

At Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., our lawyers understand the severity of wrongful death cases, and we make it a point to remain attentive, compassionate and supportive to the families we represent. Our efforts are geared toward resolving legal proceedings quickly and favorably so that our clients can focus on mourning their loved one properly.

If you would like to discuss your New Hampshire wrongful death claim with a member of our attorney team, contact our firm today.