Why You Need a New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Attorney

When you seek medical care in New Hampshire, you trust healthcare professionals to keep you safe. Unfortunately, doctors, nurses, and hospitals make preventable mistakes that cause serious injuries—or worse. If you or a loved one has been harmed by medical negligence, a New Hampshire medical malpractice lawyer at Sabbeth Law can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.

Medical malpractice cases are among the most complex personal injury claims. They require extensive medical knowledge, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of New Hampshire law. Our attorneys have the experience and resources to investigate your case, identify liable parties, and build a strong claim on your behalf.

What Is Medical Malpractice in New Hampshire?

Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care, resulting in harm to the patient. Not every unsuccessful treatment or negative outcome constitutes malpractice; medicine often involves a trial-and-error approach. 

However, when a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional acts negligently and that negligence directly causes injury, the patient may have grounds for a malpractice claim.

To determine whether malpractice occurred, courts examine whether another competent healthcare professional in the same field would have acted differently under similar circumstances. If the answer is yes, the defendant may be found negligent and liable for damages.

Common Types of Medical Malpractice Cases We Handle

Medical negligence takes many forms. At Sabbeth Law, we represent clients throughout New Hampshire in cases involving:

• Surgical errors – Operating on the wrong body part, leaving instruments inside patients, or performing incorrect procedures

• Diagnostic errors – Missed diagnoses, delayed diagnoses, or misdiagnoses that allow conditions to worsen

• Medication errors – Wrong prescriptions, incorrect dosages, or dangerous drug interactions

• Birth injuries – Cerebral palsy, brachial plexus injuries, and trauma from improper use of forceps or vacuum extractors

• Anesthesia errors – Administering too much or too little medication, or failing to monitor vital signs

• Emergency room errors – Delayed treatment, failure to obtain a complete medical history, or premature discharge

How to Prove Medical Malpractice in New Hampshire

Proving medical malpractice requires establishing four essential elements. Your New Hampshire medical malpractice lawyer must demonstrate each of these to recover compensation:

1. Duty of Care

The healthcare provider had a professional obligation to provide you with competent care. This duty typically exists through a doctor-patient relationship or when you receive treatment at a hospital or emergency room.

2. Breach of Duty

The provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care. Expert medical witnesses must testify that the provider’s actions fell below what a reasonably competent professional would have done in similar circumstances.

3. Causation

The breach directly caused your injury. This means showing that without the provider’s negligence, your injury would not have occurred. Causation often requires expert testimony linking the substandard care to your specific harm.

4. Damages

You suffered actual harm as a result of the negligence. Damages may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and diminished quality of life.

New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Statute of Limitations

Under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:4, you generally have three years from the date of the malpractice to file a lawsuit in New Hampshire. Missing this deadline typically bars you from recovering any compensation.

The Discovery Rule

New Hampshire recognizes the discovery rule, which provides an important exception. If you could not reasonably have discovered your injury at the time of the malpractice, the three-year period begins when you discover—or should have discovered—both the injury and its connection to the negligent act.

For example, if a surgeon leaves a sponge inside your body and you don’t experience symptoms until months later, your deadline would start when imaging reveals the foreign object—not the date of the original surgery.

No Damage Caps in New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Cases

Unlike many states, New Hampshire does not cap damages in medical malpractice cases. The New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled damage caps unconstitutional in Carson v. Maurer (1980). This means victims can pursue full compensation for their losses without arbitrary statutory limits on non-economic damages.

How Our New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Lawyers Help

At Sabbeth Law, we handle every aspect of your medical malpractice claim, including:

• Conducting thorough investigations to determine exactly what went wrong

• Obtaining and analyzing your complete medical records

• Working with qualified medical experts to establish the standard of care and causation

• Calculating your full damages, including future medical needs and lost earning capacity

• Negotiating aggressively with insurance companies and defense attorneys

• Taking your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a medical malpractice lawyer cost in New Hampshire?

Most medical malpractice attorneys, including Sabbeth Law, work on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront costs, and we only collect a fee if we recover compensation for you.

What compensation can I recover in a medical malpractice case?

You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future care costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Since New Hampshire has no damage caps, your recovery is limited only by the facts of your case.

How long do medical malpractice cases take in New Hampshire?

Every case is different. Some claims settle within months, while others require litigation and may take two years or longer. Complex cases involving severe injuries or contested liability typically take more time to resolve.

Contact a New Hampshire Medical Malpractice Lawyer Today

If you believe you or a loved one was harmed by medical negligence, time is critical. The sooner you act, the better your chances of preserving evidence and building a strong case. Contact Sabbeth Law today for a free consultation. Our experienced New Hampshire medical malpractice lawyers will review your case, explain your legal options, and help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call us now or reach out online to get started.