New Hampshire Injury Lawyer Blog
Car accidents can take place in a variety of ways. From the regular fender bender to a T-bone collision, collisions can vary in severity as well. When it comes to head-on crashes, however, the outcome is almost always deadly. When two cars driving at high speeds crash directly into each other from opposite directions, the results can be devastating. Thus, when these accidents take place, those who are responsible must be held accountable.
According to a local news report, two drivers died after a head-on crash took place in Merrimack, New Hampshire. A Honda and an Audi crashed into each other directly from opposite directions and both drivers were pronounced dead on the scene. When local authorities arrived, one of the vehicles was engulfed in flames. Following the accident, the roadway was shut down for two hours and the accident blocked all three travel lanes. There were no witnesses to the events leading up to the crash, so the accident remains under investigation to determine the cause.
In New Hampshire, when these deadly accidents take place and you lose a loved one in the process, filing a lawsuit or a claim against the responsible party may be the furthest thing from your mind. New Hampshire laws, however, provide that a wrongful death claim can be filed when the at-fault party committed a negligent, reckless, or intentional act and it resulted in another person’s death. Wrongful death claims are considered civil claims analogous to personal injury claims. When you bring a claim on behalf of the deceased individual, you may be eligible for compensation.
Unlike other states, New Hampshire has a more relaxed rule about who is eligible to bring a wrongful death claim. Under New Hampshire’s wrongful death statute, “any person interested in the estate of the deceased” is able to file a wrongful death claim in court. Whereas some states limit wrongful death claims to only specific surviving family members or to the administrator of the deceased estate, New Hampshire laws expand the pool of people who are able to file a claim and receive compensation on the deceased’s behalf.
If you choose to file a wrongful death claim in New Hampshire, you may be eligible for several types of damages. While the amount awarded in compensation will vary based on the context of the accident and the facts associated with how the crash took place, claimants are eligible to receive reasonable medical, funeral, and burial expenses, as well as lost wages that the deceased would have made, had the accident not taken place. In addition, the pain and suffering that the deceased endured before passing can also be compensated. In New Hampshire, damages for the surviving spouse specifically can also be awarded for loss of consortium. These damages, however, are limited to a maximum of $150,000.
Do You Need a New Hampshire Wrongful Death Attorney?
If someone you love was recently killed in an accident, contact the attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates today for assistance with a New Hampshire wrongful death claim. Our lawyers have years of experience representing clients on all types of personal injury claims and will work to get you the compensation you and your loved ones deserve. To schedule a free initial consultation today, contact us at 800-804-2004.