Personal Injury
If someone else's carelessness left you hurt, you deserve a straight answer about what your claim is worth and what it will take to pursue it — before you talk to an insurance adjuster. Representing injured New Hampshire clients since 1997.
The situation
Within days of a serious collision, the at-fault driver's insurer has assigned an adjuster, opened a file, and begun building a record. Their job is to close your claim for as little as possible — often before you know whether you have fully recovered.
You do not have to match that machinery alone.
Attorney Cynthia P. Gilman has represented injured clients in New Hampshire since 1997, alongside a family law and criminal practice built in the same courtrooms. Injury work rewards the same habits: gather the record, understand the medicine, find the coverage that is actually available, and prepare the case as though it will be tried.
She handles these matters personally. The person who evaluates your claim at the first meeting is the person who negotiates with the adjuster and stands up in court if it comes to that — not a case manager you are handed off to after signing.
You will also get a straight answer. If your claim is strong, you will hear that. If the injury is minor, fault is genuinely disputed, or the available insurance will not cover what you have been through, you will hear that too — at the first meeting, not after months of work. A frank assessment early is worth more than an optimistic one.
The firm represents injured clients throughout New Hampshire, including Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Hooksett, Derry, Londonderry, Salem, Bedford, and Merrimack.
What we handle
A focused injury practice, handled personally by Attorney Gilman rather than passed to a case manager.
Claims against at-fault drivers and their insurers after collisions on I-93, the Everett Turnpike, and roads across the state — including uninsured and underinsured motorist claims when the other driver carried too little coverage, or none at all.
Injuries caused by unsafe conditions a property owner knew about or should have found — untreated ice and snow, unlit stairwells, broken handrails, and hazards left in walkways. New England winters produce a great many of these cases.
Dealing with adjusters, medical providers, health insurer subrogation, and liens so those conversations are not landing on you while you are still recovering.
First steps
The days right after an injury shape the claim more than almost anything that follows.
See a doctor even if you feel able to walk away. Some serious injuries surface days later, and a gap between the accident and your first treatment is the argument insurers reach for most often. Follow the treatment plan and keep every record.
New Hampshire requires a written report to the Division of Motor Vehicles within 15 days when a crash causes injury, death, or more than $1,000 in property damage. Ask the responding department for the police report number.
Vehicle damage, the position of the cars, skid marks, the icy step, the missing handrail, your visible injuries. Conditions get repaired and cleared within days — photographs taken at the scene often carry more weight later than any description.
You generally must cooperate with your own insurer. The other driver's insurer is a different matter. A recorded statement given before you understand the extent of your injuries can be used to limit your claim later, and there is rarely a reason to give one quickly.
Medical bills, prescription costs, mileage to appointments, missed work and lost wages, and help you have had to pay for around the house. Contemporaneous notes about pain and limits on daily activity are worth far more than a reconstruction attempted a year later.
A settlement release ends the claim permanently. Once signed, you cannot return for additional treatment costs even if your condition turns out to be worse than anyone knew. Have it reviewed first.
New Hampshire law
General information, not legal advice for your situation — but these are the rules that most often decide what a claim is worth.
Under RSA 508:4, personal injury suits must usually be filed within three years of the injury. Claims involving a municipality, the state, or a government agency can carry far shorter notice deadlines. A missed deadline normally ends a claim no matter how strong it is.
New Hampshire follows modified comparative fault (RSA 507:7-d). Your damages are reduced by your share of the blame, and if you are found more than 50 percent at fault you recover nothing. Expect the other side to argue your percentage upward.
New Hampshire is one of the few states that does not require most drivers to carry liability insurance. That makes your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage unusually important here — and it means the insurer negotiating against you may be your own. Bring your policy declarations page to the consultation. More on uninsured motorist claims in New Hampshire.
Frequently asked
For anything specific to your accident, the free consultation is the right next step.
New Hampshire generally gives you three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (RSA 508:4). Some situations shorten that window considerably — claims against a city, town, or state agency can carry much earlier notice requirements. Because missing a deadline usually ends a claim permanently, it is worth confirming your specific deadline early rather than assuming you have three full years.
New Hampshire uses a modified comparative fault rule (RSA 507:7-d). You can still recover damages as long as your share of the fault is not greater than the combined fault of the parties you are suing, but your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent responsible, you recover nothing. Insurers know this rule and often push to assign you as much fault as possible, which is one reason early statements to an adjuster matter.
Not before you know what your claim actually involves. Early offers often arrive before the full extent of an injury is known, and a signed release is final — you cannot reopen the claim if you need further treatment later. Have the offer reviewed before you sign anything.
No honest lawyer can put a number on a case at the first phone call. Value depends on the seriousness and permanence of the injury, your medical expenses and lost income, how clearly fault can be established, and the insurance coverage actually available. Attorney Gilman will tell you what she can realistically assess at the outset and what has to be developed before anyone can estimate a range.
Most personal injury claims resolve through negotiation rather than trial. That said, claims tend to settle on better terms when the other side sees that the case has been prepared as though it will be tried. The decision to accept a settlement or proceed is always the client's.
The initial consultation is free and confidential. If the firm takes your case, the fee arrangement is explained in plain language and confirmed in writing before any work begins, so you know the terms before you commit to anything.
New Hampshire is one of the few states that does not require most drivers to carry liability insurance, so uninsured and underinsured motorist claims come up more often here than in neighboring states. If you carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, that policy may be the source of your recovery — and your own insurer becomes the party negotiating against you. Bring your declarations page to the consultation.
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