The New Hampshire Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury, Explained

How Long You Have to File in New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, the statute of limitations for most personal injury claims is three years from the date of the injury. That deadline applies broadly — to car and truck crashes, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, slip and falls, dog bites, product liability, and most medical malpractice claims. If you do not file a lawsuit within that window, a court will almost always refuse to hear the case, no matter how strong it is.

Three years can feel like a long time, but it passes quickly once you are managing medical treatment, insurance adjusters, and the disruption a serious injury brings to daily life. Evidence also degrades: witnesses move, memories fade, vehicles are repaired or scrapped, and surveillance footage is overwritten. The practical deadline to begin building a strong case is much sooner than the legal deadline to file.

The Discovery Rule

Some injuries are not obvious right away. New Hampshire recognizes a discovery rule that can delay the start of the three-year clock until the date you knew, or reasonably should have known, that you were injured and that someone else's conduct may have caused it. This matters most in medical malpractice and toxic-exposure cases, where harm can surface long after the underlying negligence.

The discovery rule is narrower than many people assume, and courts examine closely what a reasonable person should have known. Relying on it without legal advice is risky.

Important Exceptions

Several situations change the standard three-year deadline. Claims on behalf of minors generally have extended timing — a person injured as a child typically has additional time after turning 18. Claims against governmental entities (a city, town, county, or the state) often carry shorter notice requirements that can require action within months, not years. Wrongful death claims have their own timing rules tied to the appointment of an estate representative.

Because these exceptions can either dramatically shorten or extend your deadline, the only safe approach is to confirm the specific deadline that applies to your situation as early as possible.

Why Acting Early Protects Your Claim

Beyond meeting the legal deadline, early action lets an attorney preserve evidence, identify every insurance policy that might apply, and document the full scope of your injuries before the trail goes cold. In New Hampshire — where many drivers carry little or no liability insurance — finding all available coverage often takes investigation that is far easier soon after a crash.