Personal Injury Statute of Limitations in New Hampshire
Last verified 2026-07 · Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 ✓ verified · 3 sources
The deadline
3 years
from Date of act or omission; or date of discovery when injury and causal relationship were not and could not reasonably have been discovered at time of act, under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4.
Advertisement
New Hampshire law sets a hard deadline of 3 years to file a personal injury lawsuit. The controlling statute is N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, and the clock generally starts on Date of act or omission; or date of discovery when injury and causal relationship were not and could not reasonably have been discovered at time of act. Below: exactly when that clock starts, the exceptions that can pause it, and the traps that shorten it.
New Hampshire Deadlines for Related Claims
| Claim type | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 3 years | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Car Accident | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, I |
| Credit Card Debt | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Medical Malpractice | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Wrongful Death | 3 yrs | RSA 556:11; RSA 556:12 |
| Dog Bite | 3 yrs | RSA 508:4 |
| Slip and Fall | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4 |
| Defamation | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Breach of Contract | 3 yrs | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Medical Debt | 3 yrs | RSA 508:4 |
When the Clock Starts
In New Hampshire, the limitations period for personal injury lawsuits generally begins on Date of act or omission; or date of discovery when injury and causal relationship were not and could not reasonably have been discovered at time of act. New Hampshire recognizes a discovery rule for this claim type: RSA § 508:4(I): when injury and causal relationship were not reasonably discoverable at time of act, clock runs from when plaintiff discovers or should have discovered them with reasonable diligence
Advertisement
Exceptions That Can Extend the Deadline
- Minors: the clock is generally paused while the injured person is under 18.
- Fraudulent concealment: if the defendant actively hid the wrongdoing, the deadline may be extended until it was or should have been uncovered.
- Defendant leaves the state: absence can pause the clock in many circumstances.
- Government-claim trap: Written notice required to municipality within 60–180 days depending on entity type under RSA 507-B; then 3-year period applies
- Damage caps: $475,000 cap on noneconomic damages against municipalities (RSA § 507-B:4); no general cap for private defendants
Modified comparative fault; plaintiff barred if 51% or more at fault (RSA § 507:7-d). No punitive damages available in most NH personal injury cases.
Source: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4, official New Hampshire statute · verified 2026-07
What to Do Before the Deadline Runs
- Pin down your accrual date — the day the clock started — and calendar the deadline conservatively.
- Preserve evidence now: photos, records, witness contacts, bills. Evidence decays faster than deadlines.
- Send preservation/notice letters where required (especially for New Hampshire government defendants).
- If the deadline is inside 6 months, treat it as urgent — filing suit is the only reliable way to stop the clock.
How New Hampshire Compares to Nearby States
| State | Deadline | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 3 years | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4 |
| Maine | 6 yrs | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 14, § 752 |
| Massachusetts | 3 yrs | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A |
| Vermont | 3 yrs | 12 V.S.A. § 512(4) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in New Hampshire?
You have 3 years from Date of act or omission; or date of discovery when injury and causal relationship were not and could not reasonably have been discovered at time of act, under N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:4.
Can I still sue after 3 years in New Hampshire?
Usually no — courts dismiss claims filed after the statute of limitations expires. Narrow exceptions (the discovery rule, tolling for minors, fraudulent concealment) can extend the deadline; whether one applies depends on your facts.
Does the discovery rule apply to personal injury lawsuits in New Hampshire?
Yes. RSA § 508:4(I): when injury and causal relationship were not reasonably discoverable at time of act, clock runs from when plaintiff discovers or should have discovered them with reasonable diligence
What if the victim was a minor?
New Hampshire generally pauses ("tolls") the deadline while the injured person is under 18, giving them time to file after reaching adulthood. Special limits can still apply, so check the statute.
Is the deadline different for claims against the government?
Written notice required to municipality within 60–180 days depending on entity type under RSA 507-B; then 3-year period applies
Advertisement
Sources
- Official RSA § 508:4 Personal Actions — New Hampshire General Court
- Corroborating New Hampshire Civil Statute of Limitations Laws — FindLaw
- Corroborating New Hampshire Personal Injury Laws and Statutes of Limitations — Nolo
- Verified 2026-07 under our 4-step process — every line checked against the sources above. How we verify
This page is legal information, not legal advice. Deadlines have exceptions that depend on your facts — confirm with a licensed New Hampshire attorney.